Tag Archives: discipleship

Acts 2:41-47 Kingdom Community

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions:

(PRT)

Acts 2:41-47

v. 41 Then those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized and around 3000 were added to their number that day. v. 42 What’s more, they faithfully and courageously pursued the apostles’ teachings,  community life, breaking bread together and prayer. v. 43 All this created an immense and reverent awe in each person’s heart as both wondrous miracles and supernatural signs happened through the apostles. vv. 44-45 All who believed were in this together and held everything to be shared by all. They cashed out the property they owned and the resources they had at hand and distributed to each person according to their needs. v. 46 Every day faithfully they move forward together both in the Temple and in their homes breaking bread together; they shared meals with their hearts full of joy and sincerity. v. 47 They praised God and gained the good will from all the people, and all the while, the Lord kept on adding to their number all who were being saved each day.

v. 42 What’s more, they faithfully and courageously pursued the apostles’ teachings,  community life, breaking bread together and prayer.

These freshly baptized Christ-followers needed the teaching that the Apostles had received from Jesus. This would be conveyed in the context of the Story, the account as Luke would call it. How could one talk about Jesus the Savior and Lord without talking about what they had seen and heard?

The “community” is that spiritual fellowship that made up the church and was in “communion” with the Savior and with one another. It’s the sense of partnership together in the message, the communion, and the mission. This word for fellowship or community is a broad as being in unity in the Spirit and as specific as sharing a meal with someone in need. This pervasive “communion” of believers believes the best of others, surrenders rights so others can be seen and heard, stands in unity with both the witness and the mission Jesus handed off, and does life with others in ways that validate the change they experienced to a watching world.

The breaking of bread became an early way of saying “the Lord’s Supper.” This was the celebration around which, along with baptizing new Jesus-followers every day, the community of the redeemed gathered. The practice followed what Jesus showed them, have a meal (break bread) and celebrate his gift (break bread). It would not be wrong for a small group of believers to enjoy a meal together and “break bread” in communion to celebrate God’s gift in Jesus. Echoes of the first church experience would resonate in this practice.

Prayer, the committed act of praying. Acts 3 has them praying in the Temple at the time of “prayers” and Acts 4 in spontaneous prayer in the homes. Too many practices are taken as “either/or” – habitual and spontaneous is the practice of the Christian.

v. 43 All this created an immense and reverent awe in each person’s heart as both wondrous miracles and supernatural signs happened through the apostles.

The word means “fear” or reverent awe and it’s modified with a “mega” word. The new Jesus-followers walked around in amazed awe that they would be called, redeemed and filled with the Spirit of the Holy God.

The word for “created” and the word for “happened” is the root word for coming as it active results – awe kept coming as miracles kept coming.

vv. 44-45 All who believed were in this together and held everything to be shared by all. They cashed out the property they owned and the resources they had at hand and distributed to each person according to their needs.

The resulting actions of this awe is to hold onto possessions lightly. In fact, those who had property committed it to this rapidly growing movement. And people who had come into Jerusalem took what possessions and resources they brought and liquidated these to help those who needed help. Like the women of resource who walked with Jesus, the Father used the people of resources to sustain such an outpouring of salvations. Just sustaining a revival can be costly; imagine that expanding it is moreso.

Some Christian movements have taken this as the norm and called for communes where everyone stayed together and surrendered property rights. But this is really the only example in the NT and was a necessity at the prompting of the Spirit of God for generosity. The church grew so much that people held their stuff with very loose grips.

v. 46 Every day faithfully they move forward together both in the Temple and in their homes breaking bread together; they shared meals with their hearts full of joy and sincerity.

Remember that the first Christians were also faithful Jews and the Temple courts were a natural place to teach, to meet new believers, and to practice the disciplines of the Jewish walk. But as a natural result of meals, fellowship, community, etc., the believers were drawn to homes to do life, to talk about the Account and learn from the Apostles. Word, I imagine, would get out: “Peter is coming by tonight” or “have you ever heard Andrew’s stories about Jesus?”

