FELLOW WORKERS FOR THE TRUTH
3 John 1:5-9
(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, November 16th, 2025)
Honey bees visit over 2 million flowers and fly over 55,000 miles to produce a single pound of honey. It takes about 560 bees to make 1 pound of honey. A single worker bee produces a very small amount of honey in its lifetime, roughly 1/12th of a teaspoon.
This example from nature is a great illustration of how important it is for God’s people to work together. We are far more effective when we work together than if we attempt to be productive on our own. The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).
When I speak of working together, it is important for you to understand that this involves more than the members of this specific local assembly. We are members of Antioch Baptist Church, but even greater is the fact that we are members of the Church Universal. Our Savior expects all of His people to work together to advance His cause. To be successful in this endeavor we must be willing to cooperate with our fellow Saints locally, nationally, and internationally. This means that we must be focused on cooperation and guard against competition.
John’s Third letter is addressed to his beloved friend Gaius. Gaius was known by the Brethren as a man who exhibited great compassion and generous hospitality. He was a vibrant servant of Christ who walked in the truth and supported his fellow saints; those whom he knew, and even strangers that he encountered who were laboring for the cause of Christ.
John warned Gaius about a certain man in the church named Diotrephes who instead of working with the servants of Christ, worked against them. Furthermore, he rejected John’s apostolic authority and talked “wicked nonsense” about him. John goes on to declare that Diotrephes was one who “likes to put himself first”. Because of his desire for preeminence, Diotrephes “refused to welcome the brothers, and also stopped those who wanted to and put them out of the church” (v10).
Far too often, local churches compete for members, for influence, and for resources. Rather than competing, it is important for us to cooperate with our fellow Saints locally and globally. I would like to examine John’s commendation of Gaius and his instructions to him and consider the subject “Fellow Workers For The Truth”.
In verse eight John stresses the importance of Christian cooperation saying, “Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” For us to be fellow workers for the truth, we must understand:
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOSPITALITY
v5 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.
John speaks of the “faithful thing you do”; this is a reference to the hospitality Gaius extended to traveling missionaries. “Hospitality” is the Christian virtue of welcoming and caring for strangers, enemies, and those in need without expecting anything in return. Gaius gladly opened his home to those brethren who had committed themselves to the preaching of the Gospel. He did this not only for those whom he knew personally, but also for “strangers”,
In the early days of the church, (and to some extent throughout Church history) itinerant preachers and missionaries were helped by other “brethren”; as they journeyed thorough a certain area. As they traveled and preached the Gospel, compassionate Christian brothers and sisters would provide them with food, a place to stay and various other necessities.
I remember hearing my grandparents talk about the days of “circuit preachers”. In the “horse and buggy days”, in certain regions there was a shortage of local clergy; as a result, some preachers would serve multiple churches in a designated area, known as a "circuit". It was common for a family within the church to invite the preacher into their home, provide him with meals and a place to stay when he was in the area.
Just before He ascended, Jesus stated that the Gospel would spread from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and then all over the world. Certainly the Apostles, prophets, pastors, and evangelists were vital to this mission. But they would not have been as successful in their evangelistic and missionary efforts without the help and support of hospitable Christian brethren.
Gaius, Phoebe, Philemon, and countless other Saints in scripture extended compassion and hospitality to other Christians; some they knew and some they didn’t. We should follow their example and do the same today. Christian hospitality is not just an admirable attribute; it is a trait that God expects from His people.
The traveling ministers not only informed John of (Gaius’) compassion and hospitality, the had “testified to (his) love before the church”. This humble servant of Christ was well known throughout the churches in the region. His reputation spread throughout the area and his acts of kindness and hospitality have served as an example throughout Church history.
This should be a tremendous inspiration for us. We are often presented with the opportunity to support the work of our fellow Saints (pastors, preachers, evangelists, missionaries, etc.) We will never know this side of Heaven the true eternal impact of our acts of hospitality. Furthermore, we are unable to see or measure the reach of our financial contributions to the Gospel ministry. Moreover, for those actively involved in ministry/mission efforts, there is no way to know the eternal impact of our service to the Lord.
