约翰三书
Thanks for the background, Lizzy. That’s super helpful. As Lizzy said, 3 John is the shortest book in the whole Bible – when taken by word count. While it’s small in stature, as we’re learning in this series, these short books pack a punch well beyond their perceived size and weight. So far, we have seen some glorious pictures of grace:
In Philemon, we saw Grace as …. a welcome mat that God lays out to us and asks us to lay it out to others.
In Jude, we saw Grace as … a travelator that carries us to the finish line.
In 2 John, we saw Grace as … superglue that fuses the absolute truth of the gospel with the incredible love of God.
谢谢 Lizzy 带给我们约翰三书背景介绍，这对我们有很大的帮助。正如 Lizzy 所说，约翰三书是整本圣经中最短的一本书 - 如果按字数计算。正如我们在这个讲 道系列中所看到的，虽然它的体量很小，但这些短书所带来的冲击力远远超过了它们的体积和重 量。到目前为止，我们已经看到了一些关于恩典的宝贵信息：
在腓利门书中，我们看到恩典是 - 上帝为我们铺设的欢迎垫，并要求我们为他人铺设。
在犹大书中，我们看到恩典是 - 一个载着我们到达终点的自动人行道。
在约翰二书中，我们看到恩典是 - 将福音的绝对真理与上帝不可思议的爱融合在一起的超级胶 水。
Today – I want to talk about grace as the stabilising blocks that build unity. I’m sure you’ve played Jenga. In the beginning, the tower is solid – 54 blocks packed nicely together. There is no sway. But, during the game, each player takes a turn to remove one block at a time and places it on top of the tower, creating a progressively more unstable structure. During the course of the game, the tower that is being built begins to sway – and eventually collapses.
When John writes this note of 3 John, he is aware that the church is beginning to sway because of the ungracious way a certain leader is behaving. It’s like this leader is removing essential building blocks of the church and placing them in a way where things are getting progressively wobbly. John wants to stabilize the church and ensure it remains united and healthy so that it can show the world the incredible love and grace of God.
今天，我想要分享的是，恩典是建立团结的稳定模块。我相信你一定玩过叠叠乐游戏（英文 Jenga）。一开始，塔是坚实的，54 块积木很好地挤在一起。不会动摇。但是，在游戏过程中，每个玩家轮流一次移走一块积木，并把它放在塔顶上， 形成一个逐渐不稳定的结构。在游戏过程中，正在建造的塔开始摇晃，并最终倒塌。
当约翰写下《约翰三书》的这篇信息时，他意识到教会正开始摇摆，因为某个领袖的行为方式不 友善。就像这位领袖正在拆除教会的基本构件，并把它们放在一个逐渐摇摆不定的地方。约翰想 要稳定教会，确保它保持合一和健康，以便向世界展示上帝不可思议的爱和恩典。
Here is how he begins: The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1-2)
As a side-note, I love the way John expresses his care not just for the soul – but for the overall physical and emotional health of someone. In other words, our holistic health matters to God. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 3-4)
经文这样开始: “作长老的写信给亲爱的该犹，就是我诚心所爱的。亲爱的弟兄啊，我愿你凡事兴盛，身体健壮，正如你的灵魂兴盛一样。”（约叁1-2）
顺便说一句，我喜欢约翰所表达的关怀方式，不仅仅是对灵魂的关怀，也是对整体身体和情感健 康的关怀。换句话说，我们的整体健康对上帝非常重要。“有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理，正如你按真理而行，我就甚喜乐。我所见我的儿女们按真理而 行，我的喜乐就没有比这个大的。”（约叁3-4）
In 2 John, John’s purpose was to ensure that people who might be wired more towards love than truth, still keep their truth radar and stop helping or promoting so-called Christian leaders who were teaching things at odds with the core truths of Christianity. But, John knew that some people reject people they SHOULD be hospitable towards – such as men and women who are serving Jesus and sharing the truth handed down to us. So, here in 3 John, he talks about the way grace rejects divisiveness and strengthens unity.