There was a sense of steady advancement of Kingdom evidence that propelled them forward.

They were filled inside with joy. Sincerity is also the word for simplicity. The word comes from another that means “free from rocks” – in other words, simply and smoothly. If there was anything about the life of the new believer in this first church, it was simplicity. Do life, pray for each other, share in the Lord’s Supper, worship in the Temple courts, tell the story.

The worship in the Temple didn’t include the Lord’s Supper and this could be done anywhere there were two or more.

Archaeological evidence shows that early church members’ homes had “worship” rooms that facilitated more people gathered to hear the truth and practice the disciplines of the faith (Lord’s Supper, Prayer, fellowship activity, teaching/reading letters from the  first disciples).

v. 47 They praised God and gained the good will from all the people, and all the while, the Lord kept on adding to their number all who were being saved each day.

The community of common people were quite favorable toward these Jesus-followers. It was the religious leaders who couldn’t stand them. They received “grace, favor” from the throngs. They looked on them kindly and with a sense of respect and awe.

Small Group Study Questions:

Acts 2:41-47 Part One (Next week, we will study what made these new Christians strong.)

  1. How do you handle crowded places? Are you energized by crowds or do they scare you?
  2. If you gave out invitations to a party and 3000 people showed up, how would you make sure they were taken care of and made to feel welcome?
  3. What was the source of awe and amazement in the lives of these Jesus-followers in v. 42?
  4. Share about a miracle you have seen (not just heard about, but been present when it happened)? How did it make you feel about your faith?
  5. Share about a time you’ve been able to be recklessly generous to someone in need? Or, if you can, about a time when you were on the receiving end of reckless generosity?
  6. What need can we help meet tonight? How can we ask the Father to work in your life tonight?

Acts 2:25-33 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT)

vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I see the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, I celebrate and rejoice inside and out and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.” V. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you fill me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.” V. 29 People, let me speak very freely with you about this. You know that David, our founding ancestor, died and was buried. His burial monument is here and  you can see it even today. V. 30 Since he was a prophet, he understood that God promised on his word that he would set one of his descendants on His throne.” V. 31 He saw this coming and talked about the resurrection of the Messiah, that he would neither be left helpless and alone in the grave nor would his body experience decay. V. 32 This same Jesus is the one whom God has raised from the dead! We all saw this! V. 33 By God’s strong hand, Jesus is lifted up to the place of honor and received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. Now He is pouring out what you are both seeing and hearing today.

vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I see the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, I celebrate and rejoice inside and out and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.”

Psalm 16. This was and is even now moreso a Messianic psalm. Live on hope means to set up the tent but also that the foundation of the tent site is hope. Live on hope, not a sustenance but as foundation.

I will rejoice with my heart and celebrate with my tongue.

v. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you fill me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.”

The path toward real life, as opposed to the death that held him for three days. Psalm 16. It could be “the joy of your Presence.”

v. 29 People, let me speak very freely with you about this. You know that David, our founding ancestor, died and was buried. His burial monument is here and  you can see it even today.

Not to be macabre, but Peter is making it clear. This King David that has been such a central part of Jewish history is still in the tomb. People stop by and visit and remember David at this grave memorial. But this Jesus left this grave. You can’t visit his body somewhere. He is risen.

v. 30 Since he was a prophet, he understood that God promised on his word that he would set one of his descendants on His throne.”

The child is the fruit of his loins.  Someone from the line of his seed. David perceived this promise given with surety (like an oath or vow) to him by God. His throne would see his child, or his son.

v. 31 He saw this coming and talked about the resurrection of the Messiah, that he would neither be left helpless and alone in the grave nor would his body experience decay.

He foresaw and announced the Messiah’s resurrection. Christ would not be abandoned and the corruption and decomposition that comes with death would not touch him.

v. 32 This same Jesus is the one whom God has raised from the dead! We all saw this!