Gaius did not know that the Holy Spirit would see fit to record his name in the Word of God, he did not know that we would be talking about his service to the Lord and the Church two thousand years later, and he could not have known that God would use him as an example for future generations of Christians.
There are multitudes of other Christian servants mentioned in the scriptures and known throughout the history of the Church who are still being used of the Lord years, decades, centuries, and even millennia after their deaths to spread the Gospel and advance the Kingdom.
Every day people all over the world read the testimonies of the Saints in the Bible. On a daily basis people read the works of Luther, Whitfield, Edwards, Spurgeon, Wesley, and countless others. We are privileged to watch the classic crusades of Billy Graham and listen to audio sermons of Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, John MacArthur and a host of others.
Furthermore, untold millions are benefitting from the work of multitudes of unknown Saints who were faithful to stand in a pulpit and preach the gospel, teach a Sunday School class, or serve children in VBS or Children’s Church. Some of you belong to Jesus today because of some passionate servant of Christ who knocked on you door and shared the Gospel with you.
Though you may not realize it, you may be that person for someone else. If you are faithful to serve the Lord where He has placed you, if you are compassionate and hospitable, if you are “steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord”, He can use your service to Him in the present and He can use your service long after you draw your last breath!
This passage teaches us that if we extend hospitality and support others in their Gospel efforts, we “will do well”. John encourages Gaius by saying “You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.” The context of “sending” others “on their journey” refers to sending people forth with the necessary material such as needed possessions or financial support. When we support someone “in a manner worthy of God” we literally care for those sent out as ambassadors of Christ in the same way we would care for the Savior.
In many of the New Testament Epistles when the authors wrote about love, they were referring to a kind of affection that led to the meeting of ones needs. In the same way, churches today should work to assist each other and further the work of the gospel.
While we must always be ready to extend hospitality to our fellow saints, we must ensure that those that we are helping are truly fellow saints! This leads us to:
THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCERNMENT
The itinerant preachers were worthy of receiving compassion, hospitality, and financial support from the Brethren because “they had gone out for the sake of the name”. There were many false teachers in those days who were motivated by “filthy lucre”, (shameful gain).Such men were only guilty of taking advantage of others for their own advancement and financial prosperity. Those that John is referring to were minsters of the Gospel with pure motives. They had compassion for lost souls, a desire to teach and train Christians, and ultimately they sought to bring honor and glory to Christ.
We are to be careful to ensure that those whom we support are true ambassadors of Christ. We must examine their lives, ministry, and doctrine to ensure that they are legitimate servants of the Savior. When one meets these qualifications, the will be one who is not ministering for themselves, they are representatives of the One who has sent them. When we treat them as we would treat the Savior, we “do well”.
Furthermore, we have the blessed opportunity to share in the rewards of that ministry. Jesus said in Matthew 10:41 “The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” Often in the New Testament, the term “prophet” is used to describe someone who has been divinely commissioned to proclaim the Word of God. When we receive such a person, we will entertain and welcome him, treating him with kindness and respect because he is a servant of the Lord Jesus. Our Savior declares that when we minister to those who minister to others we are entitled to receive the same reward as the prophet himself.
I have been blessed to serve in vocational ministry for twenty years. This is only possible because of gracious Saints who have given to support me financially. Because of their faithful (and often sacrificial) giving I have the ability to spend ample time praying, studying, and proclaiming the message of the Gospel. When God uses me to reach a lost person with the Gospel, to reach one who has strayed from the Lord, to edify other Christians, and to equip the Saints for the work of the ministry, those supporters share in the work and in the rewards.
- We have seen the importance of hospitality and discernment, now let’s consider:
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY
Those whom Gaius loved and supported were servants who went out for the sake of Christ and refused to accept any sort of financial support from those who were not in the faith. John says; “For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles” (v7).
