3 John 1:1-6 Biblical Hospitality

(3John 1:1-6) “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God”. (NASB)

Over the past couple of Sundays we’ve had the privilege of having one of our fellow elders fill the pulpit at Grace Community Church in Wasco.  David Garza delivered a message centering on Biblical hospitality using the short book of 3^rd John as the main text.  He brought forward many good thoughts in remarkable detail.  Much more frankly than I can hope to recall much less convey to you here but some of its essence I’d like to share with you.

David pointed first to the origin of hospitality as a practical matter of travel back in ancient times when there just wasn’t “A light on for you” at the Motel 6.  Travelers had to hope for a friendly welcome from strangers as they passed through.  They had to hope for something to eat, a place to sleep and protection from bad people.  It was also important to send them off with enough supplies to make the next leg of their journey.  With this said, hospitality has very practical and necessary roots which are to be carried forward in the church today.

Fast forward to John’s letter addressed to Gaius, one of the church leaders.  John commends Gaius for his practice of hospitality toward strangers, fellow believers passing through the region in need of a place to stay and a meal.  As in the ancient example, Gaius sent these folks off with ample supplies it seems since John says they were sent away, “In a manner worthy of God”. 

There was in this congregation on the other hand a Grinch of sorts.  He was just the opposite of Gaius and objected to being hospitable.  John was not kind in his description of him.  In the brevity of this format I’ll not go into detail on that.  What I would like to point out is what to look for in the modern equivalent of Gaius.

Gaius was a church leader, an elder or pastor.  He was the one opening his home and extending the hospitality or maybe extending the hospitality on behalf of the local group of believers.  Regardless, as the leaders of a local church go, so goes the church.  Look at the way leaders open their homes or facilitate fellowship for the flock.  Are they happy to put on an apron and fire up the BBQ?  Do they welcome the kids to a pool party over the summer?  Do they break out the popcorn maker and suggest a movie night under the stars for anyone in the community to watch?  The list could go on and on.  If church leaders are hospitable the odds are the church will be hospitable and that’s just a nice place to be.  AMEN!

2 Timothy 4:1-2 Preach the Word

2Timothy 4:1-2  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (NASB)

There are three letters in the New Testament of our Bible that are referred to as the Pastoral Epistles.  That is, they are generally considered to be instructions for pastors.  This is because they were written to two guys, Titus and Timothy whom Paul was instructing in ways to lead the church. 

Why did he do this?  Paul knew that his ministry would one day come to an end and that he should be pouring his efforts not only into evangelism of the lost but also into the next generation of leaders.  To that end, he gives instruction to Timothy and Titus in the three letters we have.  The three letters named for the recipients are Titus and first and second Timothy.

On Saturday at a dinner Pastor Joey said we would see something “New” in the sanctuary on Sunday.  It didn’t take long to see where.  Posted right on the front of the podium, center stage, was a new inscription.  IN GREEK!  Having been tipped off I actually brought my Hebrew / Greek Study Bible and had absolutely no results digging in with my virtually nonexistent language skills.  The inscription read, “khrucon ton logon” and at that I’m giving you the anglicized version of the words.  I was staring at Greek letters which I have no way to type into the BLOG.

About nine O’clock last night I was about certain I had deciphered it.  “Preach the Word” from 2 Timothy 4 was what I came up with.  So after this rather long introduction let’s take a quick look.

Paul exhorts his protégé, Timothy “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus”.  Does that get your attention?  As a Timothy, it would me.  He goes on to remind Timothy a little about Jesus who, “Is to judge the living and the dead”.  Tuned in yet?  But Paul isn’t done, yet another reminder about Jesus “Appearing” which is a reference to His incarnation or walking among us; God among men.  Finally comes a reference to “His kingdom”.  “His kingdom”, reminds Timothy not only of His reign as King but also the eternal nature of that kingdom.

Now with all the emphasis Paul could muster he finally gets to what he’s asking Timothy to do.  “Preach the word”.  And be always ready to preach it regardless of the season; be ready.  Be ready with the word to, “Reprove, rebuke, and exhort”  all of this, “With great patience and instruction”.

So to put it in a nutshell, Paul wants Timothy to understand how serious his work for God’s kingdom is, to be ready to “Preach the word” whenever the opportunity or the need arises.  Perhaps the last is the most important.  Paul reminds Timothy to be gentile with the flock.  Paul knows Christians are just weak vessels that have been greatly blessed with the call of their Savior Jesus.  Elsewhere a similar reminder is given, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”. Ephesians 4:15

So being a pastor is a serious even a solemn charge.  It is the choice of God to use the human vessel; to use a pastor to proclaim the truth of Christ with the love of Christ.  “Preach the word”!  AMEN!

Ephesians 4:11-12 Pastor, Blessing from God

Ephesians 4:11-12  “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (NASB)

"He", God gave special gifts to the Church according to the Apostle Paul.  Those gifts were men with the ability to help the Church along.  The list includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and their purpose is stated as, “Equipping”.   

When I was in high school I played football.  When I showed up for the first practice I had a pair of shoes a t-shirt and some gym shorts.  I was not equipped to play football.  Along the way however we took turns with Mr. Bray and one of the coaches in the equipment room selecting and fitting the necessary equipment.  Once equipped properly I could go out and practice the game effectively.

Those men given by God to the Church as a gift are like the equipment manager and coach getting each of us ready to play the game.  In this day it is said the two offices that remain are pastor and teacher.  Many times this is the same person with two different roles.  At our local church Pastor Joey refers to himself as pastor/teacher which reflects his shepherding and instructing.

We could spend a lot of time dissecting the various words used interchangeably in scripture for this office in the church.  Instead today I’d like to focus on the purpose of the gift.

The passage says that there is a reason for, “Equipping of the saints”.  That’s us by the way, “The saints”.  We are being equipped for, “The work of service” and specifically, “To the building up of the body of Christ”.  So the time and effort our pastor/teacher spends is to stimulate us to serve.  When we do, the Church, “The body of Christ” is strengthened; built up like a body builder lifting weights.

If you are in a healthy local church with a Bible teaching pastor/teacher you are truly blessed by God.  Consider what his work is doing in your life and toward the health of your church.  Give thanks to God for the gift of your pastor/teacher.  You might express your thanks to him too ... as an encouragement!  AMEN!