1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,380 Speaker: Well, good morning church. 2 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:01,830 Good morning. 3 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:03,480 We doing good this morning? 4 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:04,050 Yes. 5 00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:05,250 Hope you guys are doing well. 6 00:00:05,250 --> 00:00:08,100 Hope you guys are looking forward to your summer plans. 7 00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:08,520 I know. 8 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:10,290 Uh, well let me introduce myself. 9 00:00:10,290 --> 00:00:11,190 My name's Daniel Simone. 10 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,920 I help serve with the high school students here in Orange County. 11 00:00:14,430 --> 00:00:17,520 And, uh, yeah, I just hope you guys are having a great summer. 12 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,490 I know the teens and the youth, they're having a great time just 13 00:00:20,490 --> 00:00:23,220 probably sleeping in and, and playing video games and all that. 14 00:00:23,220 --> 00:00:25,500 But, uh, as mentioned before though, uh. 15 00:00:25,904 --> 00:00:28,035 In a few days, there's Teen Camp coming up. 16 00:00:28,035 --> 00:00:31,305 And Teen Camp is such a special time and I really wanna encourage you guys, 17 00:00:31,305 --> 00:00:34,575 I know we made an announcement earlier, but please be praying, uh, if you can 18 00:00:34,575 --> 00:00:36,254 fast please be doing that as well. 19 00:00:36,345 --> 00:00:38,775 Uh, teen Camp is just such an incredible time. 20 00:00:38,925 --> 00:00:42,195 Uh, you know, my wife and I, we, we both went to teen camp and even. 21 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,990 Jessica Stephan, who's a team leader, and many of the college 22 00:00:44,990 --> 00:00:48,650 students here, uh, they're, uh, they definitely benefited from it. 23 00:00:48,650 --> 00:00:50,750 You know, they, they came to Christ because of it. 24 00:00:50,750 --> 00:00:53,540 So if you guys can be praying for that, be praying for Savannah and I 25 00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:55,790 please, uh, we'll be help serving there. 26 00:00:56,030 --> 00:00:59,540 Uh, and to be honest with you, you know, we, we, uh, we are tribe 27 00:00:59,540 --> 00:01:00,530 lead for those who don't know. 28 00:01:00,530 --> 00:01:03,680 So, so we lead, we get to lead a group of counselors and teens and, 29 00:01:03,860 --> 00:01:05,209 you know, we're defending our title. 30 00:01:05,209 --> 00:01:06,410 Last year we won it all. 31 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:07,780 So we have to defend our title. 32 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:10,270 We have to go back to back like Jordan or like Kobe, you 33 00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:11,530 know, all that, whatever it is. 34 00:01:11,530 --> 00:01:12,520 But we gotta go back to back. 35 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:13,810 So we gotta defend that title. 36 00:01:14,230 --> 00:01:17,350 Uh, but with that being said, though, uh, if you're visiting 37 00:01:17,350 --> 00:01:18,520 with us for the first time. 38 00:01:19,110 --> 00:01:22,860 We are in the middle of a series right now called The Forgotten Letters, and 39 00:01:22,860 --> 00:01:25,830 we're going through the smaller books and the New Testaments, you know, the, 40 00:01:25,830 --> 00:01:29,490 the books where there's probably three, three of those books on one page. 41 00:01:29,490 --> 00:01:32,100 And, uh, that's what we've been going through as a church. 42 00:01:32,100 --> 00:01:33,750 I hope you guys been having a great time with it. 43 00:01:33,780 --> 00:01:36,810 Uh, I know for myself, uh, it's been incredible to 44 00:01:36,810 --> 00:01:38,520 actually sit down and actually. 45 00:01:38,535 --> 00:01:40,965 Study it out, not just to, to read. 46 00:01:40,965 --> 00:01:42,164 I'm like, all right, next chapter. 47 00:01:42,195 --> 00:01:42,554 Next chapter. 48 00:01:42,554 --> 00:01:44,235 But actually to study it out. 49 00:01:44,505 --> 00:01:47,774 Uh, but before we dive into it, I, I gotta just say, you know, I've been 50 00:01:47,774 --> 00:01:50,414 part of this church now, uh, the Orange County Church for five years. 51 00:01:50,414 --> 00:01:52,905 And if you guys, uh, like I said, if you're here for the first time, hope you 52 00:01:52,905 --> 00:01:55,065 know you guys are in a great fellowship. 53 00:01:55,065 --> 00:01:56,955 This is truly a family. 54 00:01:57,195 --> 00:02:00,524 And, uh, you know, with being a family, you know, you get to, uh, you know, 55 00:02:00,524 --> 00:02:02,085 say things, you get to be vulnerable. 56 00:02:02,085 --> 00:02:04,304 And I gotta share some, uh, exciting news. 57 00:02:04,304 --> 00:02:06,615 You know, my wife and I, if I could announce this. 58 00:02:07,470 --> 00:02:10,139 We are addicted to this show called 90 Day Fiance. 59 00:02:10,739 --> 00:02:11,100 Sorry. 60 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:12,930 I know you guys prob I I probably set up like we're pregnant. 61 00:02:12,930 --> 00:02:13,500 We're not pregnant. 62 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:14,130 Sorry about that. 63 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:15,299 But, uh, my bad. 64 00:02:15,390 --> 00:02:15,840 Sorry. 65 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:16,709 Sorry about that. 66 00:02:18,329 --> 00:02:19,350 I'm sorry about that. 67 00:02:19,350 --> 00:02:20,579 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. 68 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,160 Sorry about that false alarm. 69 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:23,640 No, no, no. 70 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:27,150 Yeah, but I gotta say though, but we are addicted to this show 71 00:02:27,150 --> 00:02:28,740 though, called 90 Day Fiance. 72 00:02:28,740 --> 00:02:31,019 Have you guys heard of this show called 90 Day Fiance? 73 00:02:31,470 --> 00:02:31,920 Oh, no. 74 00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:32,040 Okay. 75 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:32,730 If you haven't. 76 00:02:33,165 --> 00:02:34,845 Please don't watch, it's gonna kill your brain cells. 77 00:02:34,845 --> 00:02:38,865 But for me, you know when I didn't, like, I didn't watch it originally, 78 00:02:38,865 --> 00:02:41,775 but you know, when we got married Savannah, she was big on reality 79 00:02:41,775 --> 00:02:43,425 TV show and I was like, okay. 80 00:02:43,425 --> 00:02:44,475 And she's watching this show. 81 00:02:44,475 --> 00:02:47,895 And the premise of this show is that it follows many couples and, 82 00:02:48,045 --> 00:02:50,715 uh, these couples, uh, one of the, the spouses, they're from the 83 00:02:50,715 --> 00:02:52,815 US and the other spouse is not. 84 00:02:52,935 --> 00:02:56,775 And they have 90 days to get married because, uh, the spouse outside 85 00:02:56,775 --> 00:02:59,715 the us, they come to the US and they have a 90 day marriage visa. 86 00:03:00,045 --> 00:03:03,705 And they have to get married within that period before times runs out. 87 00:03:03,705 --> 00:03:06,585 It's not a game show, but it's, it's a reality show and 88 00:03:06,585 --> 00:03:07,725 it sounds very simple, right? 89 00:03:07,725 --> 00:03:10,365 Okay, I come here, get married, let's do this. 90 00:03:10,695 --> 00:03:15,585 But it never is, you know, there's always drama in that show, man. 91 00:03:15,585 --> 00:03:18,225 It's like family does not approve of each other. 92 00:03:18,405 --> 00:03:20,595 And I love it when it gets to those episodes where people start 93 00:03:20,595 --> 00:03:23,595 questioning the motives of why they're getting married to this person. 94 00:03:23,895 --> 00:03:24,165 You know? 95 00:03:24,165 --> 00:03:26,295 It even seems like some couples go to the length of. 96 00:03:26,535 --> 00:03:28,394 Showing that they don't even like each other, and I'm just 97 00:03:28,394 --> 00:03:30,945 like, Savannah, do these couple, are they like, really together? 