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3 John 5-8
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: This Missions Sunday, we will be looking at 3rd John, a personal letter from the apostle to a brother in Christ, Gaius. In our passage, John commends Gaius for his support of the brothers who went out "for the sake of the name" (3 John 7). What we see in this text is that the gospel naturally prompts a missionary impulse from all believers: some to sacrificially support and encourage gospel workers (missionaries), and some to actively go and give their lives for this work. John not only encourages and approves of Gaius' support of these missionaries, but says we (meaning all believers) ought to follow in Gaius' footsteps so that we can see the advancement of God's kingdom around the world.
Review & Apply
Why would Gaius support strangers to go out as missionaries?
What are some ways that missionary support today mirrors what Gaius and John were doing? Are there any ways in which it is different?
Why is it significant that the missionaries testified to Gaius' love before the church? What does this teach us about the early church's involvement and cooperation with each other?
How is Gaius' sacrificing for the gospel to go forth? How are these missionaries sacrificing as well?
How are we, as a church, involved in this work of sending missionaries out? How are you actively involved in this work?
Do you think that missions is an essential part of the church and the Christian life?
How can we support missions in "a manner worthy of God"? (3 John 6)
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