Peter is making a clear parallel of David the King of Israel and Jesus King of Kings. David died and his body decomposed; Jesus never saw decomposition touch him. It’s all because God the Father raised God the Son from the grave. We are the witnesses. We saw Him alive. The word for witness is the same as martyr, ironic in that nearly all who stood with Peter would be martyred for their witness. The word can also mean: to go on record. These followers of Jesus had a record – they saw Jesus alive.

V. 33 By God’s strong hand, Jesus is lifted up to the place of honor and received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. Now He is pouring out what you are both seeing and hearing today.

The right hand of God. Jesus is exalted. The parallel of Jesus being lifted up from the dead and lifted up above all people for honor is clear. He received it without measure; he is pouring it out without measure. This is the invitation of the Good News: you no longer have to be separated from the Father in death. His invitation to you is to trust who He is and that what He has done can remove the death sentence of sin from  your life. Because He died on the Cross, you can be forgiven. Because He conquered death, you can enjoy eternity with Him in heaven. Because He ascended to the Father after his resurrection, you can know the power of the Holy Spirit living inside you.

Acts 1:12-26 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

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Pastor Rick’s Translation:

(PRT)

v.12 Then they left the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem which is only a half mile, or what was allowed for a Sabbath’s Day walk. v. 13 And when they arrived at the home, they went up to the upper story where they were staying; not only Peter and John, but also James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (Alpheus’ son) and Simon (who was a Zealot), and Judas (James’ son). v. 14 All of them were steadfastly devoted to one another, attuned in life and united in prayer. They were there together with the women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother, and his brothers. v. 15 Then, during these days, Peter took the floor in front of the brothers and sisters, whose names numbered together by this time 120. v. 16 Men, and brothers and sisters, it had to happen so that the Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David would be fulfilled regarding Judas, the one guilty of guiding those who arrested Jesus. v. 17 For he was counted with us, he threw in his lot, and he had a share in this ministry. v. 18 Now, of course, this man, with the payment collected from Judas’ unrighteousness, bought a field;  then having become bloated and distended Judas fell in, ruptured in the middle, and his insides gushed out. v. 19 It became notorious to those who lived in Jerusalem and they called that field Akeldama in their own Aramaic, but translated, it is “the field of blood.” v. 20 The Psalms say: “Let his dwelling be desolate and barren and let no one live there” and “let another take up his position.”  vv. 21-22 Therefore, we must choose a man who has traveled with us all this time that the Lord Jesus came and went out among us, from the baptism of John until he was taken up, and he will be a witness along with us to his Resurrection. v. 23 And they submitted two names: Joseph who was called Barsabbas but nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. vv. 24-25 Then they prayed and said: “You, Lord, know all our hearts. Show us which one out of these two you choose to take the place of serving and being sent out that Judas turned away from and departed to place he deserves. v. 26 And they drew lots between them and the lot landed on Matthias; and he was counted along with the eleven Apostles.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

v.12 Then they left the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem which is only a half mile, or what was allowed for a Sabbath’s Day walk.

This helps fill in the first 11 verses. They met Jesus earlier on the Olive Mt and that’s where they watched him ascend into heaven. It was a short enough walk that they wouldn’t get in trouble with the religious lawyers as they were allowed 1000 double steps on the Sabbath.

v. 13 And when they arrived at the home, they went up to the upper story where they were staying; not only Peter and John, but also James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (Alpheus’ son) and Simon (who was a Zealot), and Judas (James’ son).

This is the inner circle of called out and sent out ones. Some names may confuse: Bartholomew is the same as Nathaniel in John’s Gospel; Matthew was also called Levi; Jude, James son is also known as Thaddeus. Not uncommon to have multiple names and nicknames (e.g. Simon could never shake the nickname, Zealot, even though he left this life of an assassin behind).

v. 14 All of them were steadfastly devoted to one another, attuned in life and united in prayer. They were there together with the women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother, and his brothers.