98 00:03:30,945 --> 00:03:32,024 She's like, yes, they are. 99 00:03:32,684 --> 00:03:34,725 You know, as a viewer it's hard for me. 100 00:03:34,725 --> 00:03:37,725 At first it was easy to look away, but after a while I was like, man, 101 00:03:37,725 --> 00:03:39,524 I'm sucked into this show, man. 102 00:03:39,524 --> 00:03:40,935 It's like watching a train wreck. 103 00:03:40,935 --> 00:03:44,714 Just go down and slow motion to be honest with you, you know what? 104 00:03:44,744 --> 00:03:45,584 What pulls people in? 105 00:03:45,584 --> 00:03:48,554 What pulls people in like me is the drama. 106 00:03:49,109 --> 00:03:51,780 When drama shows up, it gets everyone's attention. 107 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:52,109 You know? 108 00:03:52,109 --> 00:03:55,590 That's why reality TV show, it's like one of the, the biggest money makers. 109 00:03:55,590 --> 00:03:58,200 There's so many reality TV shows going on. 110 00:03:58,290 --> 00:03:59,790 Like Kardashians have three. 111 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,670 There's a show called Mormon Wives, and I'm like, wow, okay. 112 00:04:02,670 --> 00:04:05,370 Like, I guess there's gonna be a show now called Christian Wives soon. 113 00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:07,980 I don't know, but I'm just, I'm not gonna sign up for it, trust me. 114 00:04:08,220 --> 00:04:12,510 Uh, but there's just so much drama that goes on in shows and it just 115 00:04:12,510 --> 00:04:14,370 draws us, draws our attention in. 116 00:04:15,105 --> 00:04:18,195 You know, I wanna ask you guys, this is, you know, with drama since we're 117 00:04:18,195 --> 00:04:22,185 talking about it, uh, you know, raise your hand if you have ever experienced drama 118 00:04:22,185 --> 00:04:25,275 in your own life where you're feeling like, man, I'm on a reality TV show. 119 00:04:25,395 --> 00:04:27,495 Yeah, that's everyone, right? 120 00:04:27,495 --> 00:04:30,735 We've all experienced drama in our lives, whether it's with our 121 00:04:30,735 --> 00:04:35,445 family, with our friends, maybe it's even people here in the church. 122 00:04:35,534 --> 00:04:37,485 Uh uh Oh, I know. 123 00:04:38,085 --> 00:04:40,664 You know, when someone says something the wrong way to you. 124 00:04:40,995 --> 00:04:43,125 Feelings get hurt, people get offended. 125 00:04:43,365 --> 00:04:45,195 You have to start choosing sides. 126 00:04:46,155 --> 00:04:50,145 You know, some of us, we're probably living in the drama right now and 127 00:04:50,145 --> 00:04:52,605 usually, I dunno about you guys, but when drama shows up, the first 128 00:04:52,605 --> 00:04:54,645 thing I do is I usually say I'm out. 129 00:04:54,855 --> 00:04:55,395 Like I'm out. 130 00:04:55,395 --> 00:04:56,205 I don't need this. 131 00:04:56,715 --> 00:04:59,235 I'm probably gonna go find this drama free job. 132 00:04:59,414 --> 00:05:00,180 I'm gonna go find this. 133 00:05:00,260 --> 00:05:04,365 These drama free friend groups, I'm gonna find this drama free church. 134 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,300 You just want to have a drama free life, and that sounds very great, right? 135 00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:10,500 To have a drama free life. 136 00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:14,490 But here's the truth, that there is no such thing as a drama free life. 137 00:05:15,180 --> 00:05:19,020 You know, one of my mentors told me that the grass is, uh, not always greener. 138 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:20,280 It's greener where you water it. 139 00:05:20,850 --> 00:05:23,790 And I think about, wow, okay, many of us, we can get in this mindset. 140 00:05:23,790 --> 00:05:25,950 If I just go elsewhere, the drama won't be there. 141 00:05:25,950 --> 00:05:26,640 But that's not true. 142 00:05:27,660 --> 00:05:29,190 You know, if you're visiting us, it's the first time. 143 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:32,370 I'm glad you're here, but I hope you know that we're gonna be stepping on 144 00:05:32,430 --> 00:05:35,700 each other's toes because there's no such thing as a drama free church. 145 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,710 There's no such thing as a drama free workplace or a drama free family. 146 00:05:40,710 --> 00:05:41,370 Why? 147 00:05:41,909 --> 00:05:46,110 Because it's filled with people, filled with people like you and I. 148 00:05:46,530 --> 00:05:50,280 It can be filled with people who are good, who are even spiritual, 149 00:05:50,670 --> 00:05:52,830 but yet we are still imperfect. 150 00:05:53,430 --> 00:05:54,930 You know, drama will happen. 151 00:05:55,799 --> 00:05:59,099 You know, the question isn't, you know, where is it the, you 152 00:05:59,099 --> 00:06:00,299 know, how do I escape the drama? 153 00:06:00,330 --> 00:06:04,620 Really it's how do I handle drama and go even step further? 154 00:06:04,620 --> 00:06:08,219 How do I walk through it in a way that honors God? 155 00:06:08,820 --> 00:06:11,250 You know, that's what we're gonna look at this morning as we study out. 156 00:06:11,340 --> 00:06:12,630 Uh, third John here. 157 00:06:13,140 --> 00:06:13,980 And third John. 158 00:06:13,980 --> 00:06:15,240 Man, it's such an incredible book. 159 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,640 I was studying it out this week and I was just like, oh my gosh. 160 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,950 I was telling my wife, I was telling Marcel, I was telling my mom. 161 00:06:19,950 --> 00:06:23,130 I was just like, oh my gosh, how come we don't really talk about this? 162 00:06:23,130 --> 00:06:27,210 Because it talks about drama, not only just, you know, here in Third John, 163 00:06:27,210 --> 00:06:28,830 it talks about drama in the church. 164 00:06:29,070 --> 00:06:31,560 What I love about it though, it doesn't just, uh, talk about 165 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:32,700 how we handle in the church. 166 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:36,060 I really believe it talks about how we can handle drama in our own personal lives. 167 00:06:36,060 --> 00:06:36,840 Are you with me, church? 168 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:36,929 Yes. 169 00:06:37,679 --> 00:06:40,409 So with that, with a little background here, uh, with third John. 170 00:06:40,409 --> 00:06:43,619 Third John is written by, you know, the Apostle John, and, uh, 171 00:06:43,650 --> 00:06:46,770 many scholars believe he's the last living apostle right now. 172 00:06:46,770 --> 00:06:49,830 And, and the reason he wrote this letter is to encourage one of the 173 00:06:49,830 --> 00:06:52,440 characters here named Gaas and Gaas. 174 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,520 He is a described as a faithful, generous man who keeps building the church. 175 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,390 And right now, guys, he's in a, he's in between a rock and a hard place right 176 00:07:00,390 --> 00:07:05,010 now because, uh, you know, with the church, uh, back then during this time, 177 00:07:05,130 --> 00:07:06,539 uh, they weren't meeting at the pack. 178 00:07:06,945 --> 00:07:08,864 You know, they weren't meeting at a building, they weren't meeting at the 179 00:07:08,895 --> 00:07:10,484 OC building, the 10 Goodyear building. 180 00:07:10,484 --> 00:07:14,745 They were meeting in, you know, disciples, homes, and, you know, missionaries, 181 00:07:14,745 --> 00:07:18,495 many people would, they, they would, uh, go in town to town and, uh, they would 182 00:07:18,495 --> 00:07:23,174 depend on disciples to, to be hospitable, to have church inside their homes, 183 00:07:23,174 --> 00:07:25,034 to, to support and provide for them. 184 00:07:25,125 --> 00:07:27,914 And guys was one of those, uh, disciples who are doing that. 185 00:07:28,185 --> 00:07:33,734 And then we have, uh, a leader here named, uh, uh, de atrophy and de atrophy. 186 00:07:33,854 --> 00:07:35,835 He's here described as a prideful leader. 187 00:07:36,435 --> 00:07:39,735 He is a, a drama driven man who loves to be first. 