1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:07,920 Hello, can people hear me? Hello, hello, hello everyone and 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,920 welcome. And today I'll be I'm Lydia, by 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,440 the way, And today I'll be continuing our series on the 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,120 letters of John. Now John was a disciple of Jesus 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,320 and over the last two weeks we've looked at 1 John and two 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,760 John, which were letters that he wrote to the early church. 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:28,880 And today I'll be speaking on Three John. 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,240 And now, although these are separate letters, they carry 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:37,640 common themes of love, truth, obedience, faithfulness. 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,560 But today I'm going to speak on the message of Three John. 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,720 And that real love is rooted in action. 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,680 And that was actually really cool that they did that grow 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,080 baby bit. And because that is real love in 14 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,240 action right there. So I'll pray before I begin. 15 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,240 Father God, I thank you for the privilege of speaking your word 16 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,960 today. And Lord, I ask that you would 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,720 speak through me to this church. Amen. 18 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,720 OK, imagine this. It's a quiet evening at home, 19 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,400 maybe a Saturday night, and you're watching Michael 20 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,840 Mcintyre's big show or in our house, the new series of 21 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,040 Gladiators. And there's a knock at your 22 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,680 door, and you open it to find a complete stranger, suitcase in 23 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,640 hand. And he says, I'm a Christian and 24 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,080 I'm here to serve Jesus. Can I come in? 25 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:34,480 What would you do? Would you let them in? 26 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,360 Would you trust them? Would you support them? 27 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,040 Today we'd probably reach for our phones, perhaps a little 28 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,560 nervously. Google their name, check their 29 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,000 social media, maybe even look for like a review. 30 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,960 But in the early church, back when 3 John was written, there 31 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,760 was no Internet, no background checks, no way to verify 32 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,240 credentials. All they had was a letter in 33 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,960 someone's hand or the word of another believer. 34 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:07,200 And the gospel, the good news of Jesus, either moved forward or 35 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,880 stalled based on one's simple decision. 36 00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:16,120 Would somebody open the door? Would somebody open the door? 37 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,120 Consider the British beloved icon Paddington, where the Brown 38 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:26,520 family opens their doors to a bear from Peru, transforming not 39 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,840 only Paddington's life but also their own. 40 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,320 Or what about The Jungle Book Mowgli, where a human child is 41 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,040 taken in by a family of wolves and befriended by Balu the bear 42 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,800 and Bagheera the Panther. Jungle animals show hospitality 43 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,320 to someone very different from themselves, and their 44 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,800 willingness to welcome Mowgli leads to deep friendship and 45 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,480 adventures. These are just silly stories, 46 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,400 but they remind us that opening our doors sometimes to 47 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,000 strangers, can lead to unexpected blessings and new 48 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,440 adventures. And this is the world behind 3 49 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,160 John. The shortest book in the Bible, 50 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,360 the shortest book in the New Testament, but one that packs a 51 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,440 punch. It's a letter that shows us 52 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,400 something crucial, that real love isn't just something you 53 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,840 say. It's not something you do. 54 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:18,200 And today we're going to explore the difference between a love 55 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,960 that just talks and a love that's rooted in action, a love 56 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,880 that opens the door. So let's pick our passage. 57 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,640 First, we'll unpick, and then we'll apply. 58 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,120 So if you've got your Bibles, don't worry if you haven't, 59 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:34,320 it'll be behind me on the screen. 60 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,520 But if you have got your Bibles, we're going to turn to three. 61 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,480 John. It's right near the back of the 62 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,440 Bible. Or as I said, it'll be behind me 63 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,520 and I'll just read it now. And obviously it's written as a 64 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,120 letter. Greetings, this letter is from 65 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,960 John the Elder. I'm writing to Gaius, my friend, 66 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,600 whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I hope all is well 67 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,160 with you and that you are healthy in body as you are 68 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,680 strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers 69 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,520 recently returned and made me very happy by telling me that 70 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,240 your faithfulness and that you are living in accordance with 71 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,360 the truth. I could have no greater joy than 72 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,520 to hear that my children are following the truth. 