Complete Health

🙏 I. Welcome & Opening Prayer

📖 Turn to 3 John…

🩺 II. Introduction

There is a public health crisis in America, and for Christians it is only partially better.

SHOCKED W/ RESULTS…

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Good News: CHRISTIANS = MUCH HEALTHIER,, “DISEASES of DESPAIR” (SUICIDE, ABUSE of ALCOHOL, ETC.)

Bad News:

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING—AMERICANS ARE UNHEALTHY—EXCESSIVELY OVERWEIGHT:

FOR CHRISTIANS IT’S ACTUALLY WORSE...

Study, Northwestern University: FROM AGE 18—to MIDDLE AGE— ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES 1X WEEK (OR MORE)

50% MORE LIKELY to BE OBESE BY MIDDLE-AGE.

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LAST CENTURY— MODERN MEDICINE HAS MADE GREAT ADVANCEMENTS W/ INFECTIOUS DISEASES…

BUT DISEASES THAT DEPEND ON US = STILL a PROBLEM...

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**Disclaimer**

BEFORE YOU GET UP & ARMS— “PASTOR is SKINNY”

— I USED to BE OVERWEIGHT.

Quote: “GENETICS LOADS the GUN—LIFESTYLE PULLS the TRIGGER”

35 LBS OVER WEDDING WEIGHT

UNHEALTHY

WINDED UPSTAIRS

“BELOW EXPECTED FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY for AGE”

=> IT WOULD BE WORSE for ME NOW as a PASTOR…

Conclusion: I’M NOT BEYOND GAINING WEIGHT—I’M JUST PRESENTLY DISCIPLINED

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GENETICS = HELPFUL—BUT IT’S NOT EVERYTHING....

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Transition: WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY?

TODAY’S TEXT: JOHN DESIRES “COMPLETE HEALTH” for ANOTHER BELIEVER…

AS YOUR PASTOR—I DESIRE HEALTH FOR YOU…BOTH BODY & SOUL… BY the GRACE of GOD—FOR the GLORY of GOD.

THAT WILL BE a LARGE PART of OUR FOCUS—DIVING into 3 JOHN…

Goal: BREACHING TOPIC W/ GRACE—

— DESIRING for US to STEWARD BODIES WELL…

DOING THIS OUT of LOVE.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 1-4....

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📜 III. Passage Reading: 3 John 1–4

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.

This is God’s Word for us this morning...

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📚 IV. Context Recap / Book Background

FINAL of JOHN’S LETTERS

LIKE 2 JOHN—INTRODUCED as “ELDER”

SIMILAR THEMES to 2 JOHN...

Different: INTRODUCED to 3 CHARACTERS— TWO GOOD EXAMPLES,,, ONE BAD—

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Transition: WE’LL BE LOOKING to MEET OUR FIRST CHARACTER TODAY...

LOOK W/ ME AGAIN @ VS. 1...

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V. Passage Exposition

✝️ Thought 1: Introduction (v.1)

3 John 1 (ESV)

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

3 John = UNIQUE AMONGST JOHN’S LETTERS— A PERSONAL LETTER to GAIUS (1ST CHARACTER)

Gaius:

KNOW NOTHING REALLY

MUST’VE BEEN PART of JOHN’S CHURCHES

JOHN LOVES THIS GUY:

“BELOVED” WHOM I lOVE… (2X in VS 1)

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THIS LOVE = “IN TRUTH” —A THEME of 3 JOHN…

GOSPEL = WHAT UNITES JOHN & GAIUS

Exhort: LET’S NOT FORGET—THAT’S WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER as a CHURCH FAMILY—TRUTH!

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Transition: W/ JOHN’S LOVE for GAIUS COMES a PRAYER for HIM…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2

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🙏 Thought 2: John’s Pastoral Prayer (v.2)

3 John 2 (ESV)

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.

JOHN’S GREETING MOVES to a PRAYER…

DESIRING: THINGS MAY GO WELL & GOOD HEALTH

**Disclaimer** THIS = NOT PROSPERITY GOSPEL.

WANTING THINGS to GO WELL in LIFE’S AFFAIRS DOESN’T MEAN PRIVATE JET.

DESIRING HEALTH DOESN’T MEAN PROBLEM-FREE LIFE…

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JOHN GENUINELY DESIRES GOOD THINGS for THIS GUY— “AS IT GOES WELL WITH HIS SOUL.”