188 00:07:40,185 --> 00:07:42,705 And then we have Demetrius and Demetrius here. 189 00:07:42,705 --> 00:07:46,335 He's a trustworthy man with a great reputation and he wants to bring peace. 190 00:07:46,335 --> 00:07:48,975 And you know, people, scholars believe that actually that 191 00:07:48,975 --> 00:07:53,025 Demetrius, he's carrying the letter from John to deliver to Gaas. 192 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,030 You know, and the purpose of this, as I mentioned, is to encourage Gaas 193 00:07:57,060 --> 00:08:00,600 for his faithful support of traveling Christian missionaries and to address 194 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,440 the harmful be behaviors of the Tropic who rejects church authority 195 00:08:04,620 --> 00:08:07,020 and refuses to offer hospitality. 196 00:08:07,170 --> 00:08:11,730 And he wants to lift up Demetrius to, for Gaas to keep following, uh, the example 197 00:08:11,730 --> 00:08:15,810 of Christ, but also Demetrius who'll be delivering the letter to him as well. 198 00:08:16,125 --> 00:08:18,315 And as I mentioned before, you know, yes, I know this. 199 00:08:18,315 --> 00:08:21,735 You know, as we read, uh, this chapter here in Third John, it 200 00:08:21,735 --> 00:08:23,475 talks about drama within the church. 201 00:08:23,475 --> 00:08:27,380 But I really hope, uh, we can also see outside of that as well, of, of 202 00:08:27,465 --> 00:08:31,635 not just handling drama in the church, but handling drama in our own lives. 203 00:08:31,725 --> 00:08:34,424 So if you're with me, please turn your Bibles to Third John, and 204 00:08:34,424 --> 00:08:35,745 we'll pick up here in verse one. 205 00:08:37,215 --> 00:08:42,015 And it reads, uh, the Elder to my dear friend Gaas, whom I love in the truth. 206 00:08:42,510 --> 00:08:46,709 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that you may go well with 207 00:08:46,709 --> 00:08:48,810 you even as your soul is getting along. 208 00:08:48,810 --> 00:08:52,680 Well, it gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about 209 00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:54,240 your faithfulness to the truth. 210 00:08:54,510 --> 00:08:56,670 Tell me how you continue to walk in it. 211 00:08:57,060 --> 00:09:01,650 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 212 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:02,970 Amen. 213 00:09:02,970 --> 00:09:04,439 I love John right here. 214 00:09:04,439 --> 00:09:08,459 He, he opens up not as like a distant apostle, not as someone 215 00:09:08,459 --> 00:09:10,350 who's like, uh, a dictator. 216 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:15,120 But he's writing as a spiritual father, someone who genuinely loves Gaia. 217 00:09:15,900 --> 00:09:16,230 Think about it. 218 00:09:16,230 --> 00:09:19,230 He says, there's no greater joy for me than to hear that 219 00:09:19,230 --> 00:09:21,030 you're walking in the truth. 220 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,100 And I think that's so beautiful. 221 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:26,370 'cause even back then, and especially today, man, there's so much noise. 222 00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:28,560 There's so much things that's trying to grab our attention. 223 00:09:28,890 --> 00:09:32,250 I know there's like drama at work, there's family tension, there's social 224 00:09:32,250 --> 00:09:36,600 media debates, conflicts within here, friendship, misunderstanding, and it gets 225 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,580 so easy to get pulled into that noise. 226 00:09:39,315 --> 00:09:41,655 And when drama hits, usually the first thing that happens is 227 00:09:41,655 --> 00:09:43,275 we stop walking in the truth. 228 00:09:43,275 --> 00:09:45,675 I would say, I know I can stop walking in the truth. 229 00:09:46,905 --> 00:09:49,755 We can stop living the way that Jesus calls us to live. 230 00:09:50,055 --> 00:09:53,685 We can let our emotions dictate our life rather than God's word. 231 00:09:54,135 --> 00:09:55,485 You know, we start choosing sides. 232 00:09:55,485 --> 00:09:56,925 We start making assumptions. 233 00:09:57,135 --> 00:09:58,545 We can start spreading gossip. 234 00:09:58,605 --> 00:10:01,665 We can avoid people instead of pursuing peace. 235 00:10:02,415 --> 00:10:06,525 But what I love here is that John reminds us to not stop walking in the truth. 236 00:10:06,555 --> 00:10:10,094 Yeah, to stay faithful, to stay centered on Jesus. 237 00:10:10,094 --> 00:10:10,724 Why? 238 00:10:11,084 --> 00:10:13,125 Because the truth is what keeps us grounded. 239 00:10:13,125 --> 00:10:14,234 When life gets chaotic. 240 00:10:14,895 --> 00:10:18,344 The truth helps us see things clearly when things get cloudy for 241 00:10:18,344 --> 00:10:23,265 us, you know, when we walk in the truth, we walk above the drama. 242 00:10:24,135 --> 00:10:26,474 You know, for myself, and maybe for you guys, we can relate. 243 00:10:26,625 --> 00:10:30,074 You know, we can probably spend so much time walking rather than 244 00:10:30,074 --> 00:10:33,495 in the truth and walking in the right, in the wrong direction. 245 00:10:34,214 --> 00:10:36,224 You know, I can walk in frustration. 246 00:10:36,615 --> 00:10:40,575 I can walk in anxiety, I can walk in bitterness, and then, you know, I catch 247 00:10:40,575 --> 00:10:43,515 myself, I dunno about you guys, but when I take a shower, I start having shower 248 00:10:43,515 --> 00:10:46,665 thoughts where, oh, if this brother says something to me, I'm gonna say this. 249 00:10:46,725 --> 00:10:48,285 And if she says this, then I'm gonna say this. 250 00:10:48,285 --> 00:10:50,775 And then Savannah knocks on the door and say, hurry up, I gotta use the bathroom. 251 00:10:50,775 --> 00:10:52,905 And then my shower thoughts ends right there. 252 00:10:53,175 --> 00:10:57,435 But when that happens though, when I get myself going in that situation, 253 00:10:57,435 --> 00:10:59,955 I'm like, man, I get tired very easily. 254 00:11:00,465 --> 00:11:02,295 I'm like, why am I so drained? 255 00:11:02,955 --> 00:11:03,405 It's because. 256 00:11:04,515 --> 00:11:05,895 Possibly I'm not walking in truth. 257 00:11:05,895 --> 00:11:09,285 And possibly some of us here probably aren't walking in the truth. 258 00:11:10,095 --> 00:11:13,095 You know, John, he's encouraging guys, Hey, don't stop walking. 259 00:11:13,095 --> 00:11:14,505 Don't lose your stride. 260 00:11:14,805 --> 00:11:16,875 'cause life, life is gonna bump us. 261 00:11:17,205 --> 00:11:18,855 People are gonna step on our toes. 262 00:11:19,185 --> 00:11:22,635 They're gonna try to knock us off the path, but we have to stay faithful. 263 00:11:23,055 --> 00:11:24,645 You know, GAAS was experiencing that. 264 00:11:24,645 --> 00:11:27,135 And here's something, what I love, also what John says. 265 00:11:27,405 --> 00:11:28,785 He's John's joy. 266 00:11:28,785 --> 00:11:33,045 You know, his happiness, it's tied to Gaas and his walk with God. 267 00:11:33,630 --> 00:11:36,540 He says, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children 268 00:11:36,689 --> 00:11:38,520 are walking in the truth. 269 00:11:39,719 --> 00:11:44,099 When I read that, I was like, man, that is so incredible, John, because I think 270 00:11:44,099 --> 00:11:48,689 about what, what, what ties, you know, what, what are some of my greatest joys? 271 00:11:49,079 --> 00:11:50,609 You know, what are some of your greatest joys? 272 00:11:50,609 --> 00:11:52,199 What what brings you great joy? 273 00:11:52,739 --> 00:11:53,969 You know, is it success? 274 00:11:54,810 --> 00:11:55,800 Is it comfort? 275 00:11:56,250 --> 00:11:59,640 Is it a good reputation maybe, or is it seeing people that 276 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:00,989 you love walking the tree? 277 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,700 You know, for John the greatest win was not, you know, growing the church 278 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,680 or how influential he was as a leader. 