The book of 3 John is only fifteen verses long; it contains a grand total of 296 words. That would barely qualify as a chapter in many books of the Bible. But for those who have spent time digging into this most personal of letters, it becomes clear that there’s a lot more here than first meets the eye. So pastors should preach through it for at least two reasons. But before I mention those, I want to list some wrong reasons.
TWO WRONG REASONS
First, you don’t preach 3 John because it lays the foundation for the prosperity gospel.
False teachers love to twist and misuse John’s greeting to Gaius: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” John does not suggest that the gospel promises health, wealth, and every kind of prosperity. Of course, the apostle John certainly desired the best for others—Gaius included. But his epistles make it clear that the greatest prosperity is to walk in the truth (3 John 4). The great promise of the gospel is not necessarily physical and material fitness in this life, but spiritual fitness and the
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