Background: GAIUS = WALKING W/ GOD—HEALTHY in SPIRIT

JOHN HOPES THAT HE’S HEALTHY NATURALLY TOO...

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Exhortation: WE ARE UNIFIED CREATURES…

DICHOTOMOUS/TRICHOTOMOUS = IRRELEVANT— WE’RE WHOLE REGARDLESS.

Focus: GOD’S ENGINEERED HUMAN BODY = INTERDEPENDENT… SYSTEMS ALL WORK TOGETHER.

Exhort: NOT ENOUGH to BE HEALTHY in ONE AREA & NOT OTHERS…

BELIEVER SHOULD STRIVE for HEALTH in BOTH BODY & SOUL...

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Background: JOHN’S DAY—INFECTIOUS DISEASES…

Today: MUCH DISEASE = FRUITS of BAD CHOICES…

Exhort: GOD ESTABLISHED “SOWING & REAPING”

SOW CORN—REAP CORN

SOW BAD HABITS—REAP BAD RESULTS...

Sad Reality: PRAYING for PREVENTABLE HEALTH PROBLEMS—GOD SIMPLY DIDN’T OVERTURN SOWING & REAPING...

I WILL PRAY for YOU NO MATTER WHAT… GOD is GRACIOUS.

BUT I WOULD LOVE to SEE YOU MAKE HEALTHIER DECISIONS NOW.

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🏛️ The Body Is Not Evil

Exhort: CHRISTIANS DON’T BELIEVE BODY is EVIL—THAT’S GNOSTICISM — BODY = PRISON for DIVINE SPARK...

God created the body.

He called His creation “very good.” 🌅

BODIES NEED REDEEMED—NOT REJECTED ALTOGETHER...

Quote: MOST of OUR EXISTENCE ((APART from INTERMEDIATE STATE)) is EMBODIED!

Key Idea: OUR BODIES = CREATED as ESSENTIAL TOOLS for DOING GOD’S WILL:

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Scriptural Support—Importance of Body’s Wise-Use

Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Context: WARNING ABOUT SEXUAL IMMORALITY

Conclusion: USE YOUR BODY for GOD’S GLORY

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1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 (ESV)

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

AGAIN: USE/ “CONTROL” YOUR BODY for GOD’S GLORY...

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Exhort: WHAT WE DO W/ OUR BODIES MATTERS!

CREATED BY GOD—FOR GOD.

Challenge: ARE WE OCCASIONALLY LIMITED in CHRISTIAN DUTIES BECAUSE of BODILY NEGLECT?

**Disclaimer** AGING = STILL a REALITY…

Challenge: BUT IF YOU’RE 30s,, 40s,, 50s,, EVEN 60s… APART from HEALTH ISSUES—YOU SHOULDN’T BE LIMITED in YOUR SERVICE to GOD...

Encourage: YOUR LIFE ISN’T OVER… PEOPLE TAKE UP ULTRAMARATHONS, ETC. in ALL THESE DECADES

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NOT AIMING to HURT FEELINGS…

EASY to PREACH ABOUT SINS of OUTSIDERS...

HARDER to LOOK in the MIRROR…

MOST PASTORS PROBABLY NEVER ADDRESS GLUTTONY BECAUSE THEY’D BE HYPOCRITES.

I’VE BEEN GUILTY

BOUGHT the T-SHIRT @ SHADY MAPLE.

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Addressing Gluttony:

Challenge: GLUTTONY = PAIRED W/ DRUNKENNESS in O.T.

=> LACK of INTEMPERANCE,, JUST as DRUNKENNESS IS...

APPETITE/DESIRE BECOMES MASTER INSTEAD of GOD.

VICE DIRECTLY OPPOSED to SELF-CONTROL.

Philippians 3:19 (ESV)

19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

MANY PEOPLE SERVE APPETITE as GOD—OBEYING IT AT ALL COSTS…

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Theology Point: GOD DOESN’T HATE ENJOYMENT

REF: ECCLESIASTES SERIES

FEASTS in ISRAEL

HE INVENTED TASTE-BUDS!

Takeaway: THERE ARE TIMES for FEASTING & CELEBRATING—PERHAPS IT’S JUST NOT EVERY DAY.

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Where is the Line??

HARD to SAY—BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.

CONSIDER HEALTH as MOVIE—RATHER THAN SCREENSHOT.

