3 John: What example am I?

John’s third letter – last in our series

Similarities: Truth and LoveDifferences: the only one with named individuals

Were the letters hand-carried by one of these men? • 1 John: a letter to many churches • 2 John: a letter to a specific church• 3 John: a letter about a specific situation – to

encourage, to reprimand and to recommend

3 John: What example am I?

Three people – role models good and bad

Gaius Diotrephes Demetrius

3 John: What example am I?

Practical Truth+Love Lessons for Us

• Generosity, giving in spirit and in action

• Ownership: Whose is it anyway?

3 John: What example am I?

Gaius‘My dear friend, whom I love in the truth.’John’s prayer for Gaius:To be as healthy in his body as he is in his spiritual life.

‘Mens sana in corpore sano’: a healthy mind in a healthy body. God’s care for Elijah: “get up and eat”. 1 Kings 19.5,7

3 John: What example am I?

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love.3 John 3-6a

3 John: What example am I?

GaiusTwo reports: ‘Your faithfulness to the truth’v3

‘Faithful in your love, even for strangers’ v5-6

Truth + kindness; Love + discernment

3 John: What example am I?

Who are the ‘strangers’? ‘The brothers and sisters’ – travelling evangelists.Please send them on their way in a manner that honours God. It was for the sake of the Name (Jesus) that they went out, receiving no help from outsiders. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. v6b-8

3 John: What example am I?

GaiusGenerosity: a specific command to open our homes to evangelists and missionaries, and to support their ministry in prayer and giving.

Truth + kindness; Love + discernmentAs the believers report to John, Gaius demonstrates truth in love and action, and faith in love and action.

3 John: What example am I?

Three people – role models good and bad

Diotrephes‘loves to be FIRST’ 3 John 9

3 John: What example am I?

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. …Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.3 John 9-10

3 John: What example am I?

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. …Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.3 John 9-11

3 John: What example am I?

Three people – role models good and bad

Diotrephes‘loves to be first’ ‘has not seen God’ v9 v11

3 John: What example am I?

Ownership: Whose is it anyway?“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” 1 Chron 29.14

• Moses and the Tent in the wilderness• David preparing for the building of Solomon’s

Temple• The Jerusalem church in Acts 4.34-37

3 John: What example am I?

Ownership: Whose is it anyway?

Releasing what we’ve achieved

3 John: What example am I?

Ownership: Whose is it anyway?

Releasing what we’ve achievedReleasing what we have: health, strength, skills, money, time – ‘Talent, Treasure, Time’

3 John: What example am I?

Demetrius is well spoken of Demetriusby everyone – and even by the truth Itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.3 John 12

3 John: What example am I?

Three people – role models good and badGaius Diotrephes Demetrius

What example am I?