Our Incredible, Amazing Bible - 3 John Sunday, September 24, :30 AM

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1 Our Incredible, Amazing Bible - 3 John Sunday, September 24, :30 AM Review Bible Survey Our Incredible, Amazing Bible contains 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. The Old Testament can be divided into 5 sections 1. Law History Poetry Major Prophets Minor Prophets -12 The New Testament can also be divided into 5 sections 1. The Gospels History Pauline Epistles General Epistles Prophecy - 1 The Importance of The Bible: 3 John 4 (NIV) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. The Battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863, was an attack by Confederate troops on the North on their own soil! General Lee s plan was to win, thereby discouraging the Union from continuing the war. His plan failed and it became the turning point in the Civil War. Four months later, Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. It took only two minutes to deliver, but it s considered one of the most stirring speeches in American history.... and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. The Gettysburg Address has biblical themes throughout from such books as 3 John and Psalm 90. Lincoln later said: In regard to this great book, I can only say it is the best gift which God has ever given man. Book: 3 John Six times in 14 verses truth is mentioned. Six times in 14 verses love is mentioned.

2 Itinerant teachers sent out by John were rejected in one of the churches in the province of Asia by a dictatorial leader, Diotrephes, who even excommunicated members who showed hospitality to John's messengers. John wrote this letter to commend Gaius for supporting the teachers and, indirectly, to warn Diotrephes. Gaius positive response is contrasted with Diotrephes reaction. John is writing to Gaius to warn him about Diotrephes, for Diotrephes had apparently stopped other church members from showing hospitality to these preachers and in fact had booted them out of the church (9-10). John, in fact, had written once before to the church, but Diotrephes either did not allow the letter to get read publicly or else he repudiated John s authority. His own pride and arrogance was the motivation for such actions (9-10). Author: The Apostle John We know very little about the book of third John, except that its linkage to second John and the close association in theological content with John s writings leads us to believe that John wrote the epistle. There is not a great deal of evidence. Eusebius listed the book as disputed by some but generally recognized in the church. The letter is a personal letter to Gaius, who appears to have been from another church. Grouping: General Epistles Placement: 25th of 27 New Testament Books, 6th of 7 General Epistles Key Verse: 3 John 3 (NIV) 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. The Stories: 1. Greetings (1-2) 2. Commendation of Gaius (3-8) 3. Condemnation of Diotrephes (9-10) 4. Exhortation to Gaius (11) 5. Example of Demetrius (12) 6. Conclusion, Benediction and Final Greetings (13-14)

3 3 John (NIV) 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. Main Thought: Epitaphs for The Christian Life What Will They Say About You? Funny tombstone sayings: Sir John Strange; Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange. ~ Tombstone in England Here lies Lester Moore; Four slugs from a.44; No Les No More. ~ Tombstone Arizona

4 John Brown is filling his last cavity. ~Dentist's Tombstone I told you that I was sick! ~Georgia Cemetary Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake; Stepped on the gas instead of the brake. ~ Pennsylvania Tombstone Remember man, as you walk by, As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so shall you be, Remember this and follow me. ~Tombstone in England To follow you I'll not consent, Until I know which way you went. ~Written on the tombstone in reply to one above Here lies the body of our Anna Done to death by a banana It wasn't the fruit that laid her low But the skin of the thing that made her go. ~Unknown Tombstone Here lies an Atheist All dressed up And no place to go. ~Maryland Tombstone Once I wasn't Then I was Now I ain't again. ~Ohio Tombstone SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE DONE ~Unknown Tombstone When I first started thinking about this, one word would have been my word of choice - FAITHFUL

5 Faithful Rose Genesis 5:24 (NIV) 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Numbers 12:7 (NIV) 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 2 Chronicles 31:20 (NIV) 20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. Psalm 51:6 (NIV) 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Proverbs 3:3 (NIV) 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV) 4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ὑπηρέτης hypērétēs, hoop-ay-ret'-ace; from G5259 and a derivative of ἐρέσσω eréssō (to row); an under-oarsman, i.e. (generally) subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable): minister, officer, servant.

6 There is an old joke that says that one day the commander came to the underbelly of the galley ship to tell the oarsmen (under rowers - hypērétēs ) that there was good news and bad news. The good news was that the captain had ordered double rations for everyone. a great cheer went up among the men. The bad news, he said, was that the captain wanted to go water skiing this afternoon. What We Learn: (4 things everyone should want printed on their headstone) 1. Fruitful I want my life and my ministry to produce something. I want to be fruitful Matthew 7:19 (NIV) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Colossians 1:10 (NIV) 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Mark 11:12-14 (NIV) 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, May no one ever eat fruit from you again. And his disciples heard him say it. There's a story in W.A. Criswell's biography that illustrates how you can never measure the impact of your ministry. Dr. Criswell tells about the day of his conversion: It was Autumn, His church was holding a revival and W.A. received permission to skip school to attend a special mid-day meeting. At the close of the service, he responded to the invitation and accepted Christ as his Savior. Seven years later he was licensed to preach. He soon began a lifetime of ministry, including 55 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas. He wrote more than 50 books, led untold thousands to Christ, trained hundreds for the ministry. He was one of the most influential pastors in America during the 20th century. But this story is really about the man who preached that 1920 revival which changed the course of Criswell's life.

