This sermon was originally preached by Gary Krehbiel (Bennington Campus Pastor) on September 27th at Crosspoint Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska

2. Diagnosing Diotrephes

3. Diagnosing Diotrephes
Doctrinal – beliefs about Christ
Moral – following God’s commands
Social – loving other Christians

4. 3 John 9-13
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.

5. 3 John 9-13
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.

6. 3 John 9-13
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.

7. 3 John 9-13
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.

8. Diagnosing Diotrephes
Doctrinal – beliefs about Christ
Moral – following God’s commands
Social – loving other Christians

9. Diagnosing Diotrephes: SYMPTOMS
Loves to be first
Opposes John’s teaching
Spreads malicious nonsense
Refuses to welcome other believers
Stops others from doing so

10. A Healthy Believer:
Walks in light vs. darkness
1 John 1:5-2:2
Lives obediently, avoids habitual sin
1 John 2, 2 John 7-11

11. Tests truth and error
1 John 2:18-27, 4:1-6, 2 John 1-7
Loves others
1 John 3:11-18, 1 John 4
A Healthy Believer:

12. Has a consistent witness for Christ
1 John 5
Has a confident prayer life
1 John 5:14-16
A Healthy Believer:

13. Walks in light
Lives obediently, avoids sin
Tests truth and error
Loves others
Has a consistent witness for Christ
Has a confident prayer life
A Healthy Believer:

14. Diagnosing Diotrephes: SYMPTOMS
Loves to be first
Opposes John’s teaching
Spreads malicious nonsense
Refuses to welcome other believers
Stops others from doing so

15. Arrogance…
Diagnosing Diotrephes: DIAGNOSIS

16. Diagnosing Diotrephes: SYMPTOMS
Loves to be first
Opposes John’s teaching
Spreads malicious nonsense
Refuses to welcome other believers
Stops others from doing so

17. Diagnosing Diotrephes
Doctrinal – beliefs about Christ
Moral – following God’s commands
Social – loving other Christians

18. Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.’ This is the
first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’”

19. Diagnosing Diotrephes
Doctrinal – beliefs about Christ
Moral – following God’s commands
Social – loving other Christians

20. Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to
share with others, for with such
sacrifices God is pleased.

21. Diagnosing Diotrephes
Doctrinal – beliefs about Christ
Moral – following God’s commands
Social – loving other Christians

22. Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, not looking to
your own interests but each of you to
the interests of the others.

23. Arrogance…
Diagnosing Diotrephes: DIAGNOSIS

24. Humility…
Diagnosing Diotrephes: CURE

25. 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be
sympathetic, love one another, be
compassionate and humble. Do not
repay evil with evil or insult with
insult. On the contrary, repay evil with
blessing…

26. Diagnosing Ourselves
Doctrinal
Moral
Social