=> WHERE’S the TRAJECTORY?

ONE COOKIE ISN’T SINFUL.

MOUNTAIN DEW DOESN’T SEND to HELL...

SUM TOTAL of YOUR LIFE’S CHOICES???

WE SHOULD BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES THOUGH. YOU KNOW the TRUTH…

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Disclaimer: SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL CHALLENGES—ODDS STACKED AGAINST THEM

PAUL G.: GAINED 200 LBS in ONE YEAR W/ THYROID CRAZINESS…

Challenge: YOU SHOULD BE QUICK to THINK YOU’RE the “RULE” NOT the “EXCEPTION”

Exhort: EVERYONE HAS EXCUSES…

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Addressing Excuses:

Testimony: I’M VERY QUICK to LOOK for EXCUSES…

REMOVE EXCUSES W/ PRACTICAL ACTION…

COLD WEATHER RUNNING GEAR

YAK TRAKS

I KNOW ME—I MAKE EXCUSES.

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Taking Responsibility

Quote,,, Dave Ramsey: THE PROBLEM = THE MAN in MY MIRROR…

IF I’M the PROBLEM—W/ GOD’S HELP I CAN BE the SOLUTION!

W/ MOST SINS—THE INITIAL RESPONSE = BLAMING

IT’S ANYONE’S FAULT BUT MINE...

HEALTH EXCUSES:

HEALTHY FOOD = EXPENSIVE

MY JOB = SEDENTARY

“I’M TOO TIRED”

“I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME”

“I’M X YEARS OLD—

Takeaway: WHENEVER WE BLAME—WE DON’T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY—WE WON’T CHANGE...

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Goal: STEWARDING PHYSICAL HEALTH— BY the GRACE of GOD — for the GLORY of GOD...

TO DO OUR GOD-GIVEN TASKS WELL—FOR AS LONG AS HE GIVES US.

WHAT’S IT SAY ABOUT WHAT WE TRULY BELIEVE IF STATISTICALLY SPEAKING CHRISTIANS ARE WORSE THAN AVERAGE PERSON?

BODY = TEMPLE??

SELF-CONTROL,, FRUIT of GOD’S SPIRIT??

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AS YOUR PASTOR— I PRAY for GOOD THINGS for YOU—DESIRING HEALTH for YOU— BOTH in SOUL & BODY....

BUT GOD WON’T WORK APART from YOU & ALWAYS DELIVER YOU FROM POOR CHOICES…

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Transition: JOHN OPENS W/ PRAYER for GAIUS...

HEALTHY in BODY—AS in SOUL...

NOW, WE’LL SEE the BASIS for THIS: VS 3…

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💬 Thought 3: Gaius’ Testimony (v.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.

JOHN REJOICES—GAIUS = WALKING FAITHFULLY in the TRUTH.

SOME TRAVELING BROTHERS CAME W/ GOOD NEWS...

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Context/Background:

PEOPLE LEAVING JOHN’S CHURCH(ES)

FALSE TEACHING

2 John 4 (ESV)

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

NOW WE KNOW ONE BY NAME—GAIUS.

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W/ MANY DECEIVERS—ANYONE WALKING in TRUTH = WORTHY of CELEBRATION!

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Transition: THIS = A PASTOR’S GREATEST JOY...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 4…

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❤️ Thought 4: John’s Rejoicing (v.4)

3 John 4 (ESV)

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

JOHN = PASTORAL FIGURE—POURED HIS LIFE INTO THESE PEOPLE…

“MY CHILDREN” = NOT NATURAL CHILDREN—BUT SPIRITUAL

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Testimony: IN MINISTRY—LIFE REVOLVES AROUND the CHURCH…

IT’S CHURCH

IT’S WORK

IT’S FRIENDS

IT’S EVERYTHING… VERY CONSUMING.

GREATEST JOY: SEEING PEOPLE WALKING in the TRUTH,, REMAINING FAITHFUL to CHRIST.

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Transition: MOST IMPORTANT MATTER—SPIRITUAL HEALTH,, STATE of YOUR SOUL…

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✝️ Gospel Invitation

WE RARELY SPEAK on PHYSICAL HEALTH—BECAUSE IT IS INDEED SECONDARY.

3.5 YRS PASTORING—1ST TIME ADDRESSING PHYSICAL HEALTH @ LENGTH…

EVERY WEEK: SPIRITUAL HEALTH = TOP PRIORITY.

