Living in Truth and Love: A Christian Call
Summary
### Summary
Today, we conclude our series on the books of John by delving into the third book of John. This book emphasizes the importance of hospitality, friendship, and living in truth and love within the Christian community. We began by discussing the general lesson objective, which is to understand the importance of living in truth and love, and how these two virtues are inseparable. We also touched on the role of hospitality and how it fits into our Christian lives.
John starts his letter by addressing Gaius, whom he loves in truth. This greeting sets the tone for the entire letter, emphasizing the close and affectionate relationship between John and Gaius. John prays for Gaius to prosper in all things, including his health and soul, highlighting a holistic approach to well-being. He rejoices greatly when he hears from others about Gaius walking in the truth, comparing it to the joy parents feel when they hear good reports about their children.
We then moved on to discuss the importance of hospitality, not just towards fellow Christians but also towards strangers. John commends Gaius for his faithful actions towards both brethren and strangers, emphasizing that true hospitality reflects our love for God. I shared a personal story about how hospitality impacted my own journey when I first came to China and met Elder Robby and Pam. Their hospitality made me feel welcomed and helped me build lasting relationships.
John also talks about supporting missionaries, stating that it is the church's responsibility to support those who leave their homes to spread the gospel. He emphasizes that Christians should support other Christians, not relying on non-believers for this support. This makes us co-workers in the mission, even if we cannot physically go to the mission field ourselves.
We then discussed the conflict within the church, specifically mentioning Diotrephes, who refused to acknowledge John's authority and even tried to excommunicate those who did. John advises that we should not imitate what is evil but what is good, and that those who do good are of God. He encourages believers to handle conflicts in a biblical manner, following the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15-17.
Finally, John concludes his letter with a greeting, expressing his desire to see the recipients face to face rather than writing with pen and ink. He emphasizes the importance of knowing each other by name, as it helps in building genuine relationships. This personal touch is crucial for developing true love and friendship within the Christian community.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Inseparability of Truth and Love: Truth and love are foundational to the Christian faith and cannot be separated. To live in truth is to live in love, and vice versa. This dual commitment shapes our relationships and our actions within the community. When we embody both, we reflect the character of Christ. [01:51]
2. Holistic Well-being: John prays for Gaius to prosper in all things, including his health and soul. This holistic approach to well-being reminds us that God cares about every aspect of our lives. Our physical health, mental state, and spiritual condition are all interconnected and important to God. [07:37]
3. The Power of Hospitality: True hospitality goes beyond mere politeness; it is a reflection of our love for God and others. When we welcome strangers and treat them with kindness, we create opportunities for deeper relationships and demonstrate the love of Christ. Hospitality can have a lasting impact, as it did in my own experience when I first came to China. [14:49]
4. Supporting Missionaries: It is the responsibility of the church to support missionaries, not relying on non-believers for this support. By doing so, we become co-workers in the mission, even if we cannot physically go ourselves. Our support, whether financial or otherwise, plays a crucial role in spreading the gospel. [20:57]
5. Handling Conflicts Biblically: Conflicts are inevitable, but how we handle them is crucial. John advises that we should not imitate what is evil but what is good. Following the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, we should address conflicts directly and seek reconciliation. This approach helps maintain unity and fosters a spirit of love and truth within the community. [30:46]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:51] - Introduction and Objectives
[04:26] - Greeting and Holistic Well-being
[07:37] - Joy in Walking in Truth
[09:52] - The Importance of Good Reports
[11:53] - Hospitality Towards Brethren and Strangers
[14:49] - Personal Story on Hospitality
[16:54] - The Role of Hospitality in the Church
[19:08] - Supporting Missionaries
[20:57] - Christians Supporting Christians
[23:11] - Conflict with Diotrephes
[25:59] - Handling Disagreements
[28:01] - Steps to Resolve Conflicts
[30:46] - Biblical Approach to Conflict Resolution
[32:47] - Imitating Good, Not Evil
[34:51] - Conclusion and Final Greetings
[37:05] - Importance of Knowing Names
[39:08] - Final Thoughts and Questions
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 3 John 1:1-15
2. Matthew 18:15-17
3. John 8:31-32
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John emphasize in his greeting to Gaius in 3 John 1:1-4? How does this set the tone for the rest of the letter? [06:01]