One reason that these men needed and deserved financial support from the brethren is because they made a practice of “accepting nothing from the Gentiles.” These Christian servants did not want to put themselves in a position where they could be accused of laboring with the intent of receiving personal gain. Since the missionaries were “taking nothing from the Gentiles”, those within the Church were their only means of support. There are many pastors, evangelists, and missionaries in the world today who are able to serve the Lord as a result of the faithful support of their Christian Brethren.
Seeing that we are “fellow workers for the truth”, this means that there may be times when we are not the one giving, but the one receiving hospitality, financial support, or even a personal endorsement of our ministry. Therefore, it is imperative that we are operating with integrity and that our ultimate motivation is not financial gain or our own glory, but rather our motivation is “the sake of the Name”.
- For us to be “fellow workers for the truth” cooperation is essential. This leads us to:
THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION
v8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Not everyone is called to be a pastor, an evangelist, or a missionary; but all Christians are to be actively involved in the Great Commission. When we support those who have been called to specific areas of ministry we are fellow laborers in the gospel ministry. John refers to this as being “fellow workers for the truth.”
In his Second Epistle, John forbids Christians from showing hospitality to false teachers. He said, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 John 10-11). The idea is that those who would show hospitality or provide support for false teachers share in their evil deeds.
Here in 3rd John we are confronted with a different scenario, one where the teacher is a genuine servant of the Lord Jesus. John declares that if we are faithful to encourage, care for, and support true Gospel ministers, we are actively involved in those ministries and as a result we will share in the rewards.
When we “support people like these” we are “fellow workers for the truth.” Furthermore, this is expected of us. John says we ought to support people like these”. We must do everything we can to help such people. It is not enough to simply see the need; we must go a step further and seek to meet the need. While it is admirable (and vital) for us to offer prayers, we must be willing to do all that is within our power to “support people like these”.
Our Lord expects there to be unity and partnership among His people. This means that there should be a spirit of hospitality, compassion, and cooperation among Christians who meet together as well as with those who meet in other churches. We must never view the church down the road, across town, or in another state as a competitor. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ and we should seek and seize opportunities to strive side by side for the sake of the Gospel.
Just as John commended Gaius, I am thrilled that I can commend you! Though we are far from a perfect church, the members of this assembly are some of the most supportive and generous people that I have ever met. You are so gracious to provide each member of our staff to serve the Lord and care for our families. Anytime there is a need or an opportunity to support or encourage another church, a mission organization, or a parachurch ministry you go above and beyond what is needed.
Just a few examples are your support of Samaritan’s Purse, the Gideon’s international, Servant’s Alive, Teen Challenge, World Changers, Local mission trips, and foreign missionaries. You are actively involved in supporting the Calhoun Baptist Association, the Alabama Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board, and The International Mission Board. I am also so appreciative of how you are supportive of other local churches.
The members of Antioch Baptist Church are indeed “Fellow Workers For The Truth” and for that, I am truly thankful! I pray that this work continues; if it does, it will be because we understand THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY. That is, we will not be focused on ourselves, our ministries, or even advancing Antioch. Rather, we must be focused on advancing the cause of Christ.
As we seek to labor with others in an effort to spread the Gospel and advance God’s Kingdom, we must comprehend THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCERNMENT. This means that we must ensure that those whom we partner with are genuine servants of Christ. At the same time, we must never lose sight of THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY. When we yoke up with other believers, we must operate in such a way that we are worthy of their trust, support, encouragement, and endorsement. The overarching theme of this passage is THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION. Never forget that we can accomplish far more together that we can on our own.
The reason that we cooperate with our fellow Saints is so that people will hear the Gospel and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I hope that you have done that; if not, I encourage you to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation today. If you have, then it is vital for you to be actively involved in the process of making disciples. Our Lord designed His Church to work together, and He is honored, glorified, and pleased when His people are “fellow workers for the truth”!
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