Trusting God with my Church / 3 John

Trusting God with my Church / 3 John

News, verse by verse, through a whole book. Good news, it's the shortest book in the whole bible. 3 John. A letter written to an individual about how to relate to people in his church.

The church is not a building or an institution. The church is an assembly of people. People make church wonderful. And people make church hard.

As we consider the members of this early church, we will learn how to relate to 5 stereotypes that are present in all churches.

The Hospitable Servant

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.

John the apostle loves Gaius. And his love is rooted in truth. Love without truth is just emotion and sentimentality.

We should avoid the prosperity gospel. That Jesus died to make you happy, healthy, and wealthy in this life. But we should also avoid a guilt-trip gospel that glorifies suffering and hardship. Generally speaking, obedience to God leads to blessing.

He is confident that Gaius’ soul is well. So he simply wishes for his circumstances to match the health of his soul.

Would you rather have vibrant circumstances or a vibrant soul? Nursing home contrast. “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither.”

― C.S. Lewis

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.

What is your greatest joy? When your politician is elected? Retirement? When your team wins? John’s greatest joy was seeing the next generations of Christians walking in the truth.

John Cundiff story - a selfless ambition

Serve in the children's ministry. Shout during baptisms! Don’t let anyone dismiss you because of your age, including yourself.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. The hospitable servant housed missionaries in a day when lodging would be dangerous and scarce. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. They are sent for the sake of the name, so they should be supported in a way worthy of the name. HOA bible study example. They depend on us. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Hold the rope “Before leaving for India in 1793, “There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the centre of the earth; who will venture down to explore it?”

Carey famously told Fuller, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the rope.” Fuller responded, “I will most certainly hold the rope.” And he did. Fuller held the rope by traveling the British Isles, raising funds and preaching missions-related sermons.” - Cornerstone International.

Gaius was a hospitable servant.

The Selfish Gatekeeper

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Author James Boice said of this section, “This is the original and greatest of all sins. It is the sin of Satan, who was unwilling to be what God had created him to be and who desired rather to be ‘like the Most High.’” Diotrephes has asked Jesus to get out of the pulpit, get off the head chair of the elder meeting, for him to assume authority.

Churches can fall into the ditch of ignoring truth and making the door of membership too wide (LGBT flags). But we can also fall into the error of locking the door of membership to people who should be let in.

Let it never be said of River Oak that we push away true believers simply because they do not dress like us, look like us, and share our preferences.

I am over groups. Open and closed groups. It is one thing to close a group because you are out of space. It is another thing to close a group because everything and everyone is exactly as you like. You are in danger of becoming Diotrephes. He liked to put himself first.

Our culture worships the self. Self-love. Self-help. Self-care. Self-trust. John the beloved calls out Diotrephes. We should too. Stop the “Whisper campaign.”

Diotrephes was a selfish gatekeeper.

The Trusted Leader

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

What is your reputation in the church? It matters. Demetrius was a trusted leader. Trusted by the people. Affirmed by the truth. Trusted even by the apostles. John banks his reputation on the reliability of Demetrius.

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” But blessed are you when the whole church speaks well of you.

In a day of compromise and public failure, remember, faithfulness is an option: Daniel, Joseph, Stephen, Ruth, Mary, Billy Graham, Adrian Rogers.

We must pray for one another. I pray for my dad.

Demetrius was a trusted leader.

The Loving Elder

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Elder - John. Used the technology of his day, but he knew, and we know, that in-person discipleship is superior.

Green light, yellow light, red light. Most are in the yellow because you cannot see them.

Do you have leaders who know you personally and whom you know personally?

AI Deception, face-to-face might become more valuable. I am grateful for technology, but it is limited. As much as you can, commit to face-to-face.

John was a loving elder.

The Friends

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

You do not choose your family, but you do choose your friends. The church is more than family; we are called to be friends.

You may think, how can we be friends? We don’t have much in common. We have the foundation in common, we walk in the truth. The truth can overcome any preferential or cultural difference.

Most of the church is made up of simple friends. Churches exist because of friends.

The four ladies who climbed through the window into the church to pray - First Baptist Church, Charlston 1600’s 1892, “Church “officially” closed due to economic hardship and

membership losses, but dedicated women kept the church

alive in secret prayer meetings.”

Ironbridge example

Who are you imitating?

The best defense against weeds is healthy grass.

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Everyone imitates. My three-year-old imitates Spider-Man. Basketball players imitate Michael Jordan. They want to be like Mike. Who do you want to be like?

Imitate the hospitable servant in Don Budde. Demote the selfish gatekeeper. Imitate the trusted leader Harry Wilkinson. Imitate the loving elder, Dave Vellony. Imitate the dedicated, humble, committed friends.