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The purpose of this lesson: To emphasize the importance of faith over control.
Consider the common dream of many who abuse freedom. What is this common dream dreamed by many? It is the dream of answering to no one! For some, the "true" definition of freedom is (a) having the right to do as you please 100% of the time and (b) having to answer to no one any of the time.
Emphasize that what a person expects from freedom depends on his/her definition of freedom. My freedom is not achieved by the abuse of other people.
Years ago a child in my extended family started to school for a half day of kindergarten. Upon returning home the first day, the child was asked, "How was it? Did you like it?" The immediate response was this: "It was great but I do not think I will go back tomorrow." You and I laugh in our knowledge that returning was not a real choice. Life is filled with "have tos." Seemingly, the older we get, the more "have tos" become part of our lives.
Have the class share some of the common "have tos" that are a part of adult existence.
Typically people handle their dream of being free from "have tos" by (a) seeking to make others "have to" do what "I" say [seeking control] or (b) by committing themselves to being rebellious. Their approach is either "You have to do what I tell you to do!" or "You cannot tell me what to do!" Thus the concept of freedom is being in control or being out of anyone's control. Either attitude is in striking contrast to Paul's admonition to Galatian Christians:
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another (Galatians 5:13-15).
Have the class share some of the common ways adults often use to escape adult "have tos."
In 3 John there is a fascinating contrast between Gaius and Diotrephes. To receive the full impact of the contrast, we need to first understand a little about the situation. In the last part of the first century in sections of the Roman world it was not popular (a) to be a Christian or (b) to share the Christian message. In such areas, there were few (if any) material advantages to being a Christian who shared his/her Savior with others. Some insights into the difficulties a Christian faith sharer could anticipate can be seen in Paul's list of hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33.
Have someone read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Discuss some of the hardships an evangelist could anticipate in those days.
One form of the powerful encouragement a Christian could anticipate at that time was their reception by other Christians. Remember, there was no mechanical printing then as now, and no form of mass communication. The only Christian news and teaching those Christians received often was by word-of-mouth from other Christians traveling through. To have Christian teachers spend the night with you was a wonderful opportunity! Your hospitality encouraged them, and their information encouraged you! The personal contact between people who had committed to the resurrected Jesus Christ was a major blessing to people who had faith in Jesus. They shared friendship because of a shared faith, not because they had a history of knowing each other.
In a time when there were no books and no easily, cheaply owned scripture, discuss the value of having an informed believer in Christ spend the night in your home.
Gaius was a major sharer and encourager (verses 5-8). He felt a major bond with those who "went out for the sake of the Name," and he refused to take anything for the kindness he extended. He was a major encourager of others in what you and I would regard as a bleak world situation.
Discuss how encouraging it would be to have homes opened to you if you were a traveling Christian. Note such encouragement is available to us today. Discuss the sacrifices and inconveniences involved.
Diotrephes, on the other hand, was in stark contrast to Gaius. He did not befriend and encourage other Christians as they came through. He seemingly was one of those anxious Christians who "took no chances in preserving the status quo." Not only was he not one who supported and encouraged other Christians who as "strangers" (verse 5) were going out for "the sake of the Name," but he was in position to control other Christians who would offer such encouragement (verse 10). He was even in position to keep a letter from John from the church.
Discuss why people who seek control feel threatened by others' acts of unselfishness.
Diotrephes looked upon such encouragement to unknown people as a threat to his control. He had to be the person in control. He had to issue the "have tos." He perceived kindness that he did not personally authorize as a threat. For the "truth" to be preserved, he had to be in control. For the church to be secure, he had to be in control.
Discuss how a person's control outlook affects what he/she sees and his/her view of what "might happen."
When the writer wrote verse 11 [Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God] he likely spoke of Gaius and Diotrephes. Gaius did good; Diotrephes did not. God could be seen in the works of Gaius; God could not be seen in the works of Diotrephes. So follow the example of Gaius, not Diotrephes.
Emphasize the contrast between Gaius and Diotrephes.
Please note Diotrephes was characterized as "evil," "unjust," and "wicked." Because he did not believe in Jesus Christ? No! Because he opposed Christian kindness! Promoting the truth does not depend on "putting people out of the church," but it depends on encouraging those who are God's people. The key is not control. The key is kindness.
Note the contrast between the desire for control and the willingness to function by faith in Jesus Christ. Note the desire to exert control is often an expression of faith in self rather than faith in God.
Because people are important to God, they are to be encouraged in acts of righteous kindness.
Being kind to people is the primary way of showing the value of people.
For Thought and Discussion
The common dream is having to answer to no one.
A "have to" is a responsibility the person must assume to maintain his/her quality of life.
They either seek control or rebel.
His admonition was to use freedom to serve through love.
It makes a contrast between Gaius and Diotrephes.
It was not popular to be a Christian or to share the Christian message.
Labors, imprisonment, beatings, the possibility of death, dangerous travel, dangerous situations among Jewish people and non-Jewish people, dangerous situations among false Christians, hardship, hunger, thirst, exposure, stress, and the need to escape were among those hardships.
A powerful encouragement was their reception by other Christians.
An important source of news was the word-of-mouth of other Christians traveling through.
Gauius was an encourager who shared.
Diotrephes was an anxious person who did not encourage or share.
He was considered such because he opposed Christian kindness.
Kindness is the key. Control is not the key.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 9
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