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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Bible Study 3John 3 Types of Believers in a Church

3John is very similar to 2John. 2John was sent to a lady leader telling her how to run a successful home group. 3John as sent to a gentleman leader. John's greatest joy, should be the joy of all leaders, was to see that the people were walking in the truth - the correct doctrine and correct behavior - loving one another and loving fellow workers and strangers. (the missionaries that pass our ways). 
How can we tell the character of a person?
Observe what he did rather than his talk. But we must also discern the true reports and the malicious lies (Diotrephes' spread malicious lies about John v10).

In this short letter of 14 verses, John used 'observed behavior' five times.
  1. 3Jn 1:3 the brethen came and testified of Gaius's walk in the truth.
  2. 3Jn 1:6 the strangers (missionaries) borne witness of Gaius's charity.
  3. 3Jn 1:10 John remembered Diotrephes' deeds - reject him, said malicious words, stop others and cast them out.
  4. 3Jn 1:12 Demetrics had good report of all men.
  5. 3Jn 1:12 We also bear record.
For the evidences, we can see that there are
3 types of Believers in a Church.
  1. Type 1 Gaius -  The True Loving Leaders
    1. Walking in the truth.  (3Jn 1:3)
    2. Always give of his Best to love and support fellow workers and missionaries. (3Jn 1:5-8)
    3. Imitate good and not evil (3Jn 1:11)
    4. Gaius is our model leader. John himself was of course a model leader for us. He has much love and concern for the growth and well being of his members. He prayed for them (3John 1:2 - the famous verse that follows from Mat 6:33 wealth and success comes from righteousness) and wanting to meet them face to face. He was a very personal leader.
  2. Type 2 Diotrephes -  The Self Glorifying Leader 
    1. Likes to put himself first, and does not acknowledge higher authority even John's authority.  (3Jn 1:9)
    2. Talking wicked nonsense against others like John & brothers
    3. Refuses to welcome the brothers from John and
    4. Stops those who want to and  puts them out of the church.  (3Jn 1:10)
    5. Leaders like Diotrephes creates divisions in church - side with those for and useful for me and reject those not-for or no use to me. They are insecure and use people for their benefits.
  3. Type 3 Demetrius -  The faithful Followers - The Future Leaders
    1. a good testimony from everyone
    2. walk in the truth.
    3. John, the Elder, also add his testimony (3Jn 1:12)
    4. Faithful believers like Demetrius are to be groomed for future leaderships.
Questions:
  1. What are the three types of believers in a church? 
  2. What are the qualities of a good leader? (learn from John and Gaius & Demetrius)
  3. What kind of leader or believer am I? What are the next steps for me?

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