Imitating Good not Evil (3Jn 9-12)

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Sermon Outline

1. Object Lesson: Rotten Apples[1]
   1. “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
   2. In 3Jn we have an example of how this can tangibly play out in the church
2. The Danger of Diotrephes (3Jn 9-10)
   1. Recalling the context
   2. Diotrephes Character
      1. Prideful not a Servant (3Jn 9)
         1. Pride is his motivating force
         2. He isn’t an example of servant leadership – (Mt 19:30, Mi 10:42-44)
      2. Insubordinate not submissive (3Jn 9)
      3. Wicked tongued not grace-filled and upbuilding (3Jn 10a, Eph 4:29)
      4. Inhospitable (3Jn 10b)
      5. Domineering (3 Jn 10c)
   3. All of these things, The Elder sets forth in stark contrast to the humble servant hood of Gaius.
3. 3John 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
   1. Imitate:
   2. The Good: (1Jn 1:7)
   3. Demetrius is an example worthy of following (3John 12)
4. Why is it that bad behavior is so easily copied but good behavior is so hard to pass on?
   1. Sin
   2. Holiness is hard
   3. But why do Christians who have the Spirit, still fall into this struggle
      1. Uncomfortable to confront bad behavior
      2. Uncomfortable to be different than everyone around
5. Will you answer the call to become like Gaius, Demetrius and ultimately like Christ?

[1] http://freebiblelessons.net/object-lessons/bad-company-corrupts-good-character