2. How does John describe the relationship between truth and love in his letter? Why are these two virtues inseparable according to the sermon? [03:16]
3. What specific actions of hospitality does John commend Gaius for in 3 John 1:5-8? How does this reflect on Gaius' character? [14:23]
4. What steps does Matthew 18:15-17 outline for handling conflicts within the church? How does this align with John's advice in dealing with Diotrephes? [28:44]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does John pray for Gaius to prosper in all things, including his health and soul? How does this holistic approach to well-being reflect God's care for us? [08:12]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the impact of hospitality on building relationships within the Christian community? Reflect on the personal story shared by the pastor. [15:01]
3. What does it mean to be co-workers in the mission by supporting missionaries, according to 3 John 1:8? How does this apply to the church's responsibility today? [23:01]
4. How should Christians handle conflicts within the church based on John's advice and the steps in Matthew 18:15-17? What are the potential outcomes of following these steps? [28:44]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you living in both truth and love? How can you better integrate these virtues in your daily interactions? [03:16]
2. John prays for Gaius' holistic well-being. What steps can you take to ensure you are caring for your physical, mental, and spiritual health? [08:12]
3. Think about a time when you experienced or offered hospitality. How did it impact your relationship with others? What can you do to improve hospitality in your church community? [15:01]
4. Supporting missionaries is a key theme in 3 John. How can you contribute to this mission, even if you cannot go to the mission field yourself? [23:01]
5. Conflicts are inevitable in any community. How can you apply the steps from Matthew 18:15-17 to resolve conflicts in a biblical manner? Share a specific conflict you are currently facing and how you plan to address it. [28:44]
6. John emphasizes the importance of knowing each other by name. How can you make an effort to learn and remember the names of people in your church? What practical steps can you take to build genuine relationships? [35:05]
7. Reflect on the story of Diotrephes. Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting authority or causing division? How can you change your behavior to align more with John's teachings? [25:17]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Inseparability of Truth and Love
Description:
Truth and love are foundational to the Christian faith and cannot be separated. To live in truth is to live in love, and vice versa. This dual commitment shapes our relationships and our actions within the community. When we embody both, we reflect the character of Christ. John’s letter to Gaius emphasizes this inseparability by addressing him as someone he loves in truth. This greeting sets the tone for the entire letter, highlighting the close and affectionate relationship between John and Gaius. It serves as a reminder that our relationships within the Christian community should be rooted in both truth and love. [01:51]
Bible Passage:
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." — 1 John 3:18 (ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a relationship in your life where you need to balance truth and love better. How can you take a step today to ensure that both are present in your interactions with this person?
### Day 2: Holistic Well-being
Description:
John prays for Gaius to prosper in all things, including his health and soul. This holistic approach to well-being reminds us that God cares about every aspect of our lives. Our physical health, mental state, and spiritual condition are all interconnected and important to God. John’s prayer for Gaius highlights the importance of seeking balance and health in every area of our lives. It’s a call to not neglect any part of our well-being, understanding that our physical, mental, and spiritual health are all vital to our overall prosperity. [07:37]
Bible Passage:
"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." — 3 John 1:2 (ESV)
Reflection:
Identify one area of your life—physical, mental, or spiritual—that needs attention. What practical steps can you take today to improve your well-being in that area?
### Day 3: The Power of Hospitality
Description:
True hospitality goes beyond mere politeness; it is a reflection of our love for God and others. When we welcome strangers and treat them with kindness, we create opportunities for deeper relationships and demonstrate the love of Christ. Hospitality can have a lasting impact, as it did in the personal experience shared about meeting Elder Robby and Pam in China. Their hospitality made a significant difference, fostering a sense of belonging and community. This example underscores the transformative power of genuine hospitality in our lives and the lives of others. [14:49]
Bible Passage:
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." — Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)
Reflection:
Think of someone new or someone you don’t know well in your community. How can you extend hospitality to them this week in a way that reflects Christ’s love?
