Brotherly Love from the Father, Son, and Spirit [Family Worship lesson in 3John v13–14]

How should believers relate toward one another? 3John v13–14 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should love to be face to face and delight in one another. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.09.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ 3 John 13–14

Read 3 John 13–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What did John need to say (3 John 13)? How did he not wish to do so? What did he hope to do instead (3 John 14)? In order to speak to Gaius how? What greeting does John give? Who else greets Gaius? Whom is Gaius to greet?

How should believers relate toward one another? 3 John 13–14 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should love to be face to face and delight in one another.  

Gaius and the church need John to come (cf. 3 John 10), but that’s not the only reason that John hopes to come. He hopes to see Gaius and speak to him face to face (3 John 14). God has given us faces, in part so that we can know and enjoy each other face to face—so that we can understand something about being made in His image and redeemed into His image. He is a God Who lives in fellowship, and He created us and redeemed us into fellowship with Him—and with one another. John had many more things to write to Gaius (3 John 13). 

The Bible is actually shorter, in order for the Holy Spirit to emphasizes to us the importance of face-to-face (3 John 14) fellowship among believers. When YHWH lifts His face upon us, He gives us His peace (cf. Numbers 2:24–26). That is the peace that we wish for one another (3 John 14), and it is imitated by the peace that we have with one another and the delight that we are to take in one another. So John not only wishes Gaius peace, but also conveys the delight of the true believers that are with him, and asks that his own delight be conveyed, by name, to the true believers who are with Gaius.

What is your fellowship with God like? What is your fellowship with believers like? How do these connect?

Sample prayer:  Father, shine Your face upon us, and give us peace. Delight in us, and make us to delight in You. And give us such a fellowship in You that makes us delight in fellowship with one another not in the way that the worldlings do, but as part of delighting in You and having fellowship with You in Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

Willing to Suffer for the God We Know [Family Worship lesson in 3John v9–12]

What do believers need if they are to be godly? 3John v9–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers need awareness of who is a spiritual or theological threat, and of who is properly qualified and ordained, as part of God’s means in making them godly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.09.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ 3 John 9–12

Read 3 John 9–12

Questions from the Scripture text: To whom else has John written about hosting the missionary brethren (3 John 9)? But who has the preeminence among them? And what is his attitude about that? How did he respond to the request for hospitality? Where might John go (3 John 10)? What will he do if he goes there? How does John describe Dioterphes’s deeds? How does he describe his speech? What does he do to the brethren? What does he do to church members who do differently? What is Gaius in danger of imitating (3 John 11)? What do Diotrophes’s actions show about him? Who has what (3 John 12)? From whom? And from what? And also from whom? What does Gaius know about this last testimony?

What do believers need if they are to be godly? 3 John 9–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers need awareness of who is a spiritual or theological threat, and of who is properly qualified and ordained, as part of God’s means in making them godly.  

Naming names. As John continues urging Gaius to be hospitable to the missionaries that he is sending, he now gives Gaius counsel about how to think and act with respect to his local church. Here, the apostle does something politically incorrect. He names names. He names Diotrephes, the “lead” elder whose love for preeminence has gone hand-in-hand with refusing to welcome John or the missionaries (3 John 9) and with gossiping nonsense against them (3 John 10). 

As those who love first place often do, Diotrephes engaged in identity politics in the church. Not only did he refuse hospitality to John, but also to anyone associated with him, and excommunicating anyone who did give them hospitality! It is important, for the theological and spiritual safety of God’s people, to name the names of those who are theologically and spiritually dangerous.

Whom not to imitate. John now calls Gaius “beloved” again (3 John 11), warning him that there is much more at stake than who will “win” in church politics. Diotrephes “has not seen God.” He doesn’t do good, because he has no birth from God. Charismatic leaders may be inspiring, but their selfishness exposes their true character and serves as a warning not to follow them, not to imitate them. 

Whom to imitate (doctrine of ordination). Rather, the Lord gives us those whom we should imitate. Demetrius (3 John 12) is actually qualified to be an elder. He has a good testimony “from all” (cf. 1 Timothy 3:7). He also has a good testimony “from the truth itself,” meaning that his doctrine is sound according to Scripture, and his character is godly according to Scripture. 