279 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:10,890 It was seeing someone like Guy, someone he loved to stay 280 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:13,020 faithful and walk in the truth. 281 00:12:14,070 --> 00:12:17,010 And honestly, I think that's probably my greatest joy as well, too. 282 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:18,840 Nothing excites me more than seeing people. 283 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,080 I love seeing close friends of mine, seeing family member, seeing 284 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,590 youth wanting to study the Bible and actually walk in the truth, 285 00:12:26,070 --> 00:12:29,670 not just talk about it, not just to show up, but to really live it out. 286 00:12:30,255 --> 00:12:33,795 You know, when I see someone take real steps, real steps of faith 287 00:12:33,975 --> 00:12:37,575 to work through conflict, to build something, man, that is a huge win. 288 00:12:37,635 --> 00:12:39,855 Not just for me, but really I think for all of us here. 289 00:12:40,785 --> 00:12:43,035 You know, that's the kind of joy I want to continue to chase. 290 00:12:43,335 --> 00:12:46,155 That's the kind of joy I want all of us to continue to chase. 291 00:12:46,455 --> 00:12:48,915 That's the joy I want to build in my life around. 292 00:12:50,085 --> 00:12:51,285 You know, I really want to courage this. 293 00:12:51,285 --> 00:12:54,675 Let's be people to find joy in the right things. 294 00:12:54,675 --> 00:13:00,074 Amen to walk, you know, to, to have joy in the right things and to walk in the 295 00:13:00,074 --> 00:13:02,895 truth, especially during times of trouble. 296 00:13:03,974 --> 00:13:07,064 But we know that walking in the Truth church, it's not just about what we 297 00:13:07,064 --> 00:13:10,785 avoid, it's also about what we build as we continue on here in verse five 298 00:13:10,785 --> 00:13:15,824 through eight, excuse me, uh, it says, dear friends, you are faithful in what 299 00:13:15,824 --> 00:13:19,214 you are doing For the brothers and sisters, even though they're strangers 300 00:13:19,214 --> 00:13:22,814 for you, they have told the church about your love, please send them on 301 00:13:22,814 --> 00:13:24,615 their way in a manner that honors God. 302 00:13:24,975 --> 00:13:27,645 It was for the sake of the name that they went out receiving 303 00:13:27,645 --> 00:13:28,875 no help from the pagans. 304 00:13:29,295 --> 00:13:31,905 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that 305 00:13:31,905 --> 00:13:34,064 we may work together for the truth. 306 00:13:35,025 --> 00:13:37,965 You know, in other words, here, to sum it up, guys just didn't talk about love. 307 00:13:38,505 --> 00:13:39,465 He practiced it. 308 00:13:40,005 --> 00:13:42,765 It's so easy to, you know, to, to talk the talk. 309 00:13:42,915 --> 00:13:45,975 I can always tell my wife, man, I love you so much, thank you for this. 310 00:13:46,335 --> 00:13:49,635 But it doesn't mean anything without practice, without action to it. 311 00:13:49,635 --> 00:13:49,694 Yeah. 312 00:13:50,265 --> 00:13:52,245 You know, guys here, he welcomed people. 313 00:13:52,365 --> 00:13:55,875 He served people, he supported people, people he didn't know. 314 00:13:56,415 --> 00:13:57,944 He's just like, okay, you're, you're a missionary. 315 00:13:57,975 --> 00:13:58,395 Alright. 316 00:13:58,455 --> 00:13:59,355 Hey, let, let's do this. 317 00:13:59,355 --> 00:14:01,215 Come on in, let's have church service right here. 318 00:14:01,694 --> 00:14:04,185 You know, when traveling missionaries came through, he didn't hesitate 319 00:14:04,185 --> 00:14:08,175 to show hospitality, to build them up, to support them, to send them 320 00:14:08,175 --> 00:14:09,645 out with the things they need. 321 00:14:10,095 --> 00:14:13,605 You know, GA has kept building, even though there was drama 322 00:14:13,635 --> 00:14:14,955 in the church around him. 323 00:14:16,064 --> 00:14:19,605 You know, the temptation in life when drama shows up is to stop building. 324 00:14:21,105 --> 00:14:22,305 God shows us a better way. 325 00:14:22,305 --> 00:14:23,865 He's saying, no, we gotta keep building. 326 00:14:24,105 --> 00:14:25,125 And John lifts him up for it. 327 00:14:25,125 --> 00:14:27,555 He says, pretty much when people start tearing you down, we 328 00:14:27,555 --> 00:14:30,825 gotta keep building when the environment gets tense for you, man. 329 00:14:30,825 --> 00:14:32,475 Church, we still gotta keep building. 330 00:14:33,105 --> 00:14:35,985 When life gets messy, man, we still have to keep building. 331 00:14:36,525 --> 00:14:38,865 We have to keep building our relationship with one another, 332 00:14:39,525 --> 00:14:40,725 our relationship with God. 333 00:14:40,725 --> 00:14:42,075 We have to keep building trust. 334 00:14:42,975 --> 00:14:44,355 Keep building your family. 335 00:14:44,535 --> 00:14:45,855 Keep building the good church. 336 00:14:46,035 --> 00:14:47,745 Keep building the good around you. 337 00:14:48,450 --> 00:14:50,610 Because what we're building matters. 338 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,010 You know, in verse eight it says, we ought to therefore to show 339 00:14:53,010 --> 00:14:56,400 hospitality to such peoples that we may work together for the truth. 340 00:14:57,390 --> 00:15:00,480 You know, when we serve and support each other, we're 341 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,310 working together for the truth. 342 00:15:02,940 --> 00:15:07,020 We're not just doing a nice thing, we're partnering with God and his mission. 343 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,890 And you know, guys who I love, he understood that he kept building 344 00:15:10,890 --> 00:15:12,360 and he knew what he was building. 345 00:15:12,450 --> 00:15:13,020 Mattered. 346 00:15:13,950 --> 00:15:15,000 You know, church, what? 347 00:15:15,090 --> 00:15:16,920 What are we building right now? 348 00:15:16,935 --> 00:15:19,454 Are we building connection with each other? 349 00:15:19,454 --> 00:15:20,714 Are we building connection with God? 350 00:15:20,714 --> 00:15:23,685 Are we just building walls, trying to protect ourselves? 351 00:15:24,435 --> 00:15:25,724 Are we building trust? 352 00:15:25,905 --> 00:15:27,104 Are we building distance? 353 00:15:27,734 --> 00:15:31,064 Are we building peace or are we building or even adding on to 354 00:15:31,064 --> 00:15:32,984 the drama going on in our lives? 355 00:15:33,795 --> 00:15:34,665 I know it's easy. 356 00:15:34,755 --> 00:15:38,655 It's so easy to tear down and to walk away, but what I loved about Guyon, his 357 00:15:38,655 --> 00:15:40,005 character, he stayed and kept building. 358 00:15:40,875 --> 00:15:42,945 And when you keep building, guess what? 359 00:15:42,945 --> 00:15:45,675 Church I find myself that when I keep building, when there's stuff going 360 00:15:45,675 --> 00:15:49,815 on around me, I have no time to be consumed with it because I'm too busy. 361 00:15:49,815 --> 00:15:53,010 I, I wanna keep serving, I wanna keep loving, you know, I want to 362 00:15:53,015 --> 00:15:55,455 keep, you know, partnering with God and what he's trying to do. 363 00:15:56,235 --> 00:15:59,355 I wanna encourage to, let's be like guys, people who keep building 364 00:15:59,355 --> 00:16:01,755 despite the messiness going around us. 365 00:16:02,835 --> 00:16:04,245 You know, it's easier said than done, right? 366 00:16:04,245 --> 00:16:05,115 Let's keep being like Gaas. 367 00:16:05,145 --> 00:16:07,365 But even John here, he was like, you know what, uh, I pretty much 368 00:16:07,365 --> 00:16:09,015 know not everyone can be like Gaas. 369 00:16:09,015 --> 00:16:12,915 And this is where the drama as we talk about gonna, uh, undersurface 370 00:16:12,915 --> 00:16:14,865 here in verses nine through 10. 371 00:16:16,245 --> 00:16:20,625 He writes, I wrote to the church, but de atrophy who loves to be first refuses to 372 00:16:20,625 --> 00:16:25,335 welcome him or his messengers, he even spreads malicious gossips about them. 373 00:16:25,950 --> 00:16:27,300 Not satisfied with that. 374 00:16:27,510 --> 00:16:31,860 He stops other from welcoming them and puts those people out of the church. 