October journal “unboxing”
A look at what’s in the Setpember mailer (everything for the October study)
This is the “unboxing” of the September mailer with the October journal, “Dear lady and beloved: 2 & 3 John”!
Writing letters is an art that has been practiced for centuries. Letters give us a glimpse into a situation or history that might have otherwise been lost.
But these two letters - 2 and 3 John - have another layer of meaning: they are breathed out by God. God, writing this through John, knew just what he wanted to say to the church all those years ago – and to you and me reading it today.
This is what he wants his people, whenever we are, to know... Love one another. Walk in God’s commandments. Watch yourselves. Abide in the teaching. Walk in the truth. Love the brothers. Imitate good. He is giving us what we need to know to refuse the evil in the world and to instead live as his own beloved.
Thanks be to our God for taking care of us as we journey in this world toward him, toward eternity when we get to see our God face to face. So let’s read more about the words said to us all in 2 and 3 John....
This is what our everseeking subscribers are studying in October 2026! So let’s take a closer look at everything in the study and the mailer…
The journal
We know the author from the rich gospel of John. He was loved by Jesus and saw firsthand what loving others in the truth looked like as Jesus spoke of the church to be established.
So fast forwarding years later, when he is an elder speaking to the church or to a beloved brother in the church, he is helping them understand what it looks like to be true to God and live for him.
2 John is an encouragement and a plea - to continue to love one another and to stand firm in the truth, even when deceivers try to lead them to another teaching.
3 John is a joyful and chiding letter - to share the joy of faithfulness and to remind of how we help each other in the kingdom of God, calling out those who mix up evil and good.
These letters are both similar and different. And they were written so long ago.
But the truth of them remains just as vital as today.
Example of the main study pages in this October 2026 journal, “Dear lady and beloved: 2 & 3 John”
If we as the church start becoming complacent, slowly following the ways of the world instead of God, we are no better than deceivers who come in and manipulate what should be good and pure (as we’ll see this in both letters).
God created the church, the Bride of Christ, to be holy and unblemished (Ephesians 5:27) and no one can take her away from her intended.
It’s up to each of us if we are part of God’s people. The invitation stands as does the challenge of remaining faithful.
And when we do, God can do incredible things...
What it looks like to journal through this October journal!
2 JOHN
From: the elder, to: the elect lady and her children (repeated in verse 5 as “dear lady”). Some say the elect lady is a safe way to speak of the church in those dangerous times of persecution (interestingly, the word “church” isn’t used in 2 John, though it is in 3 John).
3 JOHN
From: the elder, to: the beloved Gaius (repeated throughout the letter as “beloved”). Whereas 2 John is likely to the church as a whole, this is to a specific person, but the subject of the church is the same and of paramount importance, to stay faithful in love and truth in living for Christ (same today!).
Write out the verses or what stands out - feel free to underline, highlight, or make notes on it. In the letter section (“dear lady” or “beloved”), think through what the passage is saying with the questions/other passages mentioned. The verse at the bottom of the page is our main connection verse, but these specifically compares the passage in 2 or 3 John with a passage from another book John wrote (the similarities show!). Then enjoy a note of encouragement!
Example of the optional study pages in October 2026 journal, “Dear lady and beloved: 2 & 3 John”
Studying through this takes us through the main 20 days of study. As in every everseeking journal, the “main study” can be done in 20 days because we all have those moments where we get behind, so this gives a little room.
But if you’re studying every day and get to day 20 and you still have 10 more days in the month, there are 10 extra pages of the journal (called “optional pages”) that take a deeper look at what we already studied.
In this journal… As we study these two books, we’ll notice that there are several repeated words throughout both 2 and 3 John. Here we look at most of them to understand the themes they have in these letters as a whole and think through what it means in the church still today.
So whether you complete the main study with the 20 pages or the main 20 + the optional 10, you have succeeded in spending the month studying the Word of God!
The washi tape
As always, every everseeking journal comes with it’s set of washi tape: solid and patterned!
This month’s washi tape matches the autumn theme this month and a similar solid color washi tape! We use these for highlighting certain thoughts, creating tabs throughout the journal, decorating, adding extra notes (scrapbooking style), color coding, and more! For more details, check out our “How to use washi tape for Bible journaling” blog at https://www.evergreencypress.com/blog/how-to-use-washi-tape-for-bible-journaling.
Two pens
Extras with the August journal
Pens are essential to Bible journaling - some are more for fun and some more practical!
Our fun pen is the autumnal colored gel pen, perfect for bringing color to the inside of the journal and making specific notes.
The more practical pen is a shoutout to Rebecca’s favorite pen — a simple smooth Bic pen — but liked for its ability to write on washi tape and usually-smudge-free writing!
Simple or vintage sticky notes
October extras - sticky notes
Sometimes we run out of room to write what we want in our journal. So our sticky notes help solve that in an organized way. We loved finding these sticky notes — some white, some kraft color, some with grid lines, others with lines or blank — to help us in our journaling!
BONUS: slim journaling pouch
As a welcome gift to our newest subscribers and a thank you to our current subscribers, we added one of favorite items — a journaling pouch to put all our journaling items in!
And that’s a wrap!
And that’s a wrap for the October journal that came in the September mailer! We loved putting this one together for our subscribers.
If you are an everseeker, we would love to hear your feedback on this journal and mailer, whether on our social media posts or through email.
And if you aren’t a subscriber, we have a spot saved for you for the next available mailer, with the next journal and extras! This is only available for those who subscribe by the first of the month — so don’t miss out!
Every month is new and exclusive as a whole, so join us in being everseeking of God with consistent Bible study at evergreencypress.com/everseeking!
