Text: 3 John
The Apostle John, the last remaining eyewitness of Jesus, wrote three short letters near the end of his life. They’re not grand theological papers. They’re personal and pastoral—filled with concern for people. As we’ve journeyed through these letters, we’ve seen how deeply John cared about truth (holding to the real teaching about Jesus), love (living out that truth in relationship), and light (representing King Jesus in the world by the way we live).
When we open John’s third letter, we discover that his concern wasn’t just abstract theology—it was hospitality, relationships, and how Christians treat one another. In other words, truth, love, and light always show up in real-life ways.
A Church with a Hospitality Problem
If 2 John warns believers not to show hospitality to false teachers, 3 John flips the issue on its head: John encourages believers to show hospitality to the right people—those faithfully doing the work of spreading the Gospel.
The letter involves three people:
- Gaius, the recipient, who is faithfully caring for traveling missionaries.
- Diotrephes, a prideful leader refusing to welcome these workers and even speaking against John.
- Demetrius, a traveling minister John commends to the church.
Gaius didn’t try to become a famous preacher or correct every problem in the church. He simply welcomed and supported those who carried the message of Jesus. By showing hospitality, he became a partner in their ministry.
John calls this “joining in their work.” Gaius didn’t travel. He didn’t preach. But he participated in the mission because he supported those who did.
What Was the Real Issue?
Diotrephes had one main issue: pride. He wanted to control the church, shut people out, and elevate himself. He refused hospitality—not because of doctrine, but because he wanted power.
John doesn’t ask Gaius to fight him. He doesn’t tell him to argue, confront, or defend John’s reputation. Instead, John says, in essence:
Keep doing the right thing. Be faithful. I’ll deal with Diotrephes when I come in person.
John understands something that many of us like to ignore: most conflicts should be addressed face to face. Not with a text. Not over email. Not through rumors or social media. Love shows up. Love is personal.
What Does This Mean for Us?
This short letter shows that faithfulness isn’t complicated. It reveals itself in three simple but powerful ways:
1. Hospitality: Joining the Work of the Gospel
Hospitality is more than inviting someone over for dinner (though that matters too). It’s making room in your life to bless someone else. Today, this might look like:
- Supporting missionaries and ministries that do Kingdom work .
- Serving with a local ministry.
- Inviting someone lonely to your house for supper.
- Offering help, time, and care to someone God has placed in your path.
Hospitality is participation in God’s mission.
2. Humility Over Pride
Diotrephes reminds us how easy it is to make church about control, influence, opinions, or position. Gaius reminds us that faithfulness is simply doing our part.
You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to fix everyone. You just need to be faithful to what God has given you to do.
Sometimes that means speaking up. Other times—like Gaius—it means letting someone else handle it.
3. Presence: Love Shows Up
John traveled to deal with conflict personally. Why? Because real love doesn’t shout from a distance. It sits with people. It listens. It acts.
Maybe someone in your life doesn’t need advice right now. Maybe they just need you to show up:
- To sit with them in grief.
- To celebrate with them in joy.
- To volunteer when help is needed.
- To listen instead of lecture.
Presence is love in the flesh—just like Jesus.
Faithfulness Isn’t Complicated
John’s little letter teaches us this beautifully simple truth:
Faithfulness to Jesus is not abstract theology—it is a life of loyalty that shows up in love, humility, and hospitality.
In a world full of Diotrephes—voices trying to dominate, control, and win—be a Gaius.Make Jesus first, not yourself. Don’t underestimate what God can do through small acts of faithfulness.
A Christmas Challenge
This season, practice hospitality in the name of Jesus:
- Invite someone into your home.
- Visit someone who is lonely.
- Support a missionary, a ministry, or a cause that shares God’s love.
- Show up where there is hurt.
- Offer your presence where there is need.
You may not be a traveling preacher like Demetrius, but your faithfulness—like Gaius—can advance the Gospel.
The Kingdom grows not through power, but through faithful love that shows up.
May we be that kind of people. May Bethlehem Church be that kind of family. May Jesus be honored through our simple, faithful hospitality. Amen.