375 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:35,160 You know, we see here, this is where the phy, as I mentioned earlier, 376 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:38,670 this is the church leader here and, you know, he loved the spotlight. 377 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:40,920 He wanted the power, he wanted the authority. 378 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,080 He wanted to be first, no matter the cost. 379 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:44,070 He wanted to be right. 380 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,730 And interesting enough, when you break it down, his, uh, name in, uh, 381 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,550 Greek, excuse me, sorry, I gotta keep. 382 00:16:50,834 --> 00:16:51,405 Stop doing that. 383 00:16:51,495 --> 00:16:54,344 But if you break it down here, uh, Dio meaning from Zeus and 384 00:16:54,344 --> 00:16:55,725 trespass means to nourish. 385 00:16:55,875 --> 00:16:59,685 So literally his name translates nurtured by Zeus. 386 00:17:00,704 --> 00:17:03,105 That's, I don't know, when I read that and when I studied that, I was like, 387 00:17:03,105 --> 00:17:05,175 wow, that is such a powerful name. 388 00:17:05,625 --> 00:17:07,214 That even sounds very God-like. 389 00:17:07,815 --> 00:17:11,595 But he didn't use his influence to build, you know, the kingdom. 390 00:17:12,105 --> 00:17:13,483 He didn't use it to build the church. 391 00:17:13,483 --> 00:17:17,534 He used it to build his own kingdom and right there, church, 392 00:17:17,805 --> 00:17:19,784 that is such a scary place to be. 393 00:17:21,015 --> 00:17:25,095 Because he went as far to even reject the teachings from John, and 394 00:17:25,095 --> 00:17:29,985 this is the same John who walked with Jesus, who saw the empty tomb. 395 00:17:30,795 --> 00:17:32,475 He was with them with the early ministry. 396 00:17:33,015 --> 00:17:35,085 He saw the growth, and now he's seeing everything. 397 00:17:35,085 --> 00:17:38,415 You know, he wrote much of the New Testament and Theatro is 398 00:17:38,415 --> 00:17:39,255 basically saying, you know what? 399 00:17:39,315 --> 00:17:42,015 No, no, John, like, I know you did all those things, but I 400 00:17:42,015 --> 00:17:42,855 don't need to hear from you. 401 00:17:44,295 --> 00:17:46,035 That's a dangerous place to be. 402 00:17:47,340 --> 00:17:50,879 I don't wanna miss this, but the oc, you know, with, with this 403 00:17:50,879 --> 00:17:54,060 character right there, I hope we know that it didn't just start there. 404 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:55,830 It didn't just start in third John. 405 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:57,510 It didn't start that day where he was like, you know what? 406 00:17:57,510 --> 00:17:58,590 I'm not gonna listen to John. 407 00:17:58,590 --> 00:18:00,149 I'm gonna march the beat of my own drum. 408 00:18:00,149 --> 00:18:04,229 No, it started as a slow, gradual drift. 409 00:18:04,740 --> 00:18:08,729 You know, it happens when we stop walking in the truth and start walking in pride. 410 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:11,850 We start walking in control into self-preservation. 411 00:18:12,899 --> 00:18:14,340 You know, here's the root of it all. 412 00:18:14,399 --> 00:18:19,230 You know, the roots of drama is pride when you think about it. 413 00:18:19,230 --> 00:18:21,810 Drama grows when pride takes the wheel. 414 00:18:22,169 --> 00:18:26,370 When we have to be right, when we have to be seen or refuse correction. 415 00:18:27,330 --> 00:18:30,659 I think about, you know, the arguments that I've been in with maybe my 416 00:18:30,659 --> 00:18:34,500 wife or my, my, my roommates at, uh, in the brother's household 417 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:36,000 or even with my own family. 418 00:18:36,330 --> 00:18:39,030 You know, a lot of it started for myself with pride. 419 00:18:39,105 --> 00:18:42,945 Yeah, the drama wasn't really about the issue in itself, but it was 420 00:18:42,945 --> 00:18:45,705 about who had to be right and prove they were correct in that time. 421 00:18:46,755 --> 00:18:51,765 I mean, how often do our arguments and drama come down to our own pride when we 422 00:18:51,765 --> 00:18:53,835 insist on being right on what happens? 423 00:18:54,435 --> 00:18:57,795 You know, when we do that, we close our hearts, you know, we stop listening. 424 00:18:57,825 --> 00:19:00,765 We build walls instead of bridges, and we miss out. 425 00:19:00,765 --> 00:19:04,155 More importantly, what God wants to do through us, you 426 00:19:04,155 --> 00:19:05,565 know, John's message is clear. 427 00:19:05,565 --> 00:19:07,545 Pride is the root of drama. 428 00:19:08,250 --> 00:19:11,970 And walking in truth, though, walking in truth means choosing humility over pride. 429 00:19:12,810 --> 00:19:16,169 Because pride puts ourselves first, it puts our opinions, our own 430 00:19:16,169 --> 00:19:18,600 reputation, our desire to be right. 431 00:19:19,110 --> 00:19:20,970 It makes us stubborn and defensive. 432 00:19:21,270 --> 00:19:25,110 It blinds us to God's correction, even correction from other people. 433 00:19:25,980 --> 00:19:29,820 Walking in truth though means, you know, walking in humility, being 434 00:19:29,820 --> 00:19:35,580 willing to listen, to admit when you're wrong, to put others above yourself. 435 00:19:36,659 --> 00:19:40,770 You know, humility, it is not weakness, it's strength under control. 436 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:43,439 It's trusting God enough to let go of our pride and follow 437 00:19:43,469 --> 00:19:44,939 his way instead of our own. 438 00:19:45,780 --> 00:19:48,510 You know, when we choose humility, we open the door for 439 00:19:48,510 --> 00:19:51,510 peace, for healing, for growth. 440 00:19:52,229 --> 00:19:54,074 You know, when we do that, we stop feeding into drama. 441 00:19:54,074 --> 00:19:55,740 We start building peace. 442 00:19:56,429 --> 00:19:59,370 You know, pride fuels the fire, but truth puts it out. 443 00:20:00,330 --> 00:20:02,520 You know, one last thing about Theatro, I just wanna mention 444 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,199 that, you know, after this letter. 445 00:20:04,950 --> 00:20:06,570 His name was never brought up again. 446 00:20:07,590 --> 00:20:10,980 And I like to think that maybe, you know, he learned his lesson, maybe he 447 00:20:10,980 --> 00:20:15,300 repented, you know, maybe he changed, but more than likely, I don't wanna 448 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:19,620 assume, but I think this story Dre, it sort, it serves as a warning that pride 449 00:20:19,620 --> 00:20:23,790 can cut us off from each other and it can cut us off from the work of God. 450 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:25,740 You know, pride, it starts small. 451 00:20:25,740 --> 00:20:29,490 It starts when we stop listening and we stop seeking advice. 452 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:30,330 Think we know better. 453 00:20:30,330 --> 00:20:31,920 We're addicted to just being right. 454 00:20:32,730 --> 00:20:35,400 It's a quiet disease that just grows in the background. 455 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,880 And at some point the atrophy stops submitting to Jesus and 456 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:40,230 starts submitting to his own ways. 457 00:20:41,460 --> 00:20:44,700 And once again, church, that is such a scary place to be. 458 00:20:45,750 --> 00:20:49,230 So when we get caught up in pride that we know we're gonna listen, that we 459 00:20:49,230 --> 00:20:54,540 reject Godly leadership and become the final authority of our own lives, that's 460 00:20:54,540 --> 00:20:56,040 when our hearts are the most vulnerable. 461 00:20:57,150 --> 00:21:00,990 So I wanna ask you guys, you know, are we still open to advice? 462 00:21:01,710 --> 00:21:05,250 Are you still listening to people God has placed in your life? 463 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,560 Are you still soft to correction? 