Tag Archives: generosity

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?

Luke 21:1-4 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Luke 21:1-4

(PRT) Luke 21:1-4

v. 1 Then Jesus looked up and saw those who were wealthy tossing their gifts into the offering baskets. v. 2 He also saw a certain poor widow as she dropped in two small coins worth less than a penny. v. 3 And Jesus said: “With all honesty, I can say to you that this poor widow has given more than all who have tossed in their offerings. v. 4 For what they gave was small compared to their surplus; but out of her poverty, she gave all she had to live on.

Study Notes:

v. 1 Then Jesus looked up and saw those who were wealthy tossing their gifts into the offering baskets.

Jesus had been in the Temple teaching during this last week of his ministry. No less than five times in this teaching time in the Temple, Jesus teaches on giving, generosity, and the impact of greed as opposed to generosity. This passage is a tangible illustration of what Jesus taught.

He looked  up and saw that the gifts were out of the wealthy’s excess. The “treasury” is the way giving happened in the Temple. This treasury was set up in the Courts of the Women as a place specifically for the tithes as people moved into the Temple. By the days of Jesus, there were thirteen chests with openings trumpet-shaped to catch what was thrown toward the chests as people passed by.

The picture here is Jesus with his followers sitting in the Courts of the Women opposite the chests and, right after arguing about taxes (“give to Caesar what he’s due; to God what He’s due,” Jesus looks up and begins to watch the wealthy parade by tossing their coins into the basket by way of the noisy trumpet-shaped openings. Some of the gifts are large. But all are measured from the givers’ surplus. The widow in line gives and can only scrape together to coins worth a portion of a penny; but she gives knowing that was it for her resources. She’s given all she has, not in desperation or in giving up, but in trust that God has her and He will be faithful. Marks word for “poor” indicates that she knows she has no influence, no resources to convince anyone of her station; hers was a simple station of living day-by-day.

v. 2 He also saw a certain poor widow and she was dropping in two small coins worth less than a penny.

Her two small coins were “lepta” or small copper coins used as the lowest common coinage. Most people would pass them by if they saw them on the ground. What others might discard, God can take and multiply into the grandest work or gift to the Kingdom.

v. 3 And Jesus said: “With all honesty, I can say to you that this poor widow has given more than all who have tossed in their offerings.

This must have been a shock since the greater the gift the greater the giver in this culture.  Truly, verily, in all honesty.

v. 4 For what they gave was small compared to their surplus; but out of her poverty, she gave all she had to live on.

Jesus is making a comparison here. If I have a lot and give a little bit in comparison, my offering isn’t a big as what a person gives sacrificially even though it is less for the books. God’s books are different and reflect the generosity of the heart and not the balance of the check book.

Note of importance: Jesus doesn’t condemn the rich for their giving; he lifts up the heart of sacrifice of the poor who give out of their need and not their surplus. It’s a measure of generosity.

Small Group Questions:

Luke 21:1-4

  1. Have you ever witnessed real generosity? What happened and what made it real to you?
  2. Read Luke 21:1-4. What two things does Jesus see when He looks up? Is he surprised by what He sees?
  3. Because Jesus praises the widow, do you think He is condemning the wealthy? Why or why not?
  4. How does one’s generosity reflect God’s personality and actions?
  5. This passage speaks about consistent giving (the tithe) and extravagant giving. In what ways can you personally become more generous?
  6. How can we pray for you today?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions on Isaiah 32:1-8

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Summary Notes on Isaiah.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) Isaiah 32:1-8

vv. 1-2 Pay attention! A King shall reign righteously! His leaders shall judge justly. Each will be like a place of safety from the wind and a shelter from the storm; like streams of water in the desert and like the shade of an immense rock in a thirsty land.

vv. 3-4 Eyes that are dim will see; ears that need to hear will listen. The heart of the reckless will see wisdom; the stuttering voice will be quick to speak clearly.

v. 5 Do not hand out nobility on the foolish nor wealth on the swindler.

v. 6 For the foolish will speak foolishness and his soul will be busy practicing wickedness and muttering mockery against the Lord; willfully, he withholds food from the hungry and drink from the thirsty.

v. 7 And for the swindler, the tools of the trade are evil and he designs plans for harm to derail the humble with slander and lies, even when the cause of the humble is fair.

v. 8 But the unselfish and the generous make bighearted plans and live generously.

vv. 1-2 Pay attention! A King shall reign righteously! His leaders shall judge justly. Each will be like a place of safety from the wind and a shelter from the storm; like streams of water in the desert and like the shade of an immense rock in a thirsty land.

Because the King reigns in righteousness (unlike the kings people have to endure and have come to expect in their whims and selfishness) and his governors and leaders are fair and just, the people will find them to be a safe place when storms come and a refreshing source when times are dry. This is a picture of the King who, just like the Shepherd, leads his people to places of safety and plenty, even when the world deals us the opposite.

vv. 3-4 Eyes that are dim will see; ears that need to hear will listen. The heart of the reckless will see wisdom; the stuttering voice will be quick to speak clearly.

If it is unexpected and “upside-down” that the King would rule with righteousness and his leaders would be fair, it would be just as unexpected that eyes once dim would see the King’s good rule clearly, ears stopped up hear truth, the rash and impetuous see wisdom and the one who cannot speak, bring truth clearly. The heart is the soul in this passage. The very ones who are weak and unexpected are the ones who see and  hear and speak truth and wisdom.

v. 5 Do not hand out nobility on the foolish nor wealth on the swindler.

Wisdom and caution are still in order. The foolish and the cheats are still around; don’t bestow wealth and power on either. Noble character instead of noble blood.  This is the beauty of the Kingdom, when the King rules. No longer will the culture honor the wicked or the foolish. The deceptive and the swindler, the foolish, will no longer be lifted up as examples of heroes or noble.

v. 6 For the foolish will speak foolishness and his soul will be busy practicing wickedness and muttering mockery against the Lord; willfully, he withholds food from the hungry and drink from the thirsty.

Unlike the life of those under the rule of the King, the fool will choose to practice what harms, will scoff against the Father and find pleasure in depriving the basics of life from others in order to meet his own needs. Illustration: the child of the King demonstrates and proclaims Good News – Jesus is our model in this; the fool demonstrates wickedness and mutters vanity and vitriol against the things of the Kingdom.

v. 7 And for the swindler, the tools of the trade are evil and he designs plans for harm to derail the humble with slander and lies, even when the cause of the humble is fair.

The deceiver is bent on evil to gain benefits. The tools of the trade, the craft he chooses in deception and duplicity. When the King comes, he continues to undermine the good in the culture for selfish gain. At times, he causes harm just to watch the pain others experience.

He delights in derailing the work of the righteous and the humble.

v. 8 But the unselfish and generous make bighearted plans and lives generously.

When the King in here, we can aim high on what we ask God, aim big in our plans for the Kingdom, and live generously.

Small Group Questions:

  1. Read this passage. How would you define “Living generously?”
  2. This passage says that, when the King comes, he will rule with righteousness. How does His rule in your own life bring refreshing and security to your life?
  3. Isaiah notes four kinds of people: the Reckless (Hotheads), the Thoughtless (Stammerer & Stutterers) are two of them. How does God rescue the Reckless and the Thoughtless? Has He ever rescued you because of this?
  4. The other two kinds of people are the Foolish and the Deceiver (Scoundrels and Swindlers). What dangers do they bring if they are in your life?
  5. When the King comes, we can “make big-hearted plans” and live generously. What can you do this week that is big enough to need God’s help and what can you do to live generously?