How many times can this verse identify the Jesus-followers as in community. The word for attuned in life is a  musical term that means to “rush along in harmony and note.” What a beautiful picture of the Kingdom working here on earth. Note that, by this time, Jesus’ brothers (at least two of them) had come to believe their brother, Jesus, is Messiah. Mary never swayed from this.

“in one accord” or united in prayer is the same word Jesus uses in Matthew 18, when two of you agree. This whole passage points back to verse 1 – “all that Jesus began to do and teach” – the operative word, “began,” means we continue it.

This is what they spend the next 10 days doing in preparation for the “promise of the Father.”

Jesus ascended, ten days of preparation in prayer, worship, the word and relationships, then the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus descends.

Luke 24:57 helps clarify what they did: they prayed, the worship (in the Temple), they made relationships work, and the depended on the Word of God.

v. 15 Then, during these days, Peter took the floor in front of the brothers and sisters, whose names numbered together by this time 120.

Peter stood up in the midst of 120 who were the chosen, the called out. The word “brothers” is used here; but clearly from the earlier verses, the disciples number several women in this “rush along in harmony and note.”

v. 16 Men, and brothers and sisters, it had to happen so that the Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David would be fulfilled regarding Judas, the one guilty of guiding those who arrested Jesus.

It seems here that Peter is address that inner circle of the Apostles and broadened the address to the brothers and sisters. This is the 10 days between Jesus ascending and the Holy Spirit descending. They are waiting in Jerusalem and they are seeking to act wisely and in unity to prepare for what God has in store.

v. 17 For he was counted with us, he threw in his lot, and he had a share in this ministry.

He was numbered among us. Peter is using the same terminology that he would use to determine Judas’ replacement. Judas cast the dice to join and he won a share in the ministry.

This helps us understand v. 24 when they cast dice.

v. 18 Now, of course, this man, with the payment collected from Judas’ unrighteousness, bought a field;  then having become bloated and distended Judas fell in, ruptured in the middle, and his insides gushed out.

That’s quite the graphic scene Peter explains. When he begins, he takes the liberty of saying ‘now,  you already know this, but for the record…” One question that might come up is how to reconcile the account in Matthew 27 where Judas throws the 30 silver pieces at the priests and they buy a field. Judas then commits suicide by hanging. Nothing gets by them, and the priests would know where the suicide took place and sent a man to purchase the craggy land for others to be buried in. The irony is that, his body would have been the first to go over to cliffs into the field below. Judas, after hanging himself and swinging in the hot sun, would have bloated out and directly fell down into the cliffs of the land. His was not a good end.

v. 19 It became notorious to those who lived in Jerusalem and they called that field Akeldama in their own Aramaic, but translated, it is “the field of blood.”

This “field of blood” reconciles the two stories. Judas hung himself, bloated out; the priests sent a man to buy the cliff, the tree, and the field below. Either he cut Judas down and he fell in and burst, or he fell from his rope on his own. Other convicts and unnamed ones were tossed in after him.

v. 20 The Psalms say: “Let his dwelling be desolate and barren and let no one live there” and “let another take up his position.”

Notice the importance of the same two tools, the same life-giving disciplines we run to: the Word and Prayer. I would add to this a unity and in-tuned-ness which often takes even more work.

vv. 21-22 Therefore, we must choose a man who has traveled with us all this time that the Lord Jesus came and went out among us, from the baptism of John until he was taken up, and he will be a witness along with us to his Resurrection.

This tells us two things: 1) there were others who had been there from the start all the way to the Ascension, 2)  they were taking Jesus’ command seriously, to be witnesses of what had happened.

v. 23 And they submitted two names: Joseph who was called Barsabbas but nicknamed Justus, and Matthias.

These three verses are important according to Wright because they saw their role as continuing the work of the Kingdom that Jesus declared and demonstrated, then passed on to them. They needed someone who had gone through it with them. We are the continuation of the work.

vv. 24-25 Then they prayed and said: “You, Lord, know all our hearts. Show us which one out of these two you choose to take the place of serving and being sent out that Judas turned away from and departed to place he deserves.

