10.22.23

Walking in Truth:
“Characters in the Church”
3 John 1-15

I. Gaius: A

Christian. (vs 1-8)


1. He was spiritually healthy. (vs 2)


2. He lived what he believed. (vs 3-4)


3. He was hospitable. (vs 5-8)

II. Diotrephes: A

Christian. (vs 9-10)


1. Selfish . (v 9)


2. Selfish . (v 9)


3. Selfish . (vs 10)


“The greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matt 23:11


4. Selfish . (vs 10)


Matthew 13:24-25

III. Demetrius: An

Christian. (vs 11-12)


“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:13-14

DIGGING DEEPER:
1. Discuss what is “truth.” Read John 5:32-38 and I John 1:6-2:4. What tests will show whether the “truth” abides in us or not?


2. Apply those tests to the 3 characters in 3 John. What are your conclusions?


3. Read Psalm 119:89, 152, 160; Malachi 3:6; and Hebrews 13:8. In the light of John’s definitions of the “truth”, what do these verses tell us about whether the “truth” is changeable or negotiable?


4. Read I John 4:11-21. While we must not love one another for selfish ends, what are some of the blessings that can come to us as by-products of loving others?


5. Read Acts 9:36-40, Philippians 2:19-30, 2 Timothy 1:16-18 and Philemon 4-7. In what ways did the individual Christians in these brief pen-portraits obey the command to ‘love one another’?