The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-09-26
TOPIC-A Letter From

IC-Making Our Church Friendly.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-A Friendly and Hospitable Church.
|. Personal History.
/. He was the son of Zebedee and
brother of the apostle James Matt.
4:2D. The implication is that his IA
Their was in easy circumstances, for he
had boats and hired servants Mark
1:19, 2O).
2. He was a disciple of John the
Baptist John l :35-40). This was a
most valuable training, for John was
man sent from God John 80. The
fiery eloquence Of the Baptist no doubt
profoundly impressed him.
8. He was called to follow Jesus
(Matt. :21, 22). He was first called
into the relationship of a disciple. AS
a disciple he came to know Jesus per-
sonally.
4. Appointed as an apostle (Matt.
1922. Having been tested as dis
ciple, he now is appointed as an
apostle mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:13-16).
II. His Character.
l. He was reserved. That is, he
was decidedly reticent about himself.
He speaks of himself as 1.-The disciple
whom Jesus loved" and that other
disciple"
.. He possessed a rare gift of pene-
trative insight. The truths set forth
in his writings did not come as a re-
suit of reasoned judgment, but of pene-
trative insight. He was indeed seer.
8. He was thoroughly masculine.
Christian art does him a thorough in
justice in portraying him as effemi-
nate. He was intense, vehement in his
temperament. He was truly "son Of
thunder" as Christ declared Mark
BID.
III. Some Instances of Behavior.
l. Intolerance of irregular service
duke 40, SOY. There was a certain
disciple who seems to have been intel
ligently witnessing and God had hon
ored his testimony with power to cast
out devils. John forbade him because
he was not working with them.
2, His righteous indignation dis
played duke 9:51-56). When Jesus
had set his face toward Jerusalem
some Samartans refused to extend
hospitality to him. This treatment of
his Master so aroused the anger Of
John and James that they desired to
call down fire from heaven to burn
them up. This action grew out Of
Johns great love for his Master.
s. Johns care of Christ's mother
(John 10 :25-2O. From the cross Jesus
beheld his mother and committed her
to the tender care of John. The in
tense love that he had for his Lord
would move him to express the tender
est affection for his mother.
~. His Third Episte.
This is one Of the three private Epis-
ties of the New Testament and gives
us look into the early church life
and also picture of the aged apostle.
This Epistle consists of the following
parts:
l. The salutation wv. Ia. This
letter was addressed to Gaius, with the
fervent wish that his temporal pros
perity and physical health would be
measured by the measure of the in
crease of his spirituality. His supreme
joy was to hear that his children were
walking in the truth.
2. His praise for Gaius wv. 5-S).
This praise was for the hospitality
which Gaius showed toward some trav-
oIinu ay-onrnlistS In cYi+ Of tho
position of certain prominent mem
Der Of the church, Gaius received these
preachers into his home. To receive
Gods messengers into our homes and
send them forth on their journey is a
deed worthy Of God. One of the best
ways to help the truth is to show hos
pitality to its messengers.
8. His condemnation of Diotrephes
wv. 8, 10Y. The sin of this man was
his over-weening self-confdence and
arrogance. He loved to have the place
of pre-eminence; therefore, for that
reason he refused to receive these trav-
cling evangelists and expelled from
the church those who had received them
into their homes. He even maliciously
attacked John the beloved pastor. His
spirit of pride moved him to acts Of
tyranny toward others.
4. His commentator of Demetrius ".
12). Demetrius was perhaps the bear
er Of this letter. John gives the assur-
ance that Demetrius was of good report
among all men. His life of good deeds
proved that he was in fellowship with
God.