A Lesson in Discipleship
Scripture: 3 John 1:1-15
Introduction
- Today we will examine 3 John and hopefully see a very poignant theme
-- Setup: John’s writings late in life all surround reminders for the entire church
-- The reminder is regarding discipleship/faithfulness to what we have been taught
-- This letter is written to a man named Gaius
- Read 3 John 1-15
- Pray
? Point 1 – Greetings for a Friend
- John’s opening words (v1) in this letter indicate their relationship
-- This is a close friend … someone that John treasured knowing
-- But more than that – it’s someone that he knows is living properly in Christ
- John remarks that he loves him in the truth, same truth we’ve seen before
-- RE: John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life …”
-- APP: There is a fellowship of believers which is incredibly important
-- Not only are we to love those in the faith, but literally do life together
- APP: John has a relationship with Gaius that obviously includes great affection
-- Re-read verse 4
- Perhaps this man was a convert of John’s who now walks in Christ
-- Or even … this could be a Paul-Timothy relationship (discipleship)
- Gaius is a man who has earned John’s respect and love
-- John’s joy (don’t miss this) is because he has heard Gaius is walking in the truth
-- BIG: For you and me, there is no greater joy than seeing others live in Christ
- TRANS: In John’s time, hospitality was key in getting around (ex: to minister)
-- So, when we are offered hospitality, we must approach it with right attitude …
? Point 2 – Being thankful for a friend’s hospitality brings gratefulness
- Without a Hilton or a Marriot in sight, hospitality was key
- Gaius was one such individual who willingly opened his home to others
-- His home was always an open door and John knows this (v5)
-- John praises him for his ability to take care of those traveling for the Gospel
- Gaius willingly showed people Christian love by walking in the truth
-- Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
-- We do not know the impact we have on one another because of our willingness
-- 1 Peter 4:9, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (expound)
- Because Gaius was willing to open his home to these, his reputation was known
-- He’s encouraged to continue doing so (v6) … why? To send others on in love!
- HUGE: The Gospel was spread through people willing to reach out to others
- Challenge: If we had to open our homes … would we do so as well?
-- RE: It is for the sake of the name (Jesus) that these people went out (v7)
-- And notice, they received no help from the “world” (a.k.a. pagans)
-- So v8 becomes a command for us (esp. when it comes to living for God)
-- We ought to show hospitality … willingly walking together #doinglifetogether
- Even Jesus taught that welcoming a prophet is a good thing
-- 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.”
-- APP: We ought to be in the business of welcoming those in the faith; willingly
-- TALK: We’ve become experts at tearing one another apart … needs to stop!
- TRANS: This brings us to two men who John compares specifically
? Point 3 – Let’s examine a tale of two men …
- Diotrephes (dio-tre-phes) is missing this command (v9)
- It is likely that this man and Gaius were in the same church or the same town
-- He obviously has an issue with pride; he desires to be first in everything
-- More than likely, he favored himself to be above all & would not serve others
- Diotrephes may not have refused John, but he’s certainly refusing others
-- This action leads John to call him out, and promises to do so later as well (v10)
-- Even more than that, look what this man is doing to those in the church (see it)
1) Spreading malicious gossip about the church
2) Refusing to welcome others who are in the church
3) He even stopped those who were welcoming others
- APP: I really believe this is (sadly) still alive and well today
-- Break it down (pause): He didn’t want outsiders to come to his church!
-- He only wanted those he approved of, or liked, or knew he could control
- IMP: We must be the EXACT opposite of this … must bring everyone to Christ!
- We cannot get into the routine of deciding who is and isn’t worthy of Jesus
-- Jesus died for all, but this neg. spirit is more than alive today than ever before
- Identifier: What if (insert someone you don’t like) started coming here?
- Encouragement: If this attitude resides in your heart, ask God to remove it
- Thought: Gaius may have known this was happening, but he sure knows it now!
-- And more than that, knows that when John visits he will deal with it personally
-- If you think having the pope come to town is stressful … imagine John coming
-- John: Man who walked with Jesus & knows exactly how he should be acting
- John says that this man’s actions are evil, and we should avoid it (v11)
-- He is not saying Diotrephes is not saved … don’t hear that
-- But what he is doing is revealing a blind spot in his walk – from a believer
- This is discipleship, and this is what we need more of … every single day
-- We need people in our lives that will speak the truth to us
-- APP: If we are ever to grow in Christ, we must learn and accept this totally
-- This is why God puts people over us all to protect and help us grow
- Demetrius however, is the exact opposite …
-- He is walking in the truth, and exemplifying how to act towards others
-- He is even widely known in the church (v12) and others around John
- This encouragement serves a purpose: For Gaius to give him a pat on the back
-- Let him know that he is living rightly, and that his actions are favored by God
-- APP: Sometimes, we need to have someone pat us on the back …
- And yes, John’s encouragement is to do that very thing, and we need to it well
- TRANS: So, why is it important for us to see these two in contrast like this?
? Big Idea: Discipleship is more than just words, it is demonstrated by our actions
- Gaius was a friend of John’s and receives a warm greeting; fellowship
-- However these two men have very contrasting actions in the church
1. One is living rightly and is known by the church
2. One is not living rightly and is also known by the church
- Challenge: Which one do you want to be?
- John concludes that he has much more to write (v13), but will wait to see him
-- APP: Once again, we see John desiring to have fellowship with believers
- Do we feel the same way about getting together?
-- Remember, discipleship is a life-long process, and some are doing it well
- How do you rack up today? Is discipleship welcomed in your life?
-- Do you long for God to come in and change you, to mold you, to grow you?
- Pray
