Situational Awareness: Restoring Fellowship with Truth and Love
(A Sermon on 3 John)

In 3 John, we move from the universal church of 1 John, to the local church of 2 John, to an individual Christian by the name of Gaius. Interestingly, if we titled 3 John the way we title 1–2 Timothy and Titus, this letter would actually be called Gaius, not 3 John. And though I don’t think we need to rename this letter, recognizing this name change helps us see how personal this letter is.

In fact, across its 15 verses, there are four individuals named (the Elder, Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius), plus a group of traveling evangelists, who serve as faithful reporters to John, who in turn writes this letter to encourage Gaius and to communicate his intentions to come and address Diotrephes.

Long story short, this letter is filled with personal relationships. And as we think about fellowship, it is necessary to get into the specific details of such relationships. For in truth, not all relationships are equally good, healthy, or true.

Just the same, with fellowship focused on the Lord and his church, there are questions that Christians must ask about the relationships they form. How do we decide with whom to spend time? What is a healthy relationship? What is harmful? And how can we tell the difference?

On Sunday, I addressed those questions and more, as we finished our mini-series on “Restoring the Right Hand of Fellowship.” You can find the sermon here, and below are the twelve points of application I drew from 3 John.

1. Our relationships are defined by love.
2. Our relationships require words of love.
3. Our love will rise and fall on shared truth.
4. Our written words convey love well, but correction poorly
5. Our fellowship is as deep as the joy we share in the truth.
6. Our joy in Christ increases when we meet new believers who share the same joy.
7. Our closest friends are those with whom we serve.
8. Our church enjoys fellowship with other churches by way of their sent ones
9. Those who go out for the sake of the name go ambassadors of the church
10. Our friendship will change when we are no longer serving together.
11. We need Scripture to avoid ‘situationships.’
12. You will become like the ones you spend time with.

As you seek to promote healthy relationships and avoid unhealthy ones, may the words of 3 John give you wisdom.

Soli Deo Gloria, ds