John 3 Lewis Winkler

“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.”

 A Man Who Is Well-loved (1-2)

 A Man Who Walks in the Truth (3-4)

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

 A Man Who Shows Hospitality (5-6a)

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

“‘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.’”

 Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Canada  China  India  Mongolia  Myanmar  Nepal  South Africa  Thailand

 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?

 A Problem with Pride (9a)

 A Problem with Authority (9b)

 A Problem with Morality (10a)

 A Problem with Support (10b)

 A Man Who Is Good and Godly (11)

 A Man of Good Reputation (12a)

 A Man of Truth (12b)

 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?

 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?

Manny Trillo Robert Wadlow Michael Jordan

 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.

 Al Weinberg  Bill Olson  John Rittenhouse  Terry McKinney  Brian Anderson  Mitch Neubert  Mark Linder  Craig Olson  Bob Newman  Jason Goode  Rick Griffith  Drew Fones