73 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,320 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care 74 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,240 for the travelling teachers who pass through. 75 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,320 Even though they are strangers to you. 76 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,640 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. 77 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,400 Please continue providing for teachers in a manner that 78 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,120 pleases God, for they are travelling for the Lord and they 79 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,120 accept nothing from the people who are not believers. 80 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,960 So we ourselves should support them so that they can be 81 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,480 partners as they teach the truth. 82 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,520 I wrote to the church about this that Diotrophes, who loves to be 83 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,160 the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 84 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,160 When I come I will report of some of the things that he is 85 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,360 doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. 86 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,600 Not only does he refuse to welcome the travelling teachers, 87 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:02,360 he also tells us others not to help them and when they do, he 88 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,920 puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not let this bad 89 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,200 example influence you. Follow only what is good. 90 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,280 Remember that those who do good prove that they're God's 91 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,640 children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 92 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,960 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius as the truth himself, 93 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,160 as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same 94 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,120 for him, and you know we speak the truth. 95 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,360 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it 96 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,520 with pen and ink, for I hope I see you soon, and then we will 97 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,040 talk face to face. Peace be with you, your friend. 98 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,520 Your friends here send you their greetings. 99 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,080 Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends 100 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,200 there. Now, I won't go too much into 101 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,760 the background of this letter because Ben and Libby spoke 102 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,160 about this, but three John was written by the disciple John 103 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,880 late in the 1st century, likely written from Ephesus where John 104 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,960 had pastoral oversight. Now he refers to himself as the 105 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,160 Elder, and this emphasizes kind of spiritual authority and care 106 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,160 rather than some grand title. And at this time, John is 107 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,520 overseeing multiple house churches in Asia Minor because 108 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,320 that's how the early church started, wasn't it? 109 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,560 In house churches, in houses? And he writes to address real 110 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,000 situations happening in local congregations. 111 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,320 Now, it's the shortest book in the New Testament, and it 112 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,480 functions as a personal letter to the church. 113 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,680 And we'll just walk through it. So if you want to follow it, he 114 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,640 starts by addressing specifically this man called 115 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:38,000 Gaius, who we learned from John in verse 3, is living in 116 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,760 accordance with the truth and leading others in the church to 117 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,520 do the same. Now, a bit of historical 118 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,600 background at this time, early church missionaries. 119 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,440 So people who were trying to spread the good news of Jesus 120 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,680 would actually depend on local believers to open their homes 121 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:58,120 and put them up. Inns were unsafe, immoral, and 122 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,400 expensive. And so to advance the gospel, it 123 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,280 was crucial that local believers would open their homes. 124 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,880 Churches met in homes. Hospitality was essential for 125 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,400 the spread of the gospel, the good news of Jesus. 126 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,120 Therefore, John is really trying to encourage believers through 127 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,920 this letter that supporting these missionaries was their way 128 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,040 of participating in God's mission and is super chuffed 129 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,880 with this guy called Gaius who has done such a good job at 130 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,960 this. And in verse 5, he says, dear 131 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,440 friend, you are being so faithful to God, you care for 132 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,000 these travelling teachers who pass through even though they're 133 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,880 strangers to you. And the word strangers tells us 134 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,800 that Gaius doesn't even know these guys. 135 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,920 He doesn't know the people he's letting in his home, but he's 136 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,760 loving them so that in verse 8, he can support them and partner 137 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:49,640 with them as they teach the truth. 138 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,440 And John continues to commend Gaius and encourage him to do 139 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,840 this. Now, if you see in verse 9, John 140 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,960 lets us in on something. There's a leadership conflict in 141 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,480 the church. So a bit of drama. 142 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,160 And when I was reading this, I was like, come on, John. 143 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,640 Because he doesn't mince his words here. 144 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,800 He's angry and he's got every right to be. 145 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,120 Because there's this other guy called Diotrophes. 