Chapel Week 3

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Introduction: Running into Brad

Transition to the Text: Turn with me to 3 John.

Introduce: John was the youngest of Jesus’ 12 disciples. He was probably a teenager. And when he wrote 3 John his is likely in his 80s or possibly even 90s.

He’s spent a lifetime following Jesus. And he did His best to tell the world about Jesus. By this time, He’s watched every single one of his friends willingly give their lives for Jesus.

His brother James was the first disciple martyred.

Peter has been dead for decades now. It’s just him now. Yet he has joy because his friends were faithful to the end.

And he has made new friends. And given birth to new spiritual children. One such man is named Gaius. John writes to him thanking him for being the hands and feet of Jesus to traveling preachers and Christians.

Read:

3 John 1–4 ESV

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Big Idea: There is no GREATER JOY than to know people we love also LOVE JESUS.

1. Physical HEALTH and WORDLY success is useless if your soul is SICK. (3 John 1-2)

Mark 8:36 ESV

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

Explanation:

Illustration:

Application:

2. There is JOY in a GREAT testimony. (3 John 3)

3 John 3 ESV

3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.

Luke 15:4–7 ESV

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Explanation:

Illustration:

Application:

3. Embrace the GREATER joy. (3 John 4)

Philippians 3:8–11 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

This is all that matters!

Explanation:

Illustration:

Application:

Response: Are you WALKING in the TRUTH? Do you rejoice at the TESTIMONY of others?

Summation:

Closing Illustration:

Let’s pray.