Do you want adventure? Intrigue? Suspense? Then read your Bible - it's all there! Even in this small letter from the Apostle John to his friend, Gaius, we have quite an interesting story within the early church. "The church of 3rd John belonged to the wider Johannine community, they read the publicly circulated 1st John, and lived at some distance from John himself." These letters, or epistles, we read in the New Testament were passed around Asia Minor to the various house churches (there were no church buildings as we know them at that time.) In those house churches, the letters were read aloud during the services and then discussed. 3rd John is a bit different. "Rather than outlining a number of theological doctrines, 3rd John is a brief note dashed off to one heroic Christian named Gaius who is standing firm while a community near him is struggling under the pressure of a single antagonist." (Even then, it only took one bad apple to spoil things!)

So, "imagine a house church located some distance from John's primary ministry. It is in the grips of the theological struggle described in 1st John and confronted in 2nd John - the struggle to maintain the real faith centered on Jesus Christ. (Rev. McKinley talked about that last week - how partial truths called docetism and gnosticism were teaching that Jesus wasn't who He claimed to be - the Son of God and fully a person, and were diluting the real truth about Jesus.)

John himself once wrote to the church, but an influential man named Diotrephes rejected his letter. John sent emissaries, peacemakers, to the church, but Diotrephes stepped forward and refused to acknowledge the traveling ministers. He even insulted John publicly, spreading rumors about his character. In fact, Diotrephes forcefully stopped anyone who showed sympathy to the visitors or tried to speak with them. 'Anyone who sides with these men from John,' Diotrephes threatened, 'gets thrown out with them.'"NIV COMM)

Whoa - so much for Christian hospitality!

"The missionaries found a courageous host, however, in a man named Gaius." We don't know that much about Gaius, yet "Clearly Gaius knows Diotrephes, but he does not feel threatened by the man's power. It was Gaius' habit to offer hospitality to traveling Christians and help finance their journeys. So he not only gave these emissaries from John rest and refreshment, but sent them on their way - that is, gave them money - and they returned to John with their report about the rebellion of Diotrephes' church and about Gaius' faithfulness.

What should John do in response? He wants to visit the church personally but cannot at the present. Yet he knows that he must shore up the true believers and encourage their faithfulness- people like Gaius, who still walk in the truth, whom he calls 'friend' and loves dearly. He must also keep a foothold in the congregation. So John plans a strategy. In verses 5-8 he commends Gaius for his hospitality and encourages him to continue. The practical side of this is clear: When John comes for a visit, he will need allies who stand FOR Christ and AGAINST Diotrephes. Gaius will be one of those allies.

It is significant that John doesn't ask Gaius to intervene in the controversy by confronting Diotrephes himself. The NIV commentary states that Christians are called to different roles, and Gaius has done enough if he stands firm for Jesus Christ and provides John and his couriers an entrée into the community." (NIV Commentary)

Let's look now at the body of John's letter to see what he has to say to us. In John 4, he speaks of the importance of walking in the truth, and praises those people like Gaius, who continue " . . . diligently in the way of truth." (Peterson) And while John is speaking to a specific person about a specific situation, it is important for US to remember to walk in the truth. Walking in the truth isn't just about being honest and straightforward - it's about staying true to our faith, living out our faith and continuing to evaluate ourselves and our lives in the light of Jesus Christ. Allowing Jesus to be our barometer - our guide - for the things we do, the words we say and the thoughts we have. Through our Bible reading and prayer, regular worship and Sunday School attendance, we allow Jesus' way to take over our lives. And while it is essential to do prayer and Bible reading and study on our, doing it within the community of faith helps us to stay true to Christ and His teachings.
It's possible that Diotrephes may have been so caught up in his own interpretation of the Bible and God's teachings that he veered off course, which led to his standoff with John. Working out our individual faith within the context of the fellowship of other believers is one way to help us stay on the right path; plus we grow in our faith as we learn from others.

This is also very Schwenckfeldian! From the very beginning, the followers of Schwenckfeld came together in people's homes for regular Bible reading, study and prayer, since they weren't allowed to build a church and worship there. Meeting together, they were able to support one another and grow in their faith. It's my personal belief that the persecution they faced helped to unite them and strengthened their faith and resolve to continue meeting for worship and study.

Then, in 3rd John 5 through 8, we are given a very interesting way of living out and growing our faith. Verse 5 says, "Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible."(Peterson) You make the faith visible.

Did you ever think about that? That being hospitable let's our faith be seen - it gives our faith hands (opportunity) to help others. The Bible stresses the importance of hospitality in Genesis 18 with Abraham and Sarah when the three strangers who turned out to be angels stopped by for tea. Wouldn't the course of our faith been vastly different if Abraham and Sarah hadn't been hospitable? And what about Jesus' parable of the importance in helping those in need in Matthew 25:40 - "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." Jesus repeatedly stressed the importance of putting our faith into action - of giving it eyes and ears; hands and feet. And letting us know that by doing that, we were serving Him.

John goes on to speak of the importance of following Jesus' example in verses 11 and 12 - to flee from evil and "model the good". (vs. 11) Our Responsive Reading fleshes that out when it says, "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless - cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God has given you, passing them around so all get in on it." (The Message - I Peter 4:8,9) Let Jesus' example and teachings be your plum line, your guide.

It has been said that imitation is the highest form of praise. We can sit here and sing songs and pray prayers and praise God - all good things - but what God really wants us to do is imitate Him and live our lives like He lived His - poured out in service to and love for others. Living our lives Jesus' way is the best way to praise and honor Him.

"There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God's way of saving us between our times of inspiration. Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God." (Oswald Chambers, June 15)

Caspar Schwenckfeld said, "Brotherly love is to see God and Jesus Christ in everyone, to love everyone for Christ's sake, to be of service to everyone as far as possible, to do good to everyone (the poor most of all) and especially to brothers and sisters in the faith." (CS, IV, 563)

Rev. David said last week that "truth matters". And living by God's truth matters most of all. God's truth encourages us to love and care for one another. At the end of John's letter, he says, "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God." (Vs. 11) James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." May we as followers and imitators of Jesus Christ be doers of the Word, livers of the Word for Him.

This completes our study of John's letters. Three short notes written by an old servant/warrior for the Lord. Someone who had walked and talked intimately with Jesus - lived, worked and served with Him- someone who was with Him at the cross, but also privileged to be with Him and learn from Him after His resurrection.

And after all that time spent in service to Christ, what did he choose to write about? Love and truth

Christ's love that caused Him to live and die for us; and the truth that insists that God sent His one and only Son to us as a human being to help us understand God's love and His desire for a relationship with each one of us.

May His message of love and truth be a reality in each one of our lives.

Let pray together: Heavenly Father, You have given us an example to live by in Your Son Jesus. Help us to praise and honor You by following that example in all areas of our lives. Help us to truly be Your light in this world as we live for You. Amen.

Benediction: May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen