3 John A good report

INTRO

-Good morning you can turn to the book of 3 John today. If you need a Bible and want to look it up through the page number it is page 1,859.

-We will be in 3 John for the next two weeks and while it is a small book it actually covers a lot of things to help a church community, such as ours.

-So before we open God’s word why don’t we take a moment to open our hearts to him in prayer.

THE WORD

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

Per usual I thought it would be good to give you a little background/context with who wrote this book, why and what are the main reasons for writing it. You can write these down in your notes if you are following along with them.

Introduction to the letter of 3rd John

The elder is the apostle John.

-We know this through the writing style and the the date. He is around 70-80 years old when he is writing. So instead of driving around in a winnebago and collecting seashells, John is still pouring into others, the church and wanting to see the kingdom of God advance. That impresses me.

He is writing to a man and possible church leader named

Gaius is a faithful minister of the Gospel. We don’t know if it is the same Gaius that we read about in Acts, Romans, or 1 Corinthians where there is mention of a Gaius. However it was such a common name, such as John is today, that we are not sure.

This letter was written for celebration and condemnation. John will be celebrating and encouraging Gaius but will be condemning a man named Diotrephes, who we will get to next week.

This letter is important because it shows us Christian fellowship, and truth that is still important for us today. As I said before, this letter is small but it gives a glimpse into John’s leadership role like we see with Paul in his letters.

Something that you may have noticed in just these two verses John uses the word “truth four times. Either he needs to buy a dictionary to learn more words, or it is a really important word for him. I’ll go with the latter. We already talked about how when John says truth he can mean Jesus, since Jesus is the way the truth and the life. But I want to give you a couple more reasons that John believes truth is so important for not just Gaius, the brothers and the little children are walking in the truth.

TRUTH IMPORTANCE

The Greek word for “truth” in the New Testament is ἀλήθεια (alētheia), and it has the same basic definition as the English word: “the quality of being in accord with what is true” and “an actual event or state, reality.”

Truth in Jesus Christ shows us the reality of life.

-Who God is, who we are, what this world is, what sin actually is, how we are in a war, who our enemy is. All of this is important to know because without it you can be deceived to think otherwise.

Truth sets you free.

John says this in his Gospel,

English Standard Version Chapter 8

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John had lived under the teaching of these jewish leaders and understood the slavery that Jesus was talking about. The reality that religion does not save you because it is about rules and trying to be a good person which you can never attain. But when you are set free by the son, to become like Him through His forgiveness and His spirit, then you will be free indeed. Here is how you know the truth-not a seminary degree, not a perfect church attendance, not a Bible study leader, but are you free?

3. Truth is walked out

So truth is not just a confession, it is a life lived. We are to become living epistles of God’s spirit working and writing His will. John had no greater joy than when he say people walking in the truth because, I know I preached it before but man this is important we get this, this is what you and I were made for. We were not created to just sit still and confess something. We are to abide in the fine, be pruned, walk in fellowship with him, walk in fellowship with others! How do I do that Josh? I’m so happy you asked that because that is what John shows us here in the next couple verses.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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. 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. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

-Context: Brothers that were traveling teachers, that John knew, were recieved well and cared for by Gaius. They did not receive money from non believers because they were not there to build a ministry, or a title, but there to spread the kingdom of God. John once again, commends but also encourages Gaius to keep doing this.

-This may seem simple or even non essential, but John is showing us the beauty of the Body of Christ and walking in the truth in just these three verses that are important for us to remind ourselves.

-Why is this important? Because they, all three people, were doing what Jesus has commanded all of his followers, and so was Gaius, they were walking out the great commission. Some go. Some stay. Some pray. some give. We all have a part to play in the great commission.

-Honor academy experience of hearing a message called “The Plan” and how we all have a part of God’s plan, as seen here. So Let me explain where you might fit.

John is a Sender: A person who disciples others and sends them out.

-Mom and dads.

-Pastors and those who pour into others praying and believing for others to be sent out for the sake of the name.

Traveling ministers were Goers: People who go and spread the Gospel and encourage the body of Christ.

-Full time missionaries or people who go, leave their home and the comfort of what they grew up in to share the gospel.

-Part time, go on a mission trip.

Gaius was a stayer/host: A person who cares for goers spiritually, financially and in prayer.

-We don’t know his “role” in the church but ultimately he walked in love, the most important thing. He did what he could to live out the great commission.

Where do you see yourself in the plan?

-If we love the truth (Christ and His word) we will walk in faith and love which means there is action. Remember the message about get moving chubby legs?

-I’m grateful for our mission team but what would it look like if we all sought the Lord in this? God, you have a plan and I get to be a part of it. What is it?

-Why would we resist this? Why would we keep pursuing our own name, our own kingdom, and our own ways when this what it is all about? To be a church that lives, loves and serves like Jesus wherever and whenever. Whether it be the nations or your neighbors, to pray, to go, to host, to love. I know many of you are doing this and I would encourage you to do so more and more!

-If you are not, see this as an invitation. DOn’t get into worldly greif that brings regreat and condemnation. Oh man, I’m a terrible christian. No you are not. Maybe you go sidetracked, get back up and try again!