Welcome the Faithful Stranger

Read 3 John 1-8

Pray

Introduction

We begin tonight in the letter of 3 John. We’ve covered 1 and 2 John as well over the last few weeks and months. As you know or can probably tell, all 3 of these letters are written by John the apostle. So, they all have a very common connection and theme.

John wrote these letters to encourage the church during his time to walk in the truth and reject false teaching. 1 and 2 John were written to different local churches and congregations. We begin tonight in 3 John where John is not writing to a whole church but rather a friend of his.

We’ll observe together the connections between all 3 letters during this study and how John is determined to encourage believers to continue walking in the truth in the midst of this sinful world.

The title of my sermon is … Along with the initial greeting, John is sure to encourage Gaius to continue his hospitality toward these strangers. We’ll look at this in two sections: The Greeting and The Exhortation.

The Greeting

John writing to Gaius, a single person, not a local church. No one can tell for sure who this Gaius is exactly.

Notice how he prays for Gaius: that all may go well, in good health, as it goes well with your soul. Do we pray like this for each other? We ought to…

Now notice what brings John joy. There were brothers in Christ that came and told him about how Gaius was walking in the truth. The truth of who Christ is, His incarnation, and His death burial and resurrection.

John says he has NO greater joy than to hear of others walking in the truth. Y’all ever get excited about something but then you’re friends or siblings don’t get excited about it?? That kills the joy!

Do we understand the significance of Christ? Of His Gospel? Then we would echo John’s words! Let us rejoice with deep and great happiness and joy over the conversion of sinners to believers, disciples being made, and with people following after the Lord Jesus consistently.

We rejoice not because people are so great, but God’s work in saving and keeping His children is so fantastic, unbelievable!

The Exhortation

After John greets Gaius he then provides an exhortation for him. Gaius should continue to welcome these brothers who are strangers. Notice the difference between this in verse 5-8 and 2 John 10–11 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”

What’s the difference? One group of strangers are false teachers, the others are faithful, Jesus proclaiming missionaires!

John says to send them in a manner worthy of God. How does someone do this? In a way that would please God, acting as Christ would. With love, generosity, prayer, and encouragement to name a few ways…

John describes these brothers in Christ, who are strangers, as those who have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Gentiles here means unbelievers, pagans, non-Christians.

Whose name have these brothers gone out for? Christ’s!! These are missionaries spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

2 points of application here:

1) We ought to do this. John says in verse 8 that sending out missionaries makes us fellow workers with them. Missionary work takes going AND sending!

We shouldn’t send as a lazy way out, but in loving support for curicially needed gospel spreading among the nations!

This even goes for YOU as a young person!

2) There are senders and there are also goers. Those dedicated to the spreading of the Gospel and the making of disciples among all nations, for the glory of Christ.

Will you go? Will you answer the call? Is your life dedicated to the making of disciples? Here and now? And in the future?

Conclusion

One of the best instructive missions passages there is! Friends, let us praise the Lord for His saving work and including us in it. May we worship Him for His saving of sinners like us, consider the Great Commission, and dedicate everything we have to it.