Third John

1. Commendable: The Perseverance of Gaius the Exhorter (3 John 1:1-8, 13-14)
   1. The Prayer of Gaius (3 John 1:1-2)
   2. John’s Praise of Gaius (3 John 1:3-8)
      1. His Godly Life (3 John 1:3-4)
      2. His Generous Treatment of Traveling Preachers (3 John 1:5-8)
   3. John’s Plans Concerning Gaius (3 John 1:13-14a)
      1. I Could Write (3 John 1:13)
      2. I Hope to Visit (3 John 1:14a)
2. Cantankerous: The Pride of Diotrophes the Egotist (3 John 1:9-11)
   1. The Evil – His Selfish Ambition (3 John 1:9)
   2. The Exhortation – His Selfish Activities (3 John 1:10-11)
3. Consistent: The Personal Testimony of Demetrius the Example (3 John 1:12)
   1. Associates Hold His in High Esteem (3 John 1:12a)
   2. Authority – the Truth Itself (3 John 3b)
   3. Apostle Holds Him in High Esteem (3 John 1:12c)
4. John’s Benediction (3 John 1:14b)

Additional Information:

1. Who is Gaius?
   1. Gaius of Macedonia (Acts 19:29)
   2. Gaius of Derbe (Acts 20:4)
   3. Gaius of Corinth (Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14)
2. How to Choose a Church
   1. Biblical Truth (3 John 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:18)
      1. The Word – Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:3)
      2. The Blood (Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
      3. The Water – Believer’s Baptism (Matthew 3:16, John 1:33)
      4. The Priesthood (Hebrews 10:19-20)
      5. The Church (Colossians 1:18)
      6. The Confusion (Don’t Confuse Christian with Baptist)
   2. Biblical Mission (3 John 1:3-8)
      1. Souls Prosper (3 John 1:3)
      2. Walking in Truth(3 John 1:4)
      3. Acting Faithfully (3 John 1:5)
      4. Being Witness (3 John 1:6a)
      5. Love for the Church (3 John 1:6b)
      6. Go Out for the Sake of the Name (3 John 1:7)
      7. Cooperative Support (3 John 1:8a)
      8. Evangelical Partnership (3 John 1:8b)
3. The Background of 3 John – a Clash of Ministries
   1. Demetrius = Wandering Itinerant Ministers and Missionaries
   2. Diotrophes = Settled Ministry of Local Elders
   3. Gaius = Good and Well-Meaning Between the Two
   4. John = Apostolic Remote Control
      1. Itinerant Ministers Faded
      2. Apostles Died Off
      3. Settle Ministry Became the Norm

* The Outline Bible