### Day 4: Supporting Missionaries
Description:
It is the responsibility of the church to support missionaries, not relying on non-believers for this support. By doing so, we become co-workers in the mission, even if we cannot physically go ourselves. Our support, whether financial or otherwise, plays a crucial role in spreading the gospel. John emphasizes that Christians should support other Christians who leave their homes to spread the gospel, making us co-workers in the mission. This support is vital for the continuation and expansion of the gospel message. [20:57]
Bible Passage:
"Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." — 3 John 1:8 (ESV)
Reflection:
Consider how you can support a missionary or mission work today. What specific action can you take to contribute to their efforts, whether through prayer, financial support, or other means?
### Day 5: Handling Conflicts Biblically
Description:
Conflicts are inevitable, but how we handle them is crucial. John advises that we should not imitate what is evil but what is good. Following the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, we should address conflicts directly and seek reconciliation. This approach helps maintain unity and fosters a spirit of love and truth within the community. John’s advice to handle conflicts biblically is a call to address issues directly and seek reconciliation, ensuring that our actions reflect the goodness of God. [30:46]
Bible Passage:
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." — Matthew 18:15 (ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a conflict you are currently facing. How can you apply the biblical steps of conflict resolution to seek reconciliation and reflect God’s goodness in this situation?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We need to understand the importance of finding someone that we have a good relationship with and imitating them, but make sure that they are doing the right thing. Make sure they're doing the right thing. If they're doing the wrong thing, then we need to be careful and not follow them. But if they're doing the right thing, it's okay to imitate them. The Bible says there's nothing new in the world. There's nothing new. So whatever you do, someone has already done it. The question is, are you following them because it's something good or are you following them because it's something bad? We should always be looking for something good to imitate." [32:47]
2. "When you don't know someone's name and you call them by name, sometimes that person gets offended. Some people get offended when you don't know their name. I don't look good in clarity of the day. You know, she's new and we were calling around, I was calling the kids' names, the kids I knew, and I got to her and I just said, 'Red,' you know. She was offended because I was calling everybody else's name but I wasn't calling her name. And I made sure I got it. So the next class birthday idea was called by name. But why is that important? To develop a relationship. It develops a relationship. You can't have a relationship with someone that you don't know the name. It's impossible." [37:05]
3. "When someone from your country calls back home, what do they want to know? 'How is she? What's she up to? What's she doing?' And when someone gives a good report, what do your parents say? Your parents say, 'Good, they're okay.' It's one thing to hear from me that I'm okay. There's another thing to hear from someone else that says I'm okay. It's a difference there. You understand what you're saying there? That's a difference. You know, you ask me, you know, I mean, you're the parents saying, 'Well, how are you doing?' I'm doing fine. I'm okay. What they hear that, right? If someone else says, 'You know, your son is doing great. Your daughter, she's doing great.' It's a little different. It's a little different clearly." [09:52]
4. "Hospitality is important. Hospitality shows love for God in how you treat other people. When I first came to China and I went to the Chinese church, I met Elder Robby and Pam. After church, we went to lunch. I didn't have to pay the first time. Now, after that, every time we went, I had to pay. But the first time, I didn't have to pay. What did that do? That gave me an opportunity to learn about Pam, learn about Robby, learn about JICL, and now I'm still here. Because of their hospitality, I did. So the question that we need to ask ourselves is, what are we doing here hospitality-wise?" [14:49]
5. "When you bless others, you get blessed. The idea is for people to be able to say that you were a good host, good enough that they tell everyone else about it. That's what's happening here. They went forth in His name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. They were preaching to the Gentiles, and mostly good, well, a whole pan who always giving them food, not the Gentiles. They didn't ask the Gentiles to give them food. They expected the church to do that. They expected the church to do that, not the Gentiles to support them. It's our responsibility to support missionaries, people who are doing things like that. We should not expect anyone else to do that. We're supposed to do that." [20:57]