7 His name was John Hicks. He had been a guest in the Criswell's home during the two week revival, and young W.A. had been greatly impressed with the evangelist's manner and character. This admiration compelled the 10 year old boy to attend every service and hang on every word the preacher spoke. Years later, as Hicks lay dying in Baylor Hospital, his friend Wallace Basset sat with him during his final moments. Hicks said, "Wallace, my life is over, my preaching days are done, and I've never done anything for Jesus. I've failed, Wallace. I've failed." Apparently John Hicks never knew about the special contribution he had made to the kingdom of God: how one revival meeting held in a small Texas town and specifically one sermon preached on an autumn morning touched the heart of a young boy who would, in turn, touch the lives of millions in the years to come. The words of Paul come to mind: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Maybe you can't see the full results of your ministry at this moment. Maybe today it seems that your years of sacrifice and hard work resemble next to nothing. The truth is that you've accomplished things that you don't know about things you may never know about this side of glory. During those days when measurable results remain elusive, be steadfast. Don't give in to despair. God is using you in ways you cannot see. Steve May If you died today, would you be happy with the level of service you have given to God s kingdom? If not, plan to be more involved in serving others. Max Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible - Application for Matthew Faithful In order to be fruitful I must be faithful FAITHFUL - adjective 1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker. 2. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc. 3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends. 4. reliable, trusted, or believed.

8 5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a faithful account; a faithful copy. 6. Obsolete. full of faith; believing. Matthew 24:45-46 (NIV) 45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 3. Free There are many who have experienced the forgiveness of God but have never learned to walk in Freedom. In order to walk in faithfulness, I must be free James 1:25 (NIV) 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it they will be blessed in what they do. It will impossible for us to be live lives that are faithful and fruitful if we are still in bondage. After traveling and preaching to churches around the world for almost three decades, there are some questions I m not afraid to ask anymore. When I look at the church today and then I look at the New Testament church, there is a sharp disconnect between their experience and ours. My question is simply this: Why? Now, it would be easy to blame this disconnect on fragmented institutions, ungodly leaders, the culture, and so on. But first and foremost, let s use this opportunity to examine our own lives. The truth is, the first-century Christians were the superhumans of their day, and the world stood in awe of them. What follows are just a few of their exploits found in Scripture. No one in their communities lacked anything no one had physical needs of any kind, and there was no one on government assistance (Acts 4:33 35). Entire cities came to Jesus in a moment, and the gospel swept through entire regions in a matter of years (Acts 9:32 35, 19:10). God s power operated through them to such a degree that they had to convince people they weren t gods (Acts 10:25 26, 14:8 18). Just think about that for a few seconds. They had worship times so powerful they shook the ground (Acts 4:31). And as a result of these things, they had a reputation of being people who had turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

9 What should really challenge us is that God makes it clear in His Word that the Christians of the last days will do even more than these early believers. He tells us in Ecclesiastes 7:8, The end of a thing is better than its beginning. So I come back to my original question Why are we not seeing the greater works God promised? I believe that just like Superman had kryptonite, the church the collection of individuals who claim to follow Christ does as well. Kryptonite was a substance from Superman s home planet. When he drew near to it, he would lose all his superpowers and become weak even weaker than a normal man. If you look at the church today with rates of divorce, pornography use, and sexual immorality as high or higher than that of the world it is clear we have some kryptonite among us. When you look at the social statistics, there is indeed very little discernible difference between the church and the world. It was never supposed to be this way. The state of the church today, which seems so clearly at cross-purposes to God s intentions and purposes for our lives as Christ-followers, should frustrate you. Deep down, each of us knows one thing for certain. We were destined for more. It s all over Scripture. I wrote Killing Kryptonite because playing church isn t going to get us there, and we are losing precious time to impact our generation. It s time to take an honest assessment of where we are, inviting God to search our hearts and reveal areas where we as individuals and a church are being held back from our potential. Rather than be influenced by the world around us, it is time we take our place as God s people and radically influence the world around us with His kingdom. There is so much that God has for us that we have yet to step into, but the first step in getting there is to become frustrated enough with where we are to do something about it. John Bevere, Killing Kryptonite 4. Forgiven Acts 13:38 (NIV) 38 Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 10:43 (NIV) 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

10 Scriptural Summary: 3 John 11 (NIV) 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.