464 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,980 Are you quick to, to justify what you're doing and trying to be right? 465 00:21:11,610 --> 00:21:14,639 You know how we quietly crown ourself, kings and queens of our 466 00:21:14,639 --> 00:21:19,500 own lives because pride, pride, it just always grows in isolation. 467 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:23,370 When you think about the more we are distant from one another, the 468 00:21:23,370 --> 00:21:26,790 more we are distant from God, the more pride really grows and it's 469 00:21:26,790 --> 00:21:28,020 no longer a background character. 470 00:21:28,020 --> 00:21:29,430 It's the main character of our life. 471 00:21:30,915 --> 00:21:35,175 But what I love here is that John, you know, he doesn't ignore this problem. 472 00:21:35,235 --> 00:21:37,754 He doesn't ignore the the problem of pride. 473 00:21:38,145 --> 00:21:41,835 He says, when I come back, I will call attention to what he's doing. 474 00:21:42,975 --> 00:21:46,754 We can't let pride, we can't let division, we can't let all of 475 00:21:46,754 --> 00:21:48,075 those things go unchecked here. 476 00:21:49,155 --> 00:21:54,554 We can't let the de atrophy moments in our hearts grow within ourselves, but 477 00:21:54,554 --> 00:21:57,345 also within our church here as well. 478 00:21:58,425 --> 00:22:02,055 You know when drama shows up, I think we do one of three things here. 479 00:22:02,685 --> 00:22:04,905 You know, the first thing we can do is we can just avoid it. 480 00:22:05,685 --> 00:22:06,675 We ghost people. 481 00:22:06,915 --> 00:22:08,415 We pretend the issue's not there. 482 00:22:08,415 --> 00:22:09,735 We sweep it under the rug. 483 00:22:10,785 --> 00:22:13,185 You know, the second thing is we could join in on the drama. 484 00:22:14,025 --> 00:22:15,105 So easy to do that. 485 00:22:15,135 --> 00:22:16,605 Let just jump into this gossip. 486 00:22:17,205 --> 00:22:18,285 Let me start picking sides. 487 00:22:18,290 --> 00:22:19,575 Let me stir the pot up a bit. 488 00:22:20,685 --> 00:22:22,965 And then lastly, we can leave. 489 00:22:23,655 --> 00:22:25,485 It's so easy to leave because of the drama. 490 00:22:25,485 --> 00:22:27,285 We walk away from that friendship. 491 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,870 We walk away from that job, we, we walk away from that church. 492 00:22:30,870 --> 00:22:31,980 We try to find another one. 493 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:35,550 And if I'm being honest, church, I think my struggle has always been 494 00:22:35,550 --> 00:22:37,050 the first one, which is avoidance. 495 00:22:37,650 --> 00:22:40,260 You know, the church that raised me all my life, pretty much. 496 00:22:40,379 --> 00:22:43,650 It went through a really hard season and, uh, you know, there, there was 497 00:22:43,650 --> 00:22:47,070 a church split happening and many of the friends and mentors, and even my 498 00:22:47,070 --> 00:22:50,520 family, some of my family members, they were affected by this church drama. 499 00:22:50,910 --> 00:22:53,550 And I remember, you know, the more people started to talk about the 500 00:22:53,550 --> 00:22:56,280 drama around the church, the more I wanted to walk out the room. 501 00:22:57,135 --> 00:22:58,185 You know, I didn't want to hear it. 502 00:22:58,995 --> 00:23:00,135 I didn't want to deal with it. 503 00:23:00,255 --> 00:23:02,715 I thought if I just don't engage, it will go away. 504 00:23:03,645 --> 00:23:06,075 And that tendency, it didn't just stay there at my home church. 505 00:23:06,195 --> 00:23:08,625 I actually, I feel like I carried it here in Orange County for sure. 506 00:23:09,135 --> 00:23:11,025 You know, I moved into the brothers apartment. 507 00:23:11,235 --> 00:23:11,955 Same pattern. 508 00:23:12,885 --> 00:23:15,225 I figured I should have, you know, maybe I'll be done with it. 509 00:23:15,225 --> 00:23:17,745 Like, you know what, there, there, there won't be drama with five 510 00:23:17,745 --> 00:23:19,515 grown adult men living in a house. 511 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:19,700 No. 512 00:23:20,085 --> 00:23:20,595 No way. 513 00:23:20,595 --> 00:23:21,465 Right. 514 00:23:22,185 --> 00:23:22,695 Oh man. 515 00:23:22,725 --> 00:23:25,095 Like first month, you know, everyone's arguing about something. 516 00:23:25,469 --> 00:23:27,570 And yet for me, I was like, you know what? 517 00:23:28,139 --> 00:23:29,100 I'm just gonna retreat. 518 00:23:29,580 --> 00:23:30,270 I'm gonna avoid it. 519 00:23:30,270 --> 00:23:31,770 I'm gonna pretend like everything's good. 520 00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:34,260 You know, I chose silence over resolution. 521 00:23:34,830 --> 00:23:38,850 I chose distance over honest conversation, you know, but, but what 522 00:23:38,850 --> 00:23:41,639 I love, what John here shows us here in Third John, is he, he's saying 523 00:23:41,639 --> 00:23:43,530 that it doesn't have to be that way. 524 00:23:44,129 --> 00:23:47,070 That drama doesn't just have to be that elephant in the room. 525 00:23:47,070 --> 00:23:49,649 That we need to lean in, that we need to address that drama. 526 00:23:49,979 --> 00:23:50,939 We need to speak the truth. 527 00:23:50,939 --> 00:23:51,990 We need to seek peace. 528 00:23:51,990 --> 00:23:52,949 'cause that's what we all want. 529 00:23:52,949 --> 00:23:53,699 We want peace. 530 00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:53,790 Yep. 531 00:23:54,450 --> 00:23:56,340 Because avoiding drama doesn't heal wounds. 532 00:23:56,340 --> 00:23:57,210 It just buries them. 533 00:23:58,050 --> 00:24:00,090 Joining drama doesn't solve problems. 534 00:24:00,180 --> 00:24:01,380 It just multiplies them. 535 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,670 And if you leave drama and you're trying to find a place where there's peace, it's 536 00:24:05,670 --> 00:24:07,350 just gonna relocate the drama with you. 537 00:24:08,610 --> 00:24:10,920 You know, sometimes we think if we just leave this situation, 538 00:24:10,980 --> 00:24:12,720 I'll find a drama free place. 539 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:16,440 But if we never deal with it in our hearts, drama will just follow us. 540 00:24:17,610 --> 00:24:19,410 You know, it's not about a drama free life. 541 00:24:19,470 --> 00:24:21,420 It's about becoming a drama free heart. 542 00:24:22,514 --> 00:24:26,535 It's about watching over pride, watching over division, and the places where 543 00:24:26,535 --> 00:24:30,915 we might be drifting towards our own hearts, become like the tropics because 544 00:24:30,915 --> 00:24:32,504 drama doesn't just live out there. 545 00:24:32,504 --> 00:24:33,524 It can also live in here. 546 00:24:33,524 --> 00:24:35,085 It can live in your hearts as well. 547 00:24:35,445 --> 00:24:39,075 And John knows this, so he leans in and he gives guys a clear challenge 548 00:24:39,075 --> 00:24:40,545 and the decision as well, which I love. 549 00:24:40,545 --> 00:24:44,264 Here in Third John chapter, uh, in verse 11 here, it says, dear friend, do not 550 00:24:44,264 --> 00:24:46,155 imitate what is evil, but what is good. 551 00:24:46,770 --> 00:24:48,780 Anyone who does what is good is from God. 552 00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:52,140 Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 553 00:24:53,010 --> 00:24:58,080 You know, when drama, when conflict shows up in our lives, we have a choice. 554 00:24:58,950 --> 00:25:00,510 What will you imitate? 555 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:05,220 Because I think drama, it's a lot like, like a cold, it, it's very contagious. 556 00:25:05,220 --> 00:25:09,570 It, when someone gossips, you can gossip right back 'cause it's so tempting 557 00:25:10,350 --> 00:25:13,380 When someone shuts you out, it's tempting to do the exact same thing. 558 00:25:13,380 --> 00:25:14,580 Match fire with fire there. 559 00:25:14,625 --> 00:25:17,865 Yeah, when someone stirs division, it's tempting to pick a side 560 00:25:17,865 --> 00:25:19,485 or even stir that pot as well. 561 00:25:20,445 --> 00:25:21,705 But John is saying is guess what? 562 00:25:21,705 --> 00:25:24,405 You don't have to repeat the same toxic mistake. 