Finally, John and the other elders have borne witness to Demetrius; they have attested to his qualification and his selection by God in the laying on of hands of ordination. Here is one more important reason for us to follow the biblical doctrine of ordination: that we may have elders worthy of imitating.

The Lord protect His church from those who would be closed-hearted toward others and full of gossip and “identity politics.” And the Lord give His church elders who are hospitable, generous, and full of truth and love, so that by their ministry and example, He might sanctify for Himself a people who are hospitable, generous, and full of truth and love.

How are you resisting the desire to have the first place among others? In what ways are elders sometimes selected in the churches? Whom do you know that are qualified and ordained according to 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9? What are you doing to be hospitable to them and imitate them?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for those ministers who are careful enough of souls to name names about those who are spiritually and theologically dangerous. Forgive us for not being so careful of our own souls. And forgive us for when we like to have the first place, and when we gossip nonsense against others. Thank You for those elders who are properly qualified and ordained. Forgive us for not receiving Your testimony about them or imitating them in their godliness. Grant that our conduct would show that we are born of God, we ask through Your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent Who Will Reside?” or TPH406 “Jesus, with Thy Church Abide”

Love and Labor from Christ for God [Family Worship lesson in 3John v5–8]

Why should we help ministers and missionaries? 3John v5–8 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that funding the work of missionaries and ministers is an act of love to which we are called by God. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.09.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ 3 John 5–8

Read 3 John 5–8

Questions from the Scripture text: What does John call Gaius in 3 John 5? For whom does he say he has done things? In what way has he acted when he did this? What have these brethren and strangers done in response (3 John 6)? Before whom have they borne this witness? What is he to do now with the brethren that have come from John? In a manner worthy of Whom? Why have they gone forth (3 John 7)? From whom have they received nothing? Who, then, ought to receive them (3 John 8)? What do those who receive them become?

Why should we help ministers and missionaries? 3 John 5–8 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that funding the work of missionaries and ministers is an act of love to which we are called by God.  

Beloved. For the second time, John calls Gaius “beloved.” Although the apostle frequently uses this word with believers generally, it strikes as more intimate/personal when addressing just one man. 

Who has loved. Gaius has a track record of loving others, so much so that visitors to the church where John is has borne witness of that love before the church (3 John 6a). John identifies faith as the source of this love (3 John 5, cf. Galatians 5:6). It is from faith that he has done works for brothers and strangers. 

And is called to love. Now, John sends these brothers back to Gaius on their way to more ministry. And John is asking that Gaius sponsor them not merely from generosity for brothers but as giving back to God (3 John 6b). Those whom John is sending are doing the same thing themselves, not serving for the sake of money but for the sake of God’s Name (3 John 7b). 

Gaius has an opportunity to support those sent by the apostle, for the work of the Lord, in the Name of the Lord. It is an opportunity to become a fellow-worker with them as they preach the truth (3 John 8, cf. Romans 15:14; Philippians 4:14–17). Many who are not themselves sent by God may yet take opportunity, through giving, to become fellow workers with them. Loving in this way is not only an expression of personal godliness but a calling.

Who has shown you generosity for the sake of God? To whom have you shown this generosity? Whose ministries have you participated in by giving? What part has love had in this giving?

Sample prayer:  Father, thank You for granting us the opportunity to love Your Name, Your people, and Your work. Forgive us for cold-hearted indifference, stinginess, selfishness, and every other reason we would refrain from supporting the gospel ministry, and restore us to our first love, we as through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP22D “All Ends of Earth Will Turn to Him” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place” 

True Love's Joy [Family Worship lesson in 3John v1–4]

What should be one of the greatest joys in the Christian life? 3John v1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving others well, and loving the truth well, makes other believers’ walking in that truth one of the greatest joys in the Christian life. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.08.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ 3 John 1–4

Read 3 John v1–4

Questions from the Scripture text: Who wrote this (3 John 1)? To whom? What is his relation to him? What does he call him in 3 John 2? What does he do for him? What does he pray that he will do? In how many things? For what two types of prospering, especially, does he pray? How has the apostle responded (3 John 3)? To what—in what two ways does the truth relate to him? Why did this gladden him so much (3 John 4)?