He is aware of people who are wrongly rejecting followers of Jesus in the name of truth. The words and actions of these people actually harm the stability, unity and love of the church. John wants to ensure we are people whose words and actions are building unity and not breaking unity. So, John highlights the behaviour of the two leaders. Both of them were leaders of house churches in a similar region. One of them, a unity builder. The other is a unity breaker.
在约翰二书中，约翰的目的是提醒那些可能更倾向于爱而不是真理的人，要保持真理原则，停止 帮助或推荐那些教导与基督教核心真理相悖的所谓基督教领袖。但是，约翰知道，有些人拒绝了本该接待的人，比如那些服事耶稣并分享真理给我们的人。因此， 在约翰三书中，他谈到了恩典拒绝分裂和加强团结合一的方式。
约翰意识到有些人以真理的名义错误地拒绝了耶稣的追随者。这些人的言行实际上损害了教会的 稳定、团结和爱。约翰想确保我们是那些言行都在建立合一而不是破坏合一的人。所以，约翰强调了两位领袖的行为。他们都是类似区域的教会的领袖。其中一个是建立合一的人。 另一个是一个破坏团结的人。
This is a timely book for us because our society is becoming incredibly divisive. While Scripture calls us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, we tend to do what? -- the opposite! We fail to listen. We’re quick to speak up and over the top of others. We’re faster still in getting angry – even heated and abusive. It’s like people are losing basic respect and becoming dismissive of people as a natural behaviour of life.
As a result, the unity of society is vulnerable to collapse. It’s alarming. What’s even more alarming is that this can happen in churches, among the people of God. Unity is the heartbeat of God. When it doesn’t happen, it deeply hurts the mission of God. But when it does happen, the world sees something of the radically inclusive love of Jesus.
这是一本对我们来说很及时的书卷，因为我们的社会正变得令人难以置信的分裂。虽然圣经呼吁我们要快听、慢说、慢怒，但我们往往做什么呢？我们所做的正相反，我们没有倾 听，我们很快就高谈阔论，对别人说三道四。我们生气的速度更快，甚至是发火和辱骂。人们失 去了对人的基本尊重，变得对人不屑一顾，这成了我们生活中的一种自然行为。
因此，社会的团结很容易崩溃，这令人震惊。更令人震惊的是，这可能发生在教会中，发生在上帝的子民中。合一是上帝的心意。当合一没有发生时，它深深地伤害了上帝的使命。但是，当团结发生时，世 界就会看到一些耶稣包容之爱所表现出来的东西。
So, let’s see what John has to say about these two leaders.
First is Gaius – a unity builder
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honours God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. (3 John 5-8)
I love the way that Gaius has superglued the duo of love and truth together. Evidence of that is the way he was being hospitable to church planters who were being sent out into the region to share the good news of Jesus. The non-believing culture gave them a tough time. But, Gaius was helping them - providing a room for them to sleep in, and some food and money for them to live on. Gaius realised that he was not in competition with other churches or leaders. He knew that we’re all on the same team.
That’s Gaius– a unity builder. His actions brought stability and health to the church and her mission.
让我们来看一下约翰如何表示这两位教会领袖：
第一位是该犹–他是合一的建造者
“亲爱的兄弟啊，凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的都是忠心的。他们在教会面前证明了你的爱；你若 配得过上帝，帮助他们往前行，这就好了。因他们是为主的名出外，对于外邦人一无所取。所以 我们应该接待这样的人，叫我们与他们一同为真理作工。”（约叁5-8）
我很欣赏该犹将爱和真理这对组合粘结起来的方式。这方面的证据是，该犹对那些被派往其他地方分享耶稣好消息的教会建立者的好客态度。不信教 的文化让这些教会建立者很难受。但是，该犹在帮助他们，为他们提供房间睡觉，并为