It says “after they prayed” but they are clearly still praying. The word is really a name: heart-knower.”  The place of ministry and apostleship that Judas veered from and went to his own place.

v. 26 And they drew lots between them and the lot landed on Matthias; and he was counted along with the eleven Apostles.

This was an accepted way to choose. Not gambling, but a unique way of trusting. Now that we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we don’t need to toss dice or draw straws.  Matthias is not mentioned again, meaning that he played his part as one of the Twelve that Jesus rose from the dead, but likely a smaller role. Wright reminds us here that there are no “big parts” and no “insignificant parts” in the Kingdom work; we all are a part and Jesus is the orchestrator.

Small Group Study Questions:

Acts 1:12-26

  1. What is your most personal memory of God’s nearness?
  2. Read Acts 1:12-26. What did the followers of Jesus do after seeing Jesus ascend into heaven?
  3. What did his followers do to get ready to receive the Promise of the Father? (What exactly is the Promise of the Father?)
  4. In what ways do you intentionally “get ready” to walk with God and serve Him?
  5. How can we pray for you this week?

Acts 1:1-11 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

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Pastor Rick’s Translation:

(PRT) Acts 1:1-10

vv. 1-2 Theophilus, the first account I wrote concerned the whole story from the beginning with what Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated up to the very day after giving instructions by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen, he was taken up. vv. 3-4 To these very apostles, he showed up for them alive with many irrefutable proofs during the forty days they saw him after his suffering; and he spoke to them about the things of the Kingdom of God. And when he had them all together he gave them these instructions: “Don’t leave Jerusalem; instead wait there for the Promise of the Father that you heard me talk about.” v. 5 John baptized you with water, but now you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in only a few days.” v. 6 Then they got together and asked him: “Lord, is this the time? Are you restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” v. 7 But he replied: “The Father is in charge of this; and he has set the opportune timing and how long or short this will be isn’t up to you. v. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses not just in Jerusalem but in all Judea and Samaria and to the farthest reaches of the earth. v. 9 And after Jesus said all this to them, before their very eyes, he was lifted up; and he was carry away in a cloud from their sight. vv. 10-11 Then, while they were watching intently into the heavens as he left, two men appeared in dazzling white clothes and stood by them: “Galileans, why do you stand here staring into the skies? This Jesus who has been taken up from you and into heaven will come back in the very same way you saw him go into heaven.”

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

vv. 1-2 Theophilus, the first account I wrote concerned the whole story from the beginning with what Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated up to the very day after giving instructions by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen, he was taken up.

It could be the apostles were chosen by the Holy Spirit or the instructions were given by agency of the Holy Spirit.  His point: as you begin reading this account, keep in mind that it follow that first account composed and delivered to his friend, Theophilus.

Wright: Luke writes on several levels. 1) It’s the story of the early church, 2) It’s also the story of the continuing work of Jesus, but now through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, 3) It’s a story in which we are also participants as the continuing work, continues. Acts is all about what Jesus continues to do in the world. There are two dynamics integral to Acts: Jesus rose again and the Holy Spirit has come in power. The renewal the disciples expected and perhaps wanted more than ever was an immediate regime change; but the regime change is inside the hearts of Jesus’ followers. There is a new reality believers live in; the Kingdom is come in the ministry and presence of Jesus.

Wagner: Jesus fills in the gaps during these seven weeks. All that they were taught and saw, now makes sense. The framework of Acts is the Kingdom. Luke is the only Gentile writer in the Bible.

vv. 3-4 To these very apostles, he showed up for them alive with many irrefutable proofs during the forty days they saw him after his suffering; and he spoke to them about the things of the Kingdom of God. And when he had them all together he gave them these instructions: “Don’t leave Jerusalem; instead wait there for the Promise of the Father that you heard me talk about.”

Jesus presented himself to them; he showed up for them. He had three goals in this time. Teach them about the Kingdom of God. Encourage them with his words and actions. Instruct them about their next steps.

v. 5 John baptized you with water, but now you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in only a few days.”