146 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:19,840 I was calling him Diatrifus. It's not that diotrophes who he 147 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,160 starkly contrasts to gayest. So you've got gayest, great 148 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,000 faithful, obedient, opens his home and you've got Diotrophes. 149 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,080 And John tells us that although John has written to this church, 150 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:36,080 dietary fees is a leader who, quote verse 9, loves to be the 151 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,080 leader refuses to have anything to do with us. 152 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,080 So he's obviously ignored John's pastoral oversight. 153 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,560 And he goes on to say that when he does eventually come in 154 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:48,720 person, he will bring this up with dietary fees, Diotrophes 155 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,240 and report some of the evil accusations he's making against 156 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,280 him. Now, I don't like confrontation 157 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,800 and even reading this made me feel slightly uncomfortable. 158 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,600 But John is right not to shy away from this because it's a 159 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,200 hugely important issue. He continues to tell us that 160 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,200 Diotrophes refuses to welcome those who try and share the 161 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:15,200 gospel and he also tries to then stop anyone in church who tries 162 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,160 to welcome them and kicks them out of the church as well. 163 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,280 There's not great not doing a great job there. 164 00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:27,960 And he says to us in verse 11 that the church should not 165 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,360 follow this behaviour and follow only what is good because those 166 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,680 that do good prove that they're God's children and those that do 167 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:38,080 evil prove they do not know God. He commends this other guy 168 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:42,080 called Demetrius again and then ends the letter in a way that I 169 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,640 love. And we actually spoke about it 170 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,000 in a small group. He says, I have so much more to 171 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,800 say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. 172 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,680 And my head goes straight to, oh, what else has he got on this 173 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,600 guy? But in reality, I think John's 174 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,000 actually just super keen to see them in person and address these 175 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,880 issues face to face. Then he ends with a loving final 176 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,720 greeting. So what does all this have to 177 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,480 say to us today? A letter written hundreds and 178 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,840 hundreds of years ago to the early church. 179 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,200 Well, I think what John managed to do in such a short letter was 180 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:24,840 illustrate 3 points about real love that I think speak to us 181 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:30,080 today and particularly to us as a church community about what 182 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,240 real love should look like. So firstly, from this passage, 183 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,280 John, I believe, argues that real love encourages. 184 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,360 In verse one to four, we see how John affirms Gaius personally 185 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:49,960 and spiritually in love. He builds him up, He encourages 186 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,800 the good work he does. He recognizes that it's not 187 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:58,560 easy, but he commends Gaius for being faithful nevertheless and 188 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:02,800 encourages him to continue serving and hosting in the 189 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,880 humbly, godly manner that he does. 190 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:11,360 So do we, as Chancellor of Vineyard, love and build each 191 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,840 other up in love? Do we encourage each other? 192 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,040 And I'm not just talking about flattery, but when we see 193 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,920 another believer who is faithful and obedient and serving humbly, 194 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:28,440 do we encourage them, come alongside them in prayer because 195 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,280 God, who is love, rejoices in faithfulness and obedience. 196 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,560 The good news of Jesus advances through faithfulness and 197 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:40,440 obedience. And encouragement is needed 198 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,680 because it strengthens the church. 199 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,560 It strengthens us. When people feel encouraged, 200 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:48,160 they feel like they can keep going. 201 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,720 They feel emboldened and supported, upheld in prayer. 202 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,120 They feel like they're not walking the Christian walk on 203 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,520 their own when encouraged, although it's hard, they're 204 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,680 reminded by another believer of who they're doing it for, and 205 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:06,040 they fix. They fix their eyes. 206 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:11,560 Then again on Jesus and the enemy wants nothing more than to 207 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:14,480 make us feel discouraged and give up on our faith. 208 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,680 John begins every letter. 1 John 2 John 3 John with 209 00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:23,720 encouragement. Now a beautiful example from the 210 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:28,440 Bible of the importance of encouragement is Barnabas and 211 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,040 encouraging Paul, who used to be Saul and the early church. 212 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,600 So when Saul first became a believer, most Christians were 213 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,200 understandably afraid of him. He used to persecute Christians, 214 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,880 OK? They knew him as a man that 215 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,560 persecuted the church, not as a follower of Jesus. 