Coworkers with the Truth or Work Together for the
Truth
3 John
International
Sunday School Lesson
April
26th, 2015
Commentary
By
Jed
Greenough
I am sure that you all
know the following scripture from 3 John,
"Do not forget to show hospitality
to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels
without knowing it."
We saw such hospitality shown to strangers demonstrated by Abraham and Lot. Do you remember all the way back when Israel was given the tablets that at this auspicious moment God saw it important to say this in Deuteronomy 10, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. “
We read this of Jesus in Luke 9:58, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Thank goodness for people who took Him in.
We cannot forget those who show hospitality to those, who like Paul and John, worked to build the early church. They were taken in, fed, clothed and given a bed sometimes for extended periods of time.
Sure things were different then compared to how things are today with hotels, restaurants and the like for those Christians who are doing church work today. But how do we do in the hospitality department today?
There are places in the world today where showing hospitality in all that means to a fellow Christian could save their life. I believe the day is coming when that might matter to us literally.
Hospitality shown by us can save resources that could be used elsewhere when thinking of those who travel for the gospel. Hospitality shown by us today to an unbeliever could plant the seed to make a convert.
When I was growing up my church had revivals and other visiting church groups and my parents brought them into our home. Looking back those times were very formative to who I became.
On the opposite side I can think of a time or two when I could have been more hospitable then I was and that was very formative too (as in, I learned a lesson).
We don't have as many who take people in as we once did and we don't have as many who would even ask. I believe we can do more by seeking out the opportunity to show hospitality and do more to be prepared for the chance.
We don't all have the space or many resources but it doesn't have to happen all at once. Put a few bucks aside every so often and volunteer to pay for a room someday. Put aside some durable food, a propane heater and some flats of water for a neighbor in a time of crisis. Give to missionaries, ministries and seminary students.
I could go on but you get the point that like our author John and others sought out the chance to share the gospel in today's world we might have to seek out the chance to be hospitable. It mattered to God in the beginning and it still does
And like the two titles that most of us are seeing this week we can be "Coworkers with the Truth" and "Work Together for the Truth"
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Mt 25:40b
We saw such hospitality shown to strangers demonstrated by Abraham and Lot. Do you remember all the way back when Israel was given the tablets that at this auspicious moment God saw it important to say this in Deuteronomy 10, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. “
We read this of Jesus in Luke 9:58, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Thank goodness for people who took Him in.
We cannot forget those who show hospitality to those, who like Paul and John, worked to build the early church. They were taken in, fed, clothed and given a bed sometimes for extended periods of time.
Sure things were different then compared to how things are today with hotels, restaurants and the like for those Christians who are doing church work today. But how do we do in the hospitality department today?
There are places in the world today where showing hospitality in all that means to a fellow Christian could save their life. I believe the day is coming when that might matter to us literally.
Hospitality shown by us can save resources that could be used elsewhere when thinking of those who travel for the gospel. Hospitality shown by us today to an unbeliever could plant the seed to make a convert.
When I was growing up my church had revivals and other visiting church groups and my parents brought them into our home. Looking back those times were very formative to who I became.
On the opposite side I can think of a time or two when I could have been more hospitable then I was and that was very formative too (as in, I learned a lesson).
We don't have as many who take people in as we once did and we don't have as many who would even ask. I believe we can do more by seeking out the opportunity to show hospitality and do more to be prepared for the chance.
We don't all have the space or many resources but it doesn't have to happen all at once. Put a few bucks aside every so often and volunteer to pay for a room someday. Put aside some durable food, a propane heater and some flats of water for a neighbor in a time of crisis. Give to missionaries, ministries and seminary students.
I could go on but you get the point that like our author John and others sought out the chance to share the gospel in today's world we might have to seek out the chance to be hospitable. It mattered to God in the beginning and it still does
And like the two titles that most of us are seeing this week we can be "Coworkers with the Truth" and "Work Together for the Truth"
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Mt 25:40b
For
Discussion:
- Discuss times of hospitality that have been important to you.
- Discuss times when you should have been hospitable and weren’t.
- Several of the verses speak of other Christian’s walks. Discuss this.
- Discuss how much work is today or other resources given for the work of the gospel done through other ministries.
- Discuss the tone of this letter.
- Discuss the control exercised by Diotrephes and how someone in your church could affect such control and what that might mean.
Upcoming
Lesson
May 10 Gifts
of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Scripture taken from the HOLY
BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used
by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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