3 John
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It was between September 2000 and December 2001 that my writing skills would increased more than they had ever don before. Over those sixteen months I would write a postcard almost every single day to a very special friend, my best friend. She would soon over that time become my fiance and in January of 2002 I was blessed to marry my best friend. It was during this time that not only did I write but I also recieved letters and postcards. There were times these letters long or brief would come when I was going through a difficult time or season of life, and would offer encouragement. Now these letters were not inspired by God, but they were inspired by love and a growing friendship.
3 John is the shortest book in the entire Bible. It is very personal in nature, written to an individual. As we approach this book I want you to imagine with me something that may or may not occur in our lifetime...
Imagine:
Imagine:
Meeting as a church family is illegal
Teaching in public settings cannot happen
YOU now have to study God’s Word
As we go through these shorter books of the Bible I desire to equip you to handle God’s Word! Don’t be scared to read and study God’s Word… Let us pray as we engage with God’s Word this morning!
You’ve Got Mail!!!
You’ve Got Mail!!!
Step 1: Open it up!
Step 2: Read it start to finish (don’t start in the middle)
let’s read this letter together, (oh by the way, there were NO chapters and verses in the original)
3 John 1-15 reads like this:
Typically I will strive to read a book at least two to three times. Scripture is the Word of God, allow it to speak for itself!
Often I will read it in several translations (NASB, ESV, NLT, NET, NIV) etc.
Step 1: Open it up!
Step 2: Read it start to finish
Step 3: A.I.M. (Author’s Intended Meaning)
NOT what does it mean to you.
We discover the meaning in context…
Who is it written to... Gaius
Who is writing it… John
Observe what is John stating:
It’s very personal letter
Charge to do what’s right
Love the brother’s and sisters in Christ
Welcome TRUE teachers
Don’t be like Diotrephes
Welcome Demetrius
Step 4: Observations Closer / Record Observations
Look at the various sections
Record your thoughts allow your mind to engage with your hand
Help yourself remember
Opening… This is a very dear friendship
Paragraph 1… Commending Gaius
Good reports of him
Strong in spirit
(side note… would you want someone to pray your health is as strong as your spirit is?
NASB= “I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers”
There is joy in seeing those you minister to grow in faith
Paragraph 2… Provision for Ministry
It is good and necessary to minister to those who minister Truth
The church is to meet this need NOT the world
Paragraph 3… Don’t be like Diotrephes
Church was established with plural elder leadership
This man sought greater authority (Bishop)
Disregarded the Truth
Loved power, wrong actions, slanderous towards leadership,
Refuses any others, gets rid of any who oppose him
John will deal with him
Paragraph 4… List some contrast and introduces Demetrius
Follow good NOT Diotrephes
Be commited to truth NOT opposed to the truth
Followers of God do good vs evil do not know God
The source of our actions come directly to our relationship with God
Demetrius: his credentials… people speak highly, TRUTH speaks highly of him, the apostles and brothers in Christ speak highly
Closing… Seeking fellowship & Mutual Bond in Christ
there is the ability to fellowship as soon as one is a follower of Christ
Our spirit resonates with their spirit
Step 5: Consider in Context of ALL Scripture
This grows with time and study
Example: Follow what is good (Christ) Philippians 2:5-8
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Example: Loving others Matthew 22:37-40
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Step 6: Seek Scholars other sources
Good study bible
Elders or teachers / parents (encourage kids to ask their parents something new about the bible each day)
Library online faithlife
Step 7: Meditate on it
Give pause / slow down
God Himself is communicating to you and I through written form!
Step 8: Apply it… Now What?
You know what it means / you have studied it / prayed over it
Do what is right, regardless of how influential those around you or what they will think. Love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and allow the truth to be what guides you, not man or their opinion.