216 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,640 Now imagine how isolating that must have felt for Saul, Paul. 217 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,440 And it's quite confusing, isn't it? 218 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:58,560 New faith, new identity, and no one trusts you. 219 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:05,120 Acts 926 to 27 tells us that when Saul tried to join the 220 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,000 disciples in Jerusalem, they were all afraid of him. 221 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:13,960 But Barnabas steps in. Barnabas took Saul, brought him 222 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,840 to the disciples, and spoke on his behalf. 223 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,800 He told them how Saul had truly encountered the Lord, how he had 224 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:26,120 preached boldly in Damascus, and how God was already working 225 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,000 through him. And because of Barnabas 226 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,520 encouragement and his advocacy, Saul was accepted into the 227 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,200 Christian community. And that encouragement matters 228 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,760 deeply because Saul, later known as Paul, went on to ensure 229 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,440 imprisonment, beatings, rejection, exhaustion while 230 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,280 spreading the gospel across the Roman world. 231 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,440 Humanly speaking, his ministry might have stalled right at the 232 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:57,320 beginning without someone believing in him when others 233 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,520 wouldn't, without someone encouraging him. 234 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,040 And it's no accident that Barnabas means son of 235 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,760 encouragement. God used one believer's courage 236 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,760 to encourage another, and the ripple effect shaped the entire 237 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,840 New Testament church. So who are you encouraging? 238 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,600 Who are you commending for their faithfulness? 239 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,280 Who are you getting alongside and affirming? 240 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,960 Not flattery. Not because we want someone else 241 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,480 to say it back to us or recognize what we do, but 242 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,280 because. But to encourage each other. 243 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:40,760 Because real love encourages. Real love speaks life into each 244 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,120 other and encourages them to keep running the race. 245 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,680 Christ is set before us with endurance. 246 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:53,640 Secondly, real love sacrifices. Now in this passage we see 247 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,640 through Gaius a real example of someone who loves. 248 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,760 He opens his home and it costs him. 249 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:05,840 Hospitality is not easy, is it? In our culture today, opening up 250 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,640 our homes has quietly become harder. 251 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,280 Many people feel anxious about hosting, worried about their 252 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,560 homes not being good enough, the effort required, or the fear 253 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,400 that no one will come. Smaller living spaces, busier 254 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,840 schedules, and lives lived more online than around the table 255 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,560 have all made open our homes feel costly and a bit 256 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,480 inconvenient. And even after the pandemic, 257 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:37,520 habits have lingered a bit and inviting others around or in 258 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,400 sometimes feels a bit more less normal than it once did. 259 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,600 And I've really noticed that that the the culturally 260 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,840 accepted, the old fashioned off, off the cuff, cuff invite, sorry 261 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,360 to come over for coffee or a play date. 262 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:01,840 They're a rarity. It really has changed as and as 263 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:06,520 a result, something deeply human and deeply biblical has slowly 264 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,360 been fading. A simple and generous act of 265 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:15,400 welcoming others into our homes. Because opening up your homes 266 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,080 costs It. Costs your time, your energy, 267 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,920 your forethought, maybe your pride if it's not as clean or as 268 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,040 big or as perfect as you think it should be. 269 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,560 And Gaius was opening up his home to people he didn't even 270 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,400 know. And yet there's something about 271 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,840 welcoming people into your homes, Christians and not yet 272 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:36,960 Christians, that means something. 273 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,160 I grew up in a home where the back door was permanently open. 274 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,240 We lived next to the bus stop in the village where all the kids 275 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,280 got off. And as they got off, we would 276 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,960 have various kids just turn up in our house, friends of mine or 277 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,640 my many siblings, and they'd grab one of my mum's cakes, hang 278 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,480 out, out for a bit, and then they'd all disappear back to 279 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,200 their own homes. And I never really thought much 280 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,480 of it at the time. Some days it was quite annoying, 281 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,800 but looking back, it was precious. 282 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,280 Homes are safe spaces, they're your private place. 283 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:15,200 And it says so much when you invite people into them. 284 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:18,440 You're inviting them into a different level of relationship 285 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,560 and connection. And I know that my friends who I 286 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,359 invite over really appreciate, appreciate the invite. 