563 00:25:24,945 --> 00:25:26,775 You don't have to copy the worst behavior in the room. 564 00:25:26,775 --> 00:25:28,815 You can imitate what is good. 565 00:25:28,875 --> 00:25:31,455 You can mirror your life after Jesus. 566 00:25:32,595 --> 00:25:36,345 Let me ask you, church, will you imitate good or evil? 567 00:25:37,455 --> 00:25:38,925 'cause drama is a choice. 568 00:25:39,345 --> 00:25:41,925 We either become part of the problem or part of the solution. 569 00:25:42,855 --> 00:25:45,825 And what's beautiful here is John doesn't say, you know, do the right thing. 570 00:25:46,185 --> 00:25:47,265 It's not a Spike Lee movie. 571 00:25:47,355 --> 00:25:49,905 He says, imitate the right thing. 572 00:25:51,105 --> 00:25:53,595 John is saying, imitate your life after Jesus. 573 00:25:54,075 --> 00:25:57,945 Not after the gossipers, not after the prideful people, not after the dividers. 574 00:25:58,875 --> 00:26:00,615 And because of that, that gives us hope. 575 00:26:01,785 --> 00:26:05,025 You know church, that means if you grew up in a family that loved drama, guess what? 576 00:26:05,025 --> 00:26:06,105 You can break that cycle. 577 00:26:07,215 --> 00:26:11,925 If your work environment is, and gossip is the norm, you can stand out. 578 00:26:12,645 --> 00:26:16,334 In your friend group, if petty conversations is the conversation, 579 00:26:16,365 --> 00:26:17,564 you can shift the tone. 580 00:26:18,104 --> 00:26:21,735 Even if the church has gotten a messy, you can still lead with humility, 581 00:26:22,695 --> 00:26:24,254 but it won't happen by accident. 582 00:26:24,794 --> 00:26:27,615 It happens when you decide, I'm gonna imitate what is good. 583 00:26:27,615 --> 00:26:30,344 I'm gonna imitate my life after Jesus. 584 00:26:31,814 --> 00:26:35,534 So with that church, what are you imitating right now? 585 00:26:36,794 --> 00:26:40,784 Is it the loudest voice in the room, or is it the strength of Jesus? 586 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:45,810 Because what you imitate will shape who you become, and drama. 587 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:47,639 Drama doesn't create our character. 588 00:26:47,639 --> 00:26:48,960 It just reveals our character. 589 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:50,850 It shows what's already in us. 590 00:26:50,879 --> 00:26:53,909 It shows us what we've been imitating all along. 591 00:26:55,020 --> 00:26:57,300 You know, as I mentioned earlier, I've been part of this church for five years. 592 00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:00,629 I'm grateful for so many people who help me grown in this area. 593 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,320 But I'm especially grateful for the brothers I that I lived with. 594 00:27:04,470 --> 00:27:08,340 I'm grateful for, for guys like Dallas, for Chris, for Eli, for 595 00:27:08,340 --> 00:27:09,899 Derek, for Song for Justice. 596 00:27:10,530 --> 00:27:12,150 You know, they really helped me. 597 00:27:12,150 --> 00:27:13,200 They really challenged me. 598 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,540 They showed me what it was worth imitating for. 599 00:27:15,540 --> 00:27:19,710 After Jesus, they helped me fight for peace and not feed into the drama. 600 00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:22,830 You know, we all need people like that in our lives. 601 00:27:22,980 --> 00:27:25,140 People who show us the better way. 602 00:27:25,770 --> 00:27:29,250 So let's be the people who choose good, who trace our lives after 603 00:27:29,250 --> 00:27:32,880 Jesus, who decide to be part of the healing and not part of the hurt. 604 00:27:33,930 --> 00:27:37,050 You know John right here, he gives us a real life example of, Hey, what 605 00:27:37,050 --> 00:27:38,790 does that look like to imitate good? 606 00:27:38,790 --> 00:27:40,740 He mentions it here in his letter in verse 12. 607 00:27:40,740 --> 00:27:44,700 He says, Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone, and even by the truth 608 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:49,920 itself, we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 609 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:53,940 You know, John begins to close this section by lifting up a man named 610 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:56,400 Demetrius, a man with a solid reputation. 611 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,880 He says Everyone speaks well of him, even the truth itself. 612 00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:02,715 You know, his life lines up with his words. 613 00:28:02,715 --> 00:28:05,534 His character speaks louder than the drama around him. 614 00:28:06,225 --> 00:28:09,405 You know, Demetrius, he's the kind of person that everyone needs in their life. 615 00:28:09,855 --> 00:28:13,725 We need a Demetrius in our family, in our workplace, in our friend group. 616 00:28:13,905 --> 00:28:15,465 'cause he's not chasing the spotlight. 617 00:28:15,945 --> 00:28:18,225 He's not choosing sides, he's not feeling the gossip. 618 00:28:18,225 --> 00:28:20,504 He's steady, he's trustworthy. 619 00:28:20,925 --> 00:28:22,125 He brings peace. 620 00:28:22,695 --> 00:28:25,185 You know, the world that is so quick to stir the pot. 621 00:28:25,185 --> 00:28:27,014 Dmitri shows up to cool things down. 622 00:28:27,780 --> 00:28:29,430 He's a person who's really trying to listen. 623 00:28:29,430 --> 00:28:32,820 When someone is screaming loud, he's a person who says, let's 624 00:28:32,820 --> 00:28:34,440 slow down and let's work this out. 625 00:28:35,190 --> 00:28:38,220 And what's awesome about Demetrius is he didn't just earn approval of people. 626 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:40,139 He got earn the approval from the truth. 627 00:28:40,170 --> 00:28:41,160 It was confirmed by it. 628 00:28:41,580 --> 00:28:43,170 He lived in, stepped with Jesus. 629 00:28:43,410 --> 00:28:46,590 He was the peace maker, not a peacekeeper. 630 00:28:46,620 --> 00:28:46,800 'cause. 631 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,300 Peacekeeper, they avoid conflict. 632 00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:48,899 They avoid drama. 633 00:28:48,899 --> 00:28:53,670 But peace makers, they step into the tension to try to to, to bring healing. 634 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,480 To try to, uh, work conversations out through Grace. 635 00:28:57,929 --> 00:29:00,000 You know, that's who Demetrius was. 636 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:02,040 So the challenge for us is simple. 637 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,830 When drama shows up, we have a choice. 638 00:29:05,370 --> 00:29:06,870 We can follow the path of dea atrophy. 639 00:29:06,990 --> 00:29:08,639 We can march the beat of our own drums. 640 00:29:08,639 --> 00:29:09,870 We can do our own thing. 641 00:29:09,870 --> 00:29:13,200 We can make the final a decision in our life, or we can 642 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,090 follow the path of humility. 643 00:29:16,050 --> 00:29:19,530 We can walk in truth, we can build peace and welcome others. 644 00:29:20,250 --> 00:29:23,490 You know, let's be people who build peace wherever we go. 645 00:29:23,490 --> 00:29:23,520 I. 646 00:29:24,735 --> 00:29:26,355 Let's not avoid the hard conversations. 647 00:29:26,355 --> 00:29:28,095 Let's not join in on the gossip. 648 00:29:28,755 --> 00:29:31,125 Let's not run on the first sign of conflict. 649 00:29:32,115 --> 00:29:36,105 But people who walk in truth, they lead with humility and choose peace even when 650 00:29:36,105 --> 00:29:40,575 it's hard because that's what Jesus did and that's what he's calling us to do. 651 00:29:41,655 --> 00:29:45,015 You know, John begins to close his letter here with something really important, 652 00:29:45,015 --> 00:29:47,985 which is something very small, but I thought, man, this really does apply. 653 00:29:48,345 --> 00:29:50,505 He's saying everything can't be resolved through paper and ink. 654 00:29:51,135 --> 00:29:54,435 Or in today's term, it can't be resolved through a text message or an email. 