It's a Pleasure to Serve | 3 John 1 Sermon

It's a Pleasure to Serve | 3 John 1 Sermon "Even when it's inconvenient, even when it takes you out of your plan, it's a pleasure to serve." Kurt Alber ordered McDonald's online this week and parked to wait. The girl who brought it out handed it through his window, said "have a blessed day," and was gone. That is where he starts 3 John, a fifteen-verse letter about three people. Gaius takes traveling believers into his home and sends them on their way with what they need. Diotrephes likes to put himself first and puts people out of the church for welcoming strangers. Demetrius is the guest, and probably the one carrying the letter. Kurt asks how you would treat Jesus if he were coming to stay at your house, reads Jesus' words about the Son of Man who came to serve and to give his life, and ends with plain advice for greeting people by name, including what to say when you're afraid you'll forget one. INVESTED, and how Gaius spent his health and his money on people passing through town COLLABORATIVE, and what it would look like to host Jesus DIOTREPHES, who likes to put himself first DEMETRIUS, the guest who probably carried the letter GREET THE FRIENDS BY NAME, and what to ask instead of "How are you?" 📖 Scripture: 3 John 1 (ESV) 🎤 Speaker: Kurt Alber 🗓 Preached September 27, 2026 at First Medina, Medina, Ohio 📝 Sermon notes: https://firstmedina.onechurchsoftware... ▶️ Watch the whole service:    • It's a Pleasure to Serve | 3 John 1 | Full...   Talk with a pastor, get baptized, find a group, or serve: firstmedina.org/nextsteps CHAPTERS 00:00 "What would it look like to host him?" 00:27 Have a blessed day 04:41 Reading 3 John together 06:45 Gaius, and what Jesus says about being great 08:51 Gaius is invested 12:28 Gaius is collaborative 13:29 How would you host Jesus? 16:25 We live generously 19:05 We unite for the gospel 21:17 Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first 24:58 Divisiveness has no place in the truth 27:19 Demetrius, the guest 30:35 God really is personal 33:44 Greet the friends, each by name 36:04 What to say instead of "How are you?" 38:50 How am I like Gaius? How am I like Diotrephes? 41:11 Closing prayer 43:28 Subscribe CONNECT 🌐 Website: https://firstmedina.org 📍 3646 Medina Rd, Medina, OH 44256 🕘 Sundays at 9:00 and 10:30 AM THE GOSPEL The word "gospel" simply means good news, and we believe it is the best news the world has ever heard. Every human being was created by God and for God, but every one of us has turned away from him. The Bible calls this sin, and the consequence is real: separation from God, both now and eternally. But God did not leave us there. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who lived a perfectly obedient life, went to the cross to bear the full weight of sin in the place of everyone who would trust in him, died, was buried, and on the third day rose bodily from the dead. Because Jesus is alive, sin is forgiven, death is defeated, and there is real hope. Faith is not complicated. It is trusting that what Jesus did is enough, turning from living for yourself, and following him. If you have never done that and you want to know more, we would love to talk with you. MUSIC Music used with permission. CCLI License: 116670 CCLI Streaming License: 20793271 New sermon every Thursday. Subscribe so you don't miss one, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. #sermon #3John #firstmedina #medinaohio #christianity #gospel #bibleteaching #expositorypreaching #hospitality #confidenceinchrist