The timing is important to Luke. Remember when John had water to baptize you with; but now that the Promise of the Father is here, you’ll be inundated in the Holy Spirit.

v. 6 Then they got together and asked him: “Lord, is this the time? Are you restoring the Kingdom to Israel?”

They still didn’t want him to leave and hoped for the Kingdom to start with him even now physically. I can see them huddling together and nudging Peter forward (probably) to ask the question. The tone is “Jesus, we all want to know? Is it now?” Jesus gives them the big picture and invites them to play the long game.

Wright: The disciples were not heading to the top spots in an earthly kingdom; they we were in on a new kind of kingdom. And the King is present for the people of God. The “still-future” remains but His rule breaks in our lives and our world. So, to answer their question: “Is it time?” He says wait for the promise of the Father and then do and speak the words of the Kingdom.

v. 7 But he replied: “The Father is in charge of this; and he has set the opportune timing and how long or short this will be isn’t up to you.

At the Father’s authority the right time and the length of the season is in place; it’s set. Jesus, as human, accepted the limitations that fit the Father’s plans and didn’t even know. Of course, it would not be in our scope of understanding. That’s why they missed the point.

Wright: God has all authority and He gives us power.

v. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses not just in Jerusalem but in all Judea and Samaria and to the farthest reaches of the earth.

Two main verbs here: receive power, be witnesses. Both are evidences or the result of the Holy Spirit’s work coming onto and working in them. It’s interesting that these followers are from all over Galilee but have come to center in Judea and Jerusalem. Yet, Samaria gets a clear “go” for the work of the Kingdom of God.

v. 9 And after Jesus said all this to them, before their very eyes, he was lifted up; and he was carry away in a cloud from their sight.

The tricky word here is “carried away” which can mean lifted up further (a double lift along with the previous word) or hidden away. Either way, they watched and they watched.  If Jesus can walk on water before he was resurrected and walk through walls and doors afterward, he can lift up from the ground and move, as if through a cloud, toward the places where he takes up his new role as intercessor beside His Father.

vv. 10-11 Then, while they were watching intently into the heavens as he left, two men appeared in dazzling white clothes and stood by them: “Galileans, why do you stand here staring into the skies? This Jesus who has been taken up from you and into heaven will come back in the very same way you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus had just told them they would be His witnesses; and now they watched intently, before their very eyes, and as they stared into the moments – Jesus, Jesus and clouds, only clouds – two angels (presumably) stamped into their minds that Jesus would come back in the same way. Clouds, dramatically, appearing, covered with glory (the clouds often symbolize this.)

Small Group Study Questions:

Acts 1:1-11

  1. Read vv. 3-4 How did Jesus show up for the disciples the 40 days after His resurrection?
  2. The disciples didn’t want Jesus to leave. Why was this important to His disciples?
  3. How did your faith tradition teach you about baptism? The Holy Spirit?
  4. What does it look like to receive God’s power for the first time? What does it look like for you to live in His power?
  5. How does v. 8 matter to you or to our church today? Do you have someone in your Jerusalem you need to share God’s love and message with?
  6. Can we pray for those in our Jerusalem and Judea who need our love and the Good News?
  7. What way has God showed up for you in your personal life this month?

3 John 1:1-14 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

3 John 1:1-14

(PRT)

