Two Lessons for this Series

1. Sometimes the most meaningful and EFFECTIVE communication is SHORT and to the point!

2. The lessons for 2 John, 3 John and Jude are to KNOW the Truth and to REFUTE the deceivers.

Last Week We Learned . . .

1. The word TRUTH (or command, or teaching) was used 12 times in 13 verses giving us the key thought.

2. The word WALK was used three times indicating that once we know the Truth, we should live (walk in) it.

3. The main issue was to WATCH OUT for false teachers who are deceivers. Don’t even HOST them in your homes.

The Three Letters of John

— 1 John — It contains no PERSONAL references but is written to the WORLD (“dear children”).

— 2 John — It is written to a “chosen LADY and her children” (a CHURCH?) but contains no personal names.

— 3 John — written to an INDIVIDUAL and names three people specifically. This letter is very PERSONAL.

The Book of 3 John

1. An Example of HOSPITALITY.

3John 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 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. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

a. The writer is again JOHN the ELDER. He is the Apostle “whom Jesus loved” and the one who wrote 5 Bible books: the Gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; and the Book of Revelation.

John 13:23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

b. The key words are TRUTH, used 5 times and WALK, used twice. The THEME from the previous letter continues.

c. The recipient is GAIUS. There were three other men in the New Testament with the SAME name, which was very COMMON at that time. His life, otherwise, is UNKNOWN to us. Except . . .

1. He was a DEAR friend of John and was LOVED.

2. He was an object of SPECIFIC prayer for two things:

— Good PHYSICAL health

— Good SPIRITUAL health

3. He knew the TRUTH and WALKED it. (A joy to John)

4. He was HOSPITABLE to traveling believers. And this is given as an EXAMPLE to all of us.

2. An Example to Be AVOIDED.

3John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about 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.

a. John wrote a letter that is LOST to us today.

b. John identified a PROUD man in the church whose name was Diotrephes. We learn the following about him:

1. He was SELF-centered (Pride is the source of all sin!)

2. He REJECTED the truth.

3. He was a GOSSIP.

4. He was not HOSPITABLE.

5. He was standing in the WAY of the WORK of the church.

c. John was planning to VISIT and IDENTIFY this man and his evil ways. This is a GOOD lesson for today!

3. An Example to Be FOLLOWED.

3John 11 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. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope  to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

a. Gaius was encouraged to compare the LIVES of two men and determine which one to FOLLOW. Don’t imitate evil people but, the righteous. (John spoke strongly saying that people who KEEP doing evil are NOT even believers!)

b. Demetrius was the kind of person to be imitated for THREE reasons:

1. EVERYONE spoke well of him which indicates HUMILITY.

2. The TRUTH testified for Demetrius, which means that if you stood him against God’s Word, he was HONORABLE.

3. John was ALSO able to speak on Demetrius’ behalf! And John’s word was quite an AFFIRMATION!

c. The letter is SHORT as John intended to visit this church and talk face to face and DEAL with the problems.

Lessons:

Walking in the TRUTH makes us WORTH following! Make it your continuing goal for 2020.

For Discussion:

This letter is about the testimony of three men. With which do you most identify and why?

Do you have a “Diotrephes” in your life? If so, how should you deal with that person?

What do you like best about the description of Demetrius?