3 John: When Pride Tries to Hinder the Work of God, Part 3 | 3 John 1:10 | Phillip McSwain Jr., Pstr

John exposes the danger of pride through Diotrephes, a church leader who liked to put himself first. Gaius welcomed and supported the servants of God, but Diotrephes rejected apostolic authority and spoke wicked nonsense against John. His pride did not stop with words. It moved into actions that harmed the church and tried to hinder the work of God.

Diotrephes acted like a hotel doorman who refused entry to guests with confirmed reservations. His responsibility was to welcome, but he made himself the gatekeeper. He refused the brothers who brought the truth, stopped believers who wanted to help them, and put those believers out of the church. Christ is the head of the church, but Diotrephes behaved as though the house belonged to him.

Hospitality belongs to the church’s obedience to God. Guarding the flock against false doctrine is necessary, but Diotrephes guarded the flock against the sound doctrine it needed to hear. One person’s unbiblical preference must never become the deciding factor for the whole church. God’s Word, not a leader’s insecurity or selfish ambition, must settle the matter.

Church discipline also belongs under God’s authority. Its purpose is to correct those who refuse to be discipled, not to force loyalty through fear. Diotrephes turned discipline into a weapon, threatening faithful people with exclusion for doing what was right. Such conduct divides the church, hinders growth, and places a stumbling block before believers.

John’s willingness to confront Diotrephes shows that love does not leave destructive sin alone. Believers are called to pray, speak the truth in love, and seek repentance rather than gather people for gossip. God’s grace leaves no room for boasting in self. Prideful people may cause real harm, but they cannot finally stop God’s work. The church must stand on his Word with humility, courage, and love.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Pride Turns Service Into Control. Diotrephes took a place meant for service and treated it as a position of ownership. His refusal to welcome faithful brothers revealed a deeper refusal to live under Christ’s authority. Leadership becomes dangerous when protecting a position matters more than helping the church receive what God has provided. [08:25]
• 2. Hospitality Must Answer To Scripture. Diotrephes was not protecting the church from another gospel; he was keeping out the truth that challenged his conduct. A leader’s personal preference cannot carry the authority of God’s Word. Faithful discernment tests decisions by Scripture rather than allowing one person’s insecurity to govern the whole church. [20:25]
• 3. Church Discipline Must Not Enforce Loyalty. Correction belongs in the church because believers still need to be admonished and discipled. Diotrephes crossed the line by using exclusion to frighten people into obedience to himself. Discipline that punishes faithfulness and demands personal loyalty works against the very growth it should serve. [31:28]
• 4. Loving Correction Requires Prayerful Courage. Leaving destructive behavior alone is not the same as showing love. John was willing to confront wrongdoing, and believers carry a responsibility to seek a wayward brother’s or sister’s repentance. Prayer should prepare the heart for a truthful conversation, not become a cover for gathering gossip or avoiding responsibility. [38:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:49] - Third John 9-10: Pride Against God’s Work
• [03:56] - The Doorman Who Refuses Entry
• [07:26] - Pride, Authority, and Harm to the Church
• [11:36] - The Danger of Mishandling God’s Work
• [14:28] - Refusing Hospitality and Sound Doctrine
• [20:25] - Scripture Above Personal Preference
• [23:35] - Becoming a Stumbling Block to Others
• [27:38] - Weaponizing Church Discipline
• [32:34] - Fear, Division, and Misplaced Loyalty
• [36:30] - Standing for Truth With Loving Courage
• [41:29] - An Invitation to Christ and Prayer

Bible Reading

3 John 1:9-10
“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.” [00:49]

Matthew 18:6
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” [27:38]

Romans 12:13
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” [17:16]

Observation questions

1. In 3 John 1:9–10, how did Diotrephes’ desire to put himself first show up in his treatment of John, the visiting brothers, and those who wanted to welcome them? [12:06]
2. How did Gaius and Diotrephes differ in their responses to God’s servants? [07:51]
3. What distinction is made between protecting the church from false teaching and what Diotrephes was doing? [16:17]
4. What did Diotrephes use the threat of removal from the church to demand from other believers? [31:28]

Interpretation questions

1. Why was Diotrephes’ refusal to welcome the brothers more than a disagreement about hospitality? How did it reveal his attitude toward Christ’s authority over the church? [08:25]
2. Romans 12:13 connects caring for believers’ needs with hospitality. How does that help explain the harm Diotrephes caused by stopping others from helping the brothers? [23:35]
3. How does Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:6 help explain the seriousness of pressuring believers not to do what is right? [27:31]
4. John intended to confront Diotrephes rather than leave his behavior alone. What separates correction that seeks repentance from correction that tries to control people? [37:00]

Application questions

1. When someone else’s idea or ability receives attention, what happens in your heart? Where might a desire to protect your place be making it harder to encourage someone else’s service? [17:20]
2. Think of a church preference you feel strongly about. How could you examine whether it comes from Scripture or from what feels familiar and comfortable? What would help you hold that preference humbly? [20:25]
3. Who could you welcome or support this week—a newcomer, a visiting ministry worker, or a believer with a practical need? What is one realistic way you could offer hospitality? [17:07]
4. Without naming anyone, can you recall a time when fear of someone’s disapproval made it difficult to do what you believed was right? What support would help you act with humility and courage in a similar situation? [31:28]
5. How do you usually respond when another believer corrects you? What could help you listen, test the correction against God’s Word, and acknowledge anything that needs to change? [29:28]
6. Is there a concern you have been discussing with others instead of addressing with the person involved? Without sharing identifying details, what might a prayerful, loving next step look like, and how could you avoid turning the concern into gossip? [39:06]