What should be one of the greatest joys in the Christian life? 3 John 1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving others well, and loving the truth well, makes other believers’ walking in that truth one of the greatest joys in the Christian life.  

The elder. By calling himself “the elder,” the apostle John was highlighting his relationship to Gaius and the congregation to which Gaius belonged. John is an apostle, but to Gaius and that church, he was their elder. 

The locus of love. Later, John is going to talk about receiving and caring for others for the sake of the truth that they bring with them. But first, he points out that Gaius is beloved especially for the sake of the truth (3 John 1). They may not have had much in common. There are several men named “Gaius” in the New Testament, because it is an extremely common Roman name. But what they had in common most of all was the truth about the triune God, the divinity of Christ, the fellowship with God into which one is brought by faith in Christ, and the eternal life that comes from that fellowship. When believers have this in common, they cannot help but love one another dearly.

The desire of love. Because Gaius was beloved to him, John desired and prayed for every possible good that Gaius could receive and enjoy. Of course, this means, most of all, the good of Gaius’s soul (3 John 2). But it necessarily included also his health. Just as our Father’s love runs the gamut from the hallowing of the Father to the bread on our table, our love should desire every good for its recipients, each good in its proper place and proportion. Perhaps Gaius’s health had been in question. But even so, the Spirit employs that providence to give us a lesson here in loving one another well.

The joy of love. In 2 John 4, we saw the apostle rejoicing greatly over the members of that church who were carrying the letter back to them. Now in 3 John 3, we see him rejoicing greatly, and it is for the same reason: a brother is walking in truth.

Gaius is not just walking in uprightness, morality, kindness, etc. Surely, he is doing all of these. But he is especially walking in the truth. This walking in the truth must include accurate doctrine about the triune God, Jesus Christ the God-man, life in Him, etc. But it is more than accurate doctrine. It is a life that is united to Christ Himself, Who Himself is the truth. 

The apostle is not merely rejoicing over doctrinal precision that has powerfully produced Christian character. He is rejoicing that the truth itself is in Gaius. Gaius couldn’t make the trip to John, but some brethren had come from Gaius to John (3 John 3). And upon carefully asking after Gaius, John had come to this greatly rejoicing conclusion: Jesus Himself was dwelling by His Spirit within John’s dear brother Gaius! This is cause for great rejoicing. If we know how the Christian life functions, then when we see or hear of other believers genuinely growing in grace, we rejoice greatly: the Truth (Himself) is in them!

It is no wonder that the apostle would proceed that there actually isn’t anything that could give him greater joy than this (3 John 4). He has a fatherly spiritual responsibility for those under his care in the church. And what could be greater or sweeter than to know that Jesus Himself is permeating their life with Himself?! Of course, as we see in the rest of John’s writing (and in all of Scripture), this cannot be separated from the doctrinal truth of Who Jesus is and how He saves. But this doctrine is about a reality, and it produces that reality, and when we hear about believers living that reality, the reality rejoices us!

Dear reader, I hope that you are a beloved one who is walking in truth. And I hope that part of that walking in truth is coming to a place in your life, where there is no greater joy than this for you, also.

What truth about Jesus do you believe? Whom else do you find yourself loving on account of their believing that as well? Whom do you know that walks in the truth? How do you know that you walk in the truth? How does this come about in someone’s life? What makes this such a cause of joy for the believer? How much of a joy do you find it to be to yourself? How can that be increased?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have failed to love one another in the truth. Our hearts and minds often emphasize many things about those whom we love, even emphasizing them above how much we have in common in our faith in the Lord Jesus. Forgive us for how our love for others has been small, not desiring and praying for their prospering in every way in body as well as soul. Forgive us for how we have been satiated by worldly pleasures to the point that we would not be able to say honestly, with the apostle, that we have no greater joy than that other believers are walking in truth. Forgive us, and keep sanctifying and growing us until we are conformed to Christ in this, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH406 “Jesus, with Thy Church, Abide”