2017-11-12 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Key Verse: 3 John 3-4 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Today we continue our study of the the shortest books of the Bible. We’ve looked at Philemon, 2 John and today we move to the shortest of all the books in the Bible…3 John. This book was written by John in the late first century, probably around 90 A.D. from the city of Ephesus. John, as the last living apostle wrote this letter to help strengthen the local church and to provide guidance on how to act within the church. While 1900 years old, this book is timely as the same struggles and challenges continue to exist within the modern day church.

3 John 1 (NLT) This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. 9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. 13 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. 15  Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

1. Someone who encourages (vss 1-8) – Gaius

– 3 John 3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

– Gaius had a good reputation (vs 3a)

– he was living in the truth of God’s Word (vs 3b)

– he was helping and serving others (vss 5-6)

– This is a picture of what was right in the early church

2. Someone to avoid (vss 9-11) -Diotrephes

– 3 John 9-10 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

-he was filled with pride (vs 9)

– he rejected others’ wisdom and leadership

– he spread gossip about those in church

– he sought ways to hurt them

– This is a picture of what was very wrong in the early church

3. Someone to emulate (vs 12) – Demetrius

– 3 John 12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

– Gaius was given the right example in how to continue to live and lead

– vs 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good

Lessons we can learn from 3 John:

1. Follow the example of Christ in serving and encouraging others

2. Be careful to never fall into the trap of pride

– seeing yourself as more important than others in the church is the first

step towards being the modern day pharisee

3. Surround yourself with the right kind of Christ followers as this will make

everyone better