287 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:34,240 You might meet at a coffee shop or out at a park or a pub, but 288 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,720 there is something that actually happens and barriers that come 289 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,160 down when you invite people around your house. 290 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,400 It's different and it may be costly and it may take some 291 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,280 courage, but if our homes can be places which we open and 292 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:53,520 sacrifice to love others, however that looks, then I think 293 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,080 that's super exciting. Now, going back to the beginning 294 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,440 of this talk where I said about how the growth of the early 295 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,840 church depended on people opening up their homes to 296 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,640 missionaries, we see a powerful example in Lydia. 297 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,800 And I didn't just choose her because she's got a great name. 298 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:16,240 I chose her because she's a brilliant example, unlike me of 299 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:19,320 of this. So in the book of Acts, in the 300 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,160 time of the early church, we're introduced to Lydia. 301 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,440 She's a successful businesswoman, really not like 302 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,520 me, and interestingly, a convert of Paul, who we mentioned 303 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,400 earlier. Now, after coming to faith, she 304 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,200 opened up her home to missionaries for people 305 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:36,920 spreading the good news of Jesus. 306 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,840 And her home became a place where the church gathered. 307 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:46,200 And this was not without cost for a woman in her position. 308 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,720 Hosting a group of foreign men would have caused could have 309 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,880 caused a scandal. Allowing meetings in her home 310 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,840 where a Jewish Messiah was worshipped rather than the 311 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:01,400 emperor or a traditional Pagan God could have damaged both her 312 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:06,960 reputation and her business. Yet Lydia opened her home again 313 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,960 and again for the work of the Lord. 314 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,040 She even welcomed Paul and Silas into her home in Philippi 315 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,680 immediately after their release from prison, when angry crowds 316 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,000 were still wanting them to be pushed out of the city no matter 317 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,720 the risk. Her home was consistently used 318 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,560 for the work of the Lord to love others. 319 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,960 Lydia wasn't the one preaching, she wasn't the one out 320 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:34,960 evangelising, but she was absolutely working for the Lord. 321 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,920 She opened her home. She opened her door. 322 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:44,520 So are we using the homes that God has so generously blessed us 323 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:49,480 with for the work of the Lord, to love others and to serve 324 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:53,000 others? Now, if you don't have a home to 325 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,360 offer out because you live with parents or you rent A room, 326 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:01,040 you're not off the hook. Real love gives generously for 327 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:05,200 the sake of the gospel and can cost our time, our resources, 328 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,480 and our comfort. You don't need a home to give 329 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,200 those things generously for the sake of the gospel. 330 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,080 Are you treating your friend to a cookie from the school canteen 331 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:17,560 even though it means you go without? 332 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,480 Or offering to walk home with a friend in the rain, even though 333 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,240 you know you could have got a lift home another way. 334 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,480 Or perhaps you could still invite your friend over to your 335 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,600 family home even though you may secretly be worrying that your 336 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,320 mum and dad may do something really embarrassing. 337 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,280 There are still ways to be hospitable and love generously 338 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:45,280 without owning your own space. Real love tends to cost us it's 339 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,200 sacrifice. And finally my last point. 340 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,160 John teaches us that real love discerns and imitates what is 341 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,960 good. Now diotrophies back to the guy 342 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,160 that you know loves loves himself. 343 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,120 Diotrophies shows us what real love is not. 344 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,560 His leadership is driven by pride rather than service. 345 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,280 He seeks self importance. He tries to control others. 346 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,600 He creates division instead of unity. 347 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:20,400 His action reveal a love turned inward, more concerned with 348 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,120 power than people. And in sharp contrast, you've 349 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:27,760 got Demetrius and Gaius over here, models of what real love 350 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:32,280 looks like, faithfulness to the truth, generosity towards God's 351 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:37,080 servants, and a reputation shaped by consistent godly 352 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:42,240 character. Demetrius was known by John not 353 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,360 because he demanded recognition, but because his life simply 354 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:50,840 aligns with the truth and that's affirmed by others and that is 355 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,920 why John gives his pointed instruction. 