WALKING IN THE TRUTH

John 3

IF SOMEONE WROTE YOU A LETTER . . . .

JOHN, THE “ELDER”

VERSES 13 AND 14

“I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

CONCERNING GAIUS (1-8)

A Man Who Is Well-loved (1-2)

CONCERNING GAIUS (1-8)

A Man Who Walks in the Truth (3-4)

“NO GREATER JOY”

JOHN R. W. STOTT

“He who ‘walks in the truth’ is an integrated Christian in whom there is no dichotomy between profession and practice.”

The Epistles of John, 219-220

CONCERNING GAIUS (1-8) A Man Who Shows Hospitality (5-6a)

HOSPITALITY

IN EAST ASIA

CONCERNING GAIUS (1-8)

A Man Who Loves and Supports God’s Workers (6b-8)

1 CORINTHIANS 9:4-14

HAGGAI 1:2-6“‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’ Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, ‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them in bags with holes.’”

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL THROUGH CIC Afghanistan Bangladesh Canada China India Mongolia Myanmar Nepal South Africa Thailand

SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT As you look at the four things mentioned

about Gaius, which one would you like to grow in?

What can you do to facilitate this growth?

CONCERNING DIOTREPHES (9-10)

A Problem with Pride (9a)

CONCERNING DIOTREPHES (9-10)

A Problem with Authority (9b)

CONCERNING DIOTREPHES (9-10)

A Problem with Morality (10a)

CONCERNING DIOTREPHES (9-10)

A Problem with Support (10b)

CONCERNING DEMETRIUS (11-12)

A Man Who Is Good and Godly (11)

CONCERNING DEMETRIUS (11-12)

A Man of Good Reputation (12a)

CONCERNING DEMETRIUS (11-12)

A Man of Truth (12b)

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION: Is my reputation really impeccable?

Do I truly live an integrated and godly life in private and in public?

Am I actively seeking to advance the kingdom of God by encouraging and supporting those who have been called by Him to serve in full-time Christian service?

Have I hindered or looked down on such people at any time and in any way for whatever reasons?

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION: How am I like Demetrius and Gaius and how

am I like Diotrephes?

Who do I genuinely want to be like?

How will I become like that?

What steps do I need to take to become a person of godly integrity, a person who shows hospitality and generously and joyously supports full-time Christian workers?

PERSONAL STORY

Manny Trillo

Robert Wadlow

Michael Jordan

THE QUOTABLE JIM ELLIOT: Remember you are immortal until your work is done. But don’t let

the sands of time get into the eye of your vision to reach those who still sit in darkness. They simply must hear.

We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. But we are ‘harmless,’ and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are ‘sideliners’—coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

SOME TRUE HEROES IN MY LIFE: Al Weinberg Bill Olson John Rittenhouse Terry McKinney Brian Anderson Mitch Neubert Mark Linder Craig Olson Bob Newman Jason Goode Rick Griffith Drew Fones