THE LETTERS OF JOHN
Members, Ministers, and a Mess in the Church · Dr. Chris Montgomery · February 23, 2025
3 John v. 1-15
(Ephesians 5:25) Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
(Hebrews 13:17) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
(1 Peter 5:1-2) So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you…
(1 Corinthians 12:12) 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1. God’s design and desire is for all his children to have a family on earth as it will be in heaven.
2. Community implies that I have a common union with other Christians.
3. Community means that I have common unity with others.
4. Our common unity implies a sought-after unity by a group of redeemed people who are dedicated to Christ.
What is John modeling for the church today?
1. John teaches us to love people in the truth.
(3 John 1) 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2. John and Gaius show us that we can persevere in ministry in the midst of physical hardship through prayer.
(3 John 2) 2 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 and Gaius show us that our testimony is a blessing to other Christians.
(3 John 3) 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.
4. John shows ministers that their greatest joy is in the faithfulness of those they serve. (3 John 4) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5. John shows us that we are faithful to the Gospel when we are faithful to Gospel messengers.
(3 John 5-8) 5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
6. Diotrephes shows us that self-centeredness is revealed in rebellion and rejection.
(3 John 1:9-11) 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 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. 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
7. John shows us that we are to take a stand for those who are walking in the truth.
(3 John 12) 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
8. John teaches us that standing with those in the truth is personal.
(3 John 13-15) 13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.