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NATURAL THINGS = TEMPORARY

SPIRITUAL THINGS = ETERNAL.

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Focus: SICKNESS—CALLED SIN HAS INFECTED GOD’S CREATION.

BRINGS an ETERNAL DEATH SENTENCE....

100 percent mortality rate.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:13–15 (ESV)

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

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ADDRESSING PHYSICAL HEALTH—ASSUMING MOST PEOPLE ARE HEALTHY in SOUL…

But are you friend?

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Problem: WE’RE BORN INTO THIS WORLD—SINNERS SEPARATED from GOD…SICK...

Solution: WE NEED an ANTIDOTE— BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST

WE’RE HELPLESS to SAVE OURSELVES...

NO AMOUNT of GOOD WORKS—ANYTHING WE DO—CAN FIX IT...

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Gospel: FREE GIFT of GRACE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH:

FORGIVENESS & CLEANSING of SIN

BROUGHT ONTO PATH of TRUTH

MADE PART of GOD’S FAMILY

GIVEN HOPE of ETERNITY W/ HIM…

Invitation: HERE WITHOUT HOPE—

— HERE UNSURE ABOUT HEALTH of YOUR SOUL—

— I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY…

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Transition: WHAT’S the SCRIPTURE TEACHING US TODAY?

💡 Passage Idea Recap

Christians should desire complete health—body and soul—for themselves and others.

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💪VI. Application: The 3:2 Project

IT’S NOT WRONG to PRAY FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH of OTHERS—WE SHOULD.

SPIRITUAL CONCERNS = ALWAYS GREATER

DOESN’T MEAN PHYSICAL DOESN’T MATTER.

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AS YOUR PASTOR—I DESIRE HEALTH for YOU—BODY & SOUL.

Challenge: JUST BECAUSE HEALTH ISN’T ALWAYS PROMISED TO US,,

DOESN’T MEAN WE SHOULDN’T DO OUR PART

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CHRISTIANS SHOULD STRIVE —

— to STEWARD THEIR PHYSICAL BODY—

— BY the GRACE of GOD—FOR the GLORY of GOD

Exhort: IN WORLD FILLED W/ UNHEALTHY PEOPLE—CHRISTIANS SHOULD SEEK to STAND OUT

BODY = TEMPLE of H.S.

FRUIT of H.S. = SELF-CONTROL.

**Disclaimer** NOT 10 PACK-ABS,, BENCHING 500 LBS ETC...

BUT NATURAL PHYSICAL HEALTH—IN ORDER to DO OUR GOD-GIVEN DUTIES WELL.

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KNOWING GOD SET UP a WORLD of SOWING & REAPING…

KNOWING the BODY is NOT EVIL

KNOWING the BODY = GOD’S CREATION THAT WE ARE to STEWARD....

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3:2 PROJECT.

CHURCH WELLNESS INITIATIVE.

IF YOU’RE ALREADY HEALTHY—THAT’S GREAT.

IF YOU WANT to IMPROVE SOME AREA of YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH— PLEASE JOIN.

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OVER 6 WEEKS—WE’RE GOING to STRIVE to IMPROVE ONE AREA of HEALTH—VIA A NEW HEALTHY HABIT—MAKING BETTER CHOICES…

Nourishment

REPLACING SODA W/ WATER…

SMALLER DINNER PLATES

Movement

AIM for X STEPS a DAY...

MEN’S WALK/RUCK — TUESDAY @ 6:00…

STAIRS @ WORK

Restoration

7-8 HOURS of SLEEP

MENTAL HEALTH—GRATITUDE, ETC…

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CREATED a FB GROUP for ACCOUNTABILITY

END of CHALLENGE WE’LL HAVE a RAFFLE for THOSE INVOLVED… SEE ME FOR DETAILS…

PLEASE SEE ME W/ QUESTIONS…

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Conclusion:

I HOPE I DIDN’T OFFEND ANYONE THIS MORNING…

SHARE TRUTH BECAUSE I LOVE YOU…

PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to SHARE HARD TRUTH—I PRAY THAT it STIRS YOU

& THAT @ GRACE CHAPEL — not LIKE REST of the STATISTICS…

& WE WOULD PURSUE COMPLETE HEALTH—BODY & SOUL—

BY the GRACE of GOD…FOR the GLORY of GOD. AMEN?

Close in Prayer