v. 1 The elder writes to the beloved Gaius, whom I genuinely love, too. v. 2 Beloved, I pray that you’ll prosper in everything you do and stay healthy, just as you prosper in your soul. v. 3 For I am incredibly glad to hear from those brothers and sisters who travel and declare the Truth that you continue to walk in the Truth. v. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear my children are living in the Truth. vv. 5-6 Beloved, you are faithful in working and serving those brothers and sisters who are traveling and they tell the story of your love in action in the presence of the church gathered. You will have done a beautiful work that is in line with God’s character as you send them on. v. 7 For in fact, they travel all about  to make known the Name and take nothing from those among the Gentiles when they do. v. 8 That means we, then, should hold up our end for brothers and sisters like this; in doing so, we work together for the Truth. vv. 9-10 I have written of this to the church, but Diotrephes, the one who longs to be first among all, does not even recognize us. Because of this, in the event that I come, I will remind the church of what he is doing. He says hurtful words. He accuses us. Additionally, he is not satisfied with just these things; he doesn’t welcome the brothers and sisters and stands in the way of those who want to do so and drives them away from of the church. v. 11 Beloved, don’t mimic what is evil and hurtful; instead imitate what is good. The one doing good is aligned with God; the one doing evil has missed God completely. v. 12 A good testimony about Demetrius has been reported by everyone as well as by the Truth; and we also can testify, and you know we can vouch for him and our witness is true. vv. 13-14 I had more things to write you but I don’t want to say it with ink and pen. Instead, I hope to see you soon. Then we can speak person-to-person! Peace to you and greetings from your friends. Say hello to our friends by name.

Study Notes:

v. 1 The elder writes to the beloved Gaius, whom I genuinely love, too.

Gaius (at least as a name) has a marvelous history with the church and has gained much respect. There are four Gaius’s in the New Testament. This one may be one of the three from Corinth, Macedonia, or Derbe. Here, John acknowledges this status of beloved and affirms his own love for this man, too.  The phrase “in truth” is a part of this verse; truthfully, genuinely.

v. 2 Beloved, I pray that you’ll prosper in everything you do and stay healthy, just as you prosper in your soul.

That the journey of your life will be characterized by success and good health, and beyond to a prosperous soul in the spiritual journey, too.

While Paul commits to “pray” in  his letters all the time, this is John’s only time in his three letters. John clearly considers Gaius the best of friends.

The word for prosper means to have a good journey, a prosperous journey. He covers it all here: health physically, relationships in the journey, spiritually. John is trusting that Gaius’s soul is in good hands.

John prays for this “above all things.” Prosper means to succeed.

v. 3 For I am incredibly glad to hear from those brothers and sisters who travel and declare the Truth that you continue to walk in the Truth.

The “adelphie” – the brothers (and sisters) who love one another, and they are traveling preachers and teachers who “martureo” – give witness – to the Truth. By now, late in the first century, the Good News of the Kingdom was also called the Truth. Gaius steadfastly walks in this Truth. John is a keen wordsmith. These brothers and sisters travel and witness to the Good News; and they bear witness to Gaius’s goodness.

This Truth is John’s word for the overarching word from God that gives Kingdom wholeness to a person.

v. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear my children are living in the Truth.

John’s joy is knowing that those whom He was given the privilege of leading to the Truth are still in the Truth. Children – teknon – reminds me of John’s earlier letter (1 John 2 – “beloved children, who have been forgiven and who know the Father.”) Living the truth is literally “walking around” in Truth.

Gaius may be one of John’s converts and most certainly one he has poured his life into in discipleship.

vv. 5-6 Beloved, you are faithful in working and serving those brothers and sisters who are traveling and they tell the story of your love in action in the presence of the church gathered. You will have done a beautiful work that is in line with God’s character as you send them on.

These two verses are difficult to translate word-for-word. John commend Gaius for both working with and serving those who are traveling and this story has made it to the church. It’s a beautiful work, a worthy work, worthy of God’s praise and reflecting His character. He loved people; Gaius loves people.

The work is worthily of God.

v. 7 For in fact, they travel all about  to make known the Name and take nothing from those among the Gentiles when they do.

They go out and come in on behalf of the Name and get no payment from the Gentiles. That makes it a good thing, a beautiful work, when Gaius hosts them and sends them off with food and help. Until now, the world was divided into two groups from the Jewish mindset: Jews and Gentiles.  Is there a shifting here in defining people groups? The Gentiles who don’t know Christ yet are not asked to support these who travel and preach; but the Gentiles who do know Christ are commended, as are the Jews who know Christ as encouraged in their giving. A new family around the globe forms around the Name.