655 00:29:54,855 --> 00:29:56,265 It has to be done face to face. 656 00:29:56,805 --> 00:30:00,225 You know, verses 13 to 15, he says, I have, uh, much to write to you, but I 657 00:30:00,225 --> 00:30:02,175 do not wanna do so with pen and ink. 658 00:30:02,565 --> 00:30:05,745 I hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face. 659 00:30:06,105 --> 00:30:07,215 Peace to you. 660 00:30:07,485 --> 00:30:12,915 The friends here send their greetings, greet, uh, the friends each by their name. 661 00:30:13,725 --> 00:30:14,535 And I love this. 662 00:30:15,345 --> 00:30:17,835 You know, John could have said more, he could have made this book a lot 663 00:30:17,835 --> 00:30:19,395 longer, but he was like, you know what? 664 00:30:19,935 --> 00:30:22,274 No, I'm gonna do this when I see you guys face to face. 665 00:30:22,844 --> 00:30:24,945 You know, resolving tension, building peace. 666 00:30:25,334 --> 00:30:27,435 It's not something you can always do from a distance. 667 00:30:28,004 --> 00:30:30,945 Some things just can't be handled through a text message, 668 00:30:31,425 --> 00:30:33,044 through a social media post. 669 00:30:33,645 --> 00:30:35,594 Some things need to be addressed up. 670 00:30:35,594 --> 00:30:37,004 Close in person. 671 00:30:37,274 --> 00:30:39,375 Real conversations with real people. 672 00:30:40,094 --> 00:30:42,314 You know, John, he wasn't avoiding the situation. 673 00:30:42,675 --> 00:30:43,905 He wasn't ghosting the church. 674 00:30:44,325 --> 00:30:46,590 He wanted to sit down face to face with the tropic. 675 00:30:46,635 --> 00:30:48,585 He was like, I want to talk to him face to face. 676 00:30:48,585 --> 00:30:52,335 I wanna help bring peace, not only to him, but also to the church. 677 00:30:53,055 --> 00:30:55,245 And I love, that's how he closes out his letter here. 678 00:30:55,935 --> 00:30:57,195 Peace to you. 679 00:30:57,975 --> 00:31:04,125 Not more division, not more gossip, not more heat, but peace, you know? 680 00:31:04,125 --> 00:31:06,255 That's what Jesus wants for us. 681 00:31:06,555 --> 00:31:08,445 He wants peace in his church. 682 00:31:08,895 --> 00:31:10,335 He wants that in our families. 683 00:31:10,665 --> 00:31:11,595 He wants that in our friendship. 684 00:31:11,595 --> 00:31:13,995 But more importantly, he wants that for our hearts. 685 00:31:14,595 --> 00:31:19,425 He wants peace for us, but peace, it doesn't just magically appear. 686 00:31:19,455 --> 00:31:22,425 Peace is built through people like Gaia that we just read about. 687 00:31:22,875 --> 00:31:25,455 Peace is protected by people like Demetrius, but 688 00:31:25,455 --> 00:31:28,125 ultimately peace is disrupted. 689 00:31:28,365 --> 00:31:30,705 It can be destroyed by people like Theatro. 690 00:31:31,605 --> 00:31:33,915 So the question isn't today really? 691 00:31:33,975 --> 00:31:35,175 Will there be drama? 692 00:31:35,235 --> 00:31:37,515 I think we all know there will be drama, but really the question is 693 00:31:37,845 --> 00:31:39,255 what will you do when it shows up? 694 00:31:40,635 --> 00:31:41,685 Will you walk away? 695 00:31:42,315 --> 00:31:43,425 Will you get pulled in? 696 00:31:43,995 --> 00:31:45,285 Will you rise above? 697 00:31:46,575 --> 00:31:49,515 You know, as we close out, uh, this morning church, before we 698 00:31:49,515 --> 00:31:52,785 take communion, I really wanna encourage us to, to, uh, practice 699 00:31:52,785 --> 00:31:54,885 some, some action steps this week. 700 00:31:54,975 --> 00:31:57,615 And I really thought hard about this 'cause I really believe that I 701 00:31:57,615 --> 00:31:59,295 need to do the action steps as well. 702 00:31:59,295 --> 00:32:01,725 I, I can't ask you guys to do something that I can't do. 703 00:32:02,235 --> 00:32:05,835 So as we, uh, close out the action step this week is, how can I bring 704 00:32:05,835 --> 00:32:08,145 peace and build others up this week? 705 00:32:09,015 --> 00:32:12,195 You know, where can we intentionally speak life instead of tearing down? 706 00:32:12,870 --> 00:32:15,090 How can we be a builder and not a divider? 707 00:32:15,090 --> 00:32:18,300 Where can we choose to build instead of joining the drama? 708 00:32:18,990 --> 00:32:22,170 You know, once we answer that question, I really want us to practice this 709 00:32:22,170 --> 00:32:24,660 Next one, I really want us to do this next one is, who do I need to have 710 00:32:24,660 --> 00:32:26,400 that face-to-face conversation with? 711 00:32:27,510 --> 00:32:29,490 Is there someone that you've been avoiding? 712 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,360 Someone you need to clear the air with, someone you need to to apologize to, or 713 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,510 maybe just listen to, to not avoid it. 714 00:32:36,930 --> 00:32:38,280 Don't send a text message. 715 00:32:39,045 --> 00:32:43,155 Maybe a, a phone call if you have to, but man, go in person, get some coffee. 716 00:32:43,485 --> 00:32:47,055 Seek peace because peace is not billed by accident. 717 00:32:47,565 --> 00:32:48,795 It's built with purpose. 718 00:32:48,975 --> 00:32:51,465 It's built through face-to-face conversation with one another. 719 00:32:52,005 --> 00:32:54,735 And what I love about it is Jesus didn't walk away from the drama. 720 00:32:54,735 --> 00:32:56,655 He stepped into it to bring peace. 721 00:32:57,225 --> 00:33:00,615 And I wanna pray for us that we can follow his example as well. 722 00:33:00,615 --> 00:33:04,035 You know, at this moment, we're gonna take, uh, communion right now. 723 00:33:04,065 --> 00:33:06,495 And if you, uh, have the emblems, uh, you can bring it out. 724 00:33:06,495 --> 00:33:08,415 If you don't have it, uh, maybe you can raise your hand. 725 00:33:08,415 --> 00:33:12,825 I believe the ushers, uh, will bring, uh, a communion cup for you. 726 00:33:13,095 --> 00:33:17,475 But I wanna encourage us, let's be people who build peace, who carry 727 00:33:17,475 --> 00:33:20,625 peace and protect peace wherever we go. 728 00:33:20,625 --> 00:33:21,075 Amen. 729 00:33:21,330 --> 00:33:21,620 Amen. 730 00:33:22,005 --> 00:33:22,275 Amen. 731 00:33:22,275 --> 00:33:24,795 Well, with that, uh, I'm gonna say a word of prayer for the communion. 732 00:33:30,465 --> 00:33:33,255 Uh, father God, just thank you for today. 733 00:33:33,255 --> 00:33:36,345 Lord, thank you so much, God, for your word. 734 00:33:36,375 --> 00:33:38,445 Thank you so much for your son Jesus. 735 00:33:38,445 --> 00:33:41,025 God, uh, God, we're just so grateful. 736 00:33:41,025 --> 00:33:44,805 I'm grateful for your faithfulness, Lord, even when in moments 737 00:33:44,805 --> 00:33:45,915 we're not faithful to you. 738 00:33:45,915 --> 00:33:49,305 God, thank you for just reminding us through it that through your word to 739 00:33:49,305 --> 00:33:53,925 that we're called to walk in the truth, to keep building and to bring peace. 740 00:33:55,020 --> 00:33:58,650 Lord, I pray as we take community, we take the bread that represents your son's body 741 00:33:58,650 --> 00:34:00,240 and the juice that represents his blood. 742 00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:05,790 God give us a humble heart to seek and imitate Jesus in every situation. 743 00:34:05,790 --> 00:34:08,790 Lord, give us courage to have those hard conversation. 744 00:34:08,790 --> 00:34:13,080 Give us courage, God to have a soft heart, to correction God. 745 00:34:13,710 --> 00:34:17,219 God help us to be like gaas and faithful and loving. 746 00:34:17,219 --> 00:34:21,090 Help us to, uh, be like demetrius's, God being a peacemaker, but ultimately, Lord, 747 00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:23,580 help us to be just like you, father. 748 00:34:24,179 --> 00:34:25,530 I pray that we can imitate you. 749 00:34:25,530 --> 00:34:29,850 God, Lord, I pray that you can fill our hearts with peace and understanding. 750 00:34:29,850 --> 00:34:31,350 God, me your love. 751 00:34:31,350 --> 00:34:34,980 Guide us, uh, throughout this whole week, Lord God. 752 00:34:34,980 --> 00:34:35,940 It's your son's name we pray. 753 00:34:36,510 --> 00:34:36,840 Amen.