### Quotes for Members
1. "We need to understand the importance of finding someone that we have a good relationship with and imitating them, but make sure that they are doing the right thing. Make sure they're doing the right thing. If they're doing the wrong thing, then we need to be careful and not follow them. But if they're doing the right thing, it's okay to imitate them. The Bible says there's nothing new in the world. There's nothing new. So whatever you do, someone has already done it. The question is, are you following them because it's something good or are you following them because it's something bad? We should always be looking for something good to imitate." [32:47]
2. "When you don't know someone's name and you call them by name, sometimes that person gets offended. Some people get offended when you don't know their name. I don't look good in clarity of the day. You know, she's new and we were calling around, I was calling the kids' names, the kids I knew, and I got to her and I just said, 'Red,' you know. She was offended because I was calling everybody else's name but I wasn't calling her name. And I made sure I got it. So the next class birthday idea was called by name. But why is that important? To develop a relationship. It develops a relationship. You can't have a relationship with someone that you don't know the name. It's impossible." [37:05]
3. "When someone from your country calls back home, what do they want to know? 'How is she? What's she up to? What's she doing?' And when someone gives a good report, what do your parents say? Your parents say, 'Good, they're okay.' It's one thing to hear from me that I'm okay. There's another thing to hear from someone else that says I'm okay. It's a difference there. You understand what you're saying there? That's a difference. You know, you ask me, you know, I mean, you're the parents saying, 'Well, how are you doing?' I'm doing fine. I'm okay. What they hear that, right? If someone else says, 'You know, your son is doing great. Your daughter, she's doing great.' It's a little different. It's a little different clearly." [09:52]
4. "Hospitality is important. Hospitality shows love for God in how you treat other people. When I first came to China and I went to the Chinese church, I met Elder Robby and Pam. After church, we went to lunch. I didn't have to pay the first time. Now, after that, every time we went, I had to pay. But the first time, I didn't have to pay. What did that do? That gave me an opportunity to learn about Pam, learn about Robby, learn about JICL, and now I'm still here. Because of their hospitality, I did. So the question that we need to ask ourselves is, what are we doing here hospitality-wise?" [14:49]
5. "When you bless others, you get blessed. The idea is for people to be able to say that you were a good host, good enough that they tell everyone else about it. That's what's happening here. They went forth in His name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. They were preaching to the Gentiles, and mostly good, well, a whole pan who always giving them food, not the Gentiles. They didn't ask the Gentiles to give them food. They expected the church to do that. They expected the church to do that, not the Gentiles to support them. It's our responsibility to support missionaries, people who are doing things like that. We should not expect anyone else to do that. We're supposed to do that." [20:57]
6. "We need to understand is that we all are supposed to be subjected to someone else. We're all wrong like we talked about before is that even me, I'm the pastor of this church, but I have a pastor. I have someone who holds me accountable. I have someone I can call and talk to and say, 'Help, I need help.' When you get to the point where you don't need that, then something's wrong. Something's wrong when you get to the point where you can't talk to someone, ask someone, and accept the opportunity to accept the advice, then something's wrong. We know we can never get at that point. This young man did." [25:59]
7. "There are three steps. What is step one? If I have a problem with Clarence, what do I do? I tell everybody else, right? No, I go to Clarence. I have a conversation with Clarence. And then if Clarence says, 'I don't care who you are, I'm not listening to you,' then what do I do? I come back and I get Jibbo and Steven and the other Clarence, and we go back. I have a conversation with Clarence again, and Clarence says, 'I don't care what you said, I'm not willing to listen.' Then I say, 'Okay,' then we come back and that's when you find out about it. At that time, then you find out about it, and then you say, 'Okay, the other Clarence, you're not right. You have an option. You can get right or you can stay out.' We have an option. Clarence says, 'I'm going to stay out,' then he stays out. But if in the process Clarence says, 'Okay, I'm okay, I'm going to change,' then what do we say? We say, 'We've gained a brother. We've developed a relationship.' So there's nothing wrong with having conflicts. What's wrong is how you deal with the conflict." [30:46]
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