356 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:56,440 Dear friend, do not let this bad example influence you. 357 00:21:57,120 --> 00:22:02,160 Follow only what is good. The call for us today is 1 of 358 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:06,280 discernment. We must reject pride driven 359 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:12,840 leadership both in others but also in ourselves, and 360 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:18,600 intentionally follow and copy and imitate examples of humble 361 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,640 cry shaped love. Real love doesn't grasp for 362 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,880 recognition. It gladly serves, it gladly 363 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:31,320 loves, and it walks in the truth so that others can meet and know 364 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:35,000 the love of Jesus. And you may be thinking, whoa, 365 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:39,160 I'm not like diotrophies, but I do think there is a tendency, 366 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,320 isn't there? Let's be honest of the human 367 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,520 condition that when we do serve or we do something nice for each 368 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:48,000 other, we would like a little bit of recognition, a little pat 369 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,600 on the back. And yet Philippians 2 verse 3 370 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,520 says don't try and impress others. 371 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,680 Be humble, thinking of yourself, thinking of others, sorry, as 372 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,880 better than yourselves. And there's a bit of a worldly, 373 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:09,480 unworldly view that one. Now Gaius is a fantastic example 374 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,000 of a humble, humble servant. But let's not be silly. 375 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:18,120 Jesus is the best example. And it's to him we need to look 376 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:21,440 to, it's to him we need to ask for help with this. 377 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,880 And it's to him we need to imitate and follow the example 378 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:29,120 of in Philippians 2 verse 5 to 8. 379 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:33,160 It says very clearly in your relationship with one another 380 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:38,400 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who being in very nature 381 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,360 God did not consider equality with God something to be used to 382 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:45,920 his own advantage. Rather he made himself nothing 383 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:51,200 by taking the nature of a servant being made in human 384 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,520 likeness and being found in an appearance as a man, he humbled 385 00:23:55,520 --> 00:24:00,320 himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 386 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,200 And the more we follow his example, the more we will become 387 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:10,800 like him, loving and serving others generously with a pure 388 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:15,480 and godly heart. And as we come to the end of 389 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,000 this message, let's remember that 3 John isn't just a letter 390 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,880 about ancient church politics or hospitality in the 1st century. 391 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,320 It's a living, breathing challenge to us today. 392 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,280 Real love is more than words. It's action. 393 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,120 It's opening our doors, It's opening our lives. 394 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,600 It's opening our hearts, even when it costs us something. 395 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:45,080 It's encouraging each other so that we don't get discouraged or 396 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,480 burnt out. It's supporting those serving, 397 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:54,640 those choosing to imitate what is good, not what is easy. 398 00:24:56,360 --> 00:25:00,000 So as we head into ministry time, I invite you to reflect on 399 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,400 these questions. And I should have put them up on 400 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,800 the board, but I didn't. Who might God be asking you to 401 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:13,280 welcome to encourage or support even when it feels inconvenient 402 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,240 or stretches you out of your comfort zone? 403 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:22,200 Where in your life can you practice hospitality, not just 404 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,960 in your home, but with your time, attention, money, or 405 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,400 resources? What does it look like for you 406 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:36,040 personally to put love into action in your family, your 407 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,560 workplace, or your community this week? 408 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,600 And are there places where you found yourself seeking 409 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,800 recognition like diotrophies rather than quietly serving like 410 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,320 Gaius and you just need that little heart shift? 411 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,720 I'll just pray and then we'll go into a time of ministry where 412 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:02,680 you can just receive from Godfather God. 413 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:06,320 I pray that you would give us the courage to open our doors, 414 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:12,680 the humility to serve without seeking recognition, and the 415 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,760 wisdom to imitate what is good so that our love would not just 416 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:23,720 be words, but a living testimony to the gospel and something that 417 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,600 glorifies and brings praise to your name. 418 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,720 We'll just go into a time of ministry now. 419 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:39,800 If you have children, I know that the kids team would be very 420 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:44,280 encouraged if you could collect your kids ASAP as they've been 421 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:49,720 faithfully serving down there, but then come back up and grab 422 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:53,520 someone to pray with you. Don't leave here without being 423 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:55,120 prayed for if that's something you want. 424 00:26:56,360 --> 00:27:00,040 But yeah, let's just go into a time of ministry now where you 425 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:01,280 can receive from the Lord.