The Name of Jesus is worth giving one’s journey to.

v. 8 That means we, then, should hold up our end for brothers and sisters like this; in doing so, we work together for the Truth.

Hold up our end could be receive this charge or obligation. We should and they did. By doing so they became co-laborers in taking the Truth. It’s a fair thing to say that, when we help by giving, surrendering our time or resources, hosting, or praying for those who go in and out with the Truth proclaimed, we co-labor. It is our work together.

vv. 9-10 I have written of this to the church, but Diotrephes, the one who longs to be first among all, does not even recognize us. Because of this, in the event that I come, I will remind the church of what he is doing. He says hurtful words. He accuses us. Additionally, he is not satisfied with just these things; he doesn’t welcome the brothers and sisters and stands in the way of those who want to do so and drives them away from of the church.

John has commended this practice of hospitality to those who are traveling preachers, but the commendation has been diverted by a person in the church who is either jealous or power hungry. He doesn’t even receive the efforts to promote this practice. This person, Diotrephes, has a trust issue with John and has rejected his thoughts. That someone would stand in the way of the last living original Apostle is unthinkable.  Even more so, he has rejected and drive off from church those who want to give space and help to the traveling ministers. John’s concern isn’t his feelings, even though this man threw shade on him; he is concerned that people are not being helped, others are leaving the church.

Don’t miss the point that John wrote about this earlier; that means he sent a First John, a Second John, and a Second John 2.0, before this Third John. The leaders had letters going back and forth in greater evidence than just what we have preserved by the Holy Spirit for the Bible. So, in this case, John wrote to the church Diotrephes was a leader in and to Gaius also about this person’s intentional flaw.

v. 11 Beloved, don’t mimic what is evil and hurtful; instead imitate what is good. The one doing good is aligned with God; the one doing evil has missed God completely.

This juxtaposition of good and evil is strong in Scripture. Here John is clear: if you continue to oppose the good that God is doing, you will have taken your eyes from God and you don’t see Him anymore. John is using what he wrote earlier in his first letter: obedience shows that we know God; evil doing demonstrates we have not even seen God.

v. 12 A good testimony about Demetrius has been reported by everyone as well as by the Truth; and we also can testify, and you know we can vouch for him and our witness is true.

We don’t know if this is the same Demetrius that used to make idols to Artemis in Ephesus. Possibly? It would make sense that someone with authority might “vouch” for a Jesus-follower who may have had a “previous life.” Don’t we need that! Remember that Paul needed Barnabas, Ananias, and others to open the door for  acceptance.

In this case, Demetrius has a good reputation by those who know him and by John’s record. But perhaps more important, his life is measured by “the Truth” – what does this mean? My take is this is that characteristic of a life devoted to the Good News that the Spirit testified to others that, when we see that person’s bearing, it is a good life one is looking on.

vv. 13-14 I had more things to write you but I don’t want to say it with ink and pen. Instead, I hope to see you soon. Then we can speak person-to-person! Peace to you and greetings from your friends. Say hello to our friends by name.

John had a lot more on his mind, but he expected to see Gaius sooner than soon. Person-to-person is really mouth-to-mouth, but that means something entirely in English.

Small Group Study Questions:

3 John 1:1-14

  1. Letter-writing is a lost art. Do you still write letters (the one’s with stamps)? Can you remember receiving a letter from someone you loved who had been away for a while? How did it make you feel to open it and read it?
  2. Read vv. 1-4. What can you tell about John’s relationship with Gaius, the recipient of this letter?
  3. Read vv. 5-8.  What main quality does John the Apostle commend that Gaius shows? Who does he show this hospitality to according to these verses?  When we show hospitality and give to others who serve God, what does John say we are doing?
  4. Read vv. 9-12. John uses two different people as illustrations. Who is Diotrephes? What is John’s opinion of him? Who is Demetrius? What does John think of him?
  5. What one thing from these verses can you learn from and adopt into your own life?
  6. How can we pray for you?