Churches need to have the same mind.

1. 3 John
A House Divided

2. 1 John
2 John
3 John
Universal Epistle
Directed Epistle
Personal Epistle
2

3. 3 John
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in
truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you
may prosper and be in good health, just as your
soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren
came and testified to your truth, that is, how you
are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than
this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3

4. 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever
you accomplish for the brethren, and especially
when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified
to your love before the church. You will do well to
send them on their way in a manner worthy of
God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the
Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8
Therefore we ought to support such men, so that
we may be fellow workers with the truth. 9 I
wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes,
4

5. who loves to be first among them, does not
accept what we say. 10 For this reason, if I come, I
will call attention to his deeds which he does,
unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not
satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the
brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire
to do so and puts them out of the church. 11
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is
good. The one who does good is of God; the one
who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius
5

6. has received a good testimony from everyone,
and from the truth itself; and we add our
testimony, and you know that our testimony is
true. 13 I had many things to write to you, but I am
not willing to write them to you with pen and ink;
14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak
face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet
you. Greet the friends by name.
6

7. 3 John
A House Divided

8. Cast of Characters
John-the elder (Apostle)
Gaius-a godly man (Bishop)
Diotrephes-a troublemaker (unknown status)
Demetrius-a good example (Itinerate minister)
8

9. The elder to the
beloved Gaius,
whom I love in
truth
Personal Letter
9

10. Some controversy
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you
may prosper and be in good health,
just as your soul prospers.
3 John 2 10

11. First
Not a proof text for prosperity gospel
Common greeting
11

12. KJV
3 John 2 12

13. KJ V
3 John 2 13

14. Personal touch
For I was very glad when brethren came
and testified to your truth, that is, how
you are walking in truth. I have no greater
joy than this, to hear of my children
walking in the truth.
3-4 14

15. Truth matters
Walking in the truth
Who Jesus is
Obeying the commandments
Abiding in love
15

16. Heart of the letter
Beloved, you are acting
faithfully in whatever you
accomplish for the
brethren, and especially
when they are strangers;
and they have testified to
your love before the
church.
5-7 16

17. Heart of the letter
(continued)
You will do well to send
them on their way in a
manner worthy of God.
For they went out for the
sake of the Name,
accepting nothing from
the Gentiles.
5-7 17

18. The Brethren
Iterate teachers
Evangelists
We would call them missionaries
18

19. Financial support
You will do well to
send them on their
way in a manner
worthy of God.
19

20. Worthy of God
Spiritual service
Significant
Abundant
Loving
20

21. “acting faithfully”
Therefore we ought to support
such men, so that we may be
fellow workers with the truth.
8 21

22. Word Wealth
“We Ought” financially indebted
“Support such men” receive such men as guest
22

23. fellow workers
This gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all the nations, and
then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14 23

24. Open your bulletin
Scott Douglas
Name withheld
David & Rebecca Smith
Esdras & Michelle Orantes
Ray & Deborah Miller
Jason & Celeste Brown
Ben & Belu Grams
Garo & Jordania Nargiz
Norman & Cheryl Knoodle
Craig & Joy Wommack
Alex & Abby Rodriguez
Jim & Chris Robinson
24

25. Bad Apple
I wrote something to the church; but
Diotrephes, who loves to be first among
them, does not accept what we say. For
this reason, if I come, I will call attention to
his deeds which he does,
9-10 25

26. Bad Apple (continued)
unjustly accusing us with wicked words;
and not satisfied with this, he himself does
not receive the brethren, either, and he
forbids those who desire to do so and puts
them out of the church.
9-10 26

27. Quite a profile
 Loves to be first
 Rejects authority
 Lies/slanders
 Rejects traveling ministers
 Disfellowships members
27

28. Troublemakers need to be handled
if I come, I will call attention to his
deeds which he does
28

29. Matthew 18
WWJD
29

30. Step 1
If your brother sins, go and show him
his fault in private; if he listens to you,
you have won your brother.
Matthew 18:15 30

31. Step 2
But if he does not listen to you, take
one or two more with you, so that BY
THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES
EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
Matthew 18:16 31

32. Step 3
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to
the church; and if he refuses to listen
even to the church, let him be to you
as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17 32

33. Biblical power
 Binding and loosening
 Where two or three
are gathered
33

34. Role models
…do not imitate what is evil, but
what is good. The one who does
good is of God; the one who does
evil has not seen God.
11 34

35. Test
 Does good
 Doesn’t practice sin
 Keeps
commandments
 Shows love
35

36. Good example
Demetrius has received a good
testimony from everyone, and from
the truth itself; and we add our
testimony, and you know that our
testimony is true.
12 36

37. Demetrius
1. Good reputation
2. Walks out the truth
3. Endorsed by leadership
37

38. Sincerely yours
I had many things to write to you, but I am
not willing to write them to you with pen
and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and
we will speak face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you.
Greet the friends by name.
13-15 38

39. 3 John
A House Divided