• It is believed to be written by the Apostle John or another church leader at the time referred to as “John the elder”
• 3 John in the original Greek manuscript is only 219 words. That makes 3 John the shortest book of the bible (by words), some would also say the sweetest!!

3 John 1–14 NIV 
The elder, 
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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. 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. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 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. 
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. 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. 
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 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.

Verse’s 1-4 Encouragement:

3 John 1-4: The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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. 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. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 

• In many English translations he uses the word “beloved”: "to the beloved Gaius"
• This obviously isn’t just a polite term, it expresses genuine affection

• Scripture doesn’t explicitly state the relationship of John and Gaius
• He may have led Gaius to Christ, discipled him, or simply served as his spiritual mentor or pastor at some point
• Regardless, John considers Gaius to be “one of his children”

Luke 6:40 “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” 

• Its not what church denomination he attends
• Its not finances
• Its not popularity or whatever
• Its people walking in truth that brings him joy
• Seeing his dear friend Gaius walk with the Lord in truth

Verses 5-8 Praise:

3 John 5–8 “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.” 

Matthew 10:11–15 “Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” 

• Would I have the same hospitality of that the gospel calls me to?
• Would I have the same hospitality of Gaius?

• Hospitality is us participating in God’s mission of loving people
• Hospitality makes room for people.... because Jesus first made room for us!!!!

Verses 9-10 Warning:

3 John 9–10 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 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.” 

• He points to Diotrephes heart issue first, not his practical failures.
• He said Diotrephes “Loves to be first”

Romans 16:17–18 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” 

Matthew 19:27–30 “Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” 

Mark 10:45“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” 

Verses 11-14 Invitation:

3 John 11–14 “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. 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. I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 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.” 

• Are you being discipled by someone that is walking closely with the Lord?
• Or are we being discipled by the guy on Friday night at the bar after we had a long week of work?
• "Show me the 5 people you spend the most time around and I will show you who you will be in 5 years..."
• We are always being discipled by someone or something.

• So we do not know much about him or where he came from
• It is a thought that he may have been the person who carried John’s letter to Gaius - though scripture doesn’t say
• But the one thing we learn about Demetrius from this one verse that he is in. John points out his faithfulness! John says he is well spoken of by everyone!

• Would your name be well spoken of by everyone?
• What story is your life telling?

Ephesians 5:1–2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” 

• Walk in the truth.
• Love people.
• Reject pride.
• Imitate what is good. 
• It sounds very similar to our vision here at church:  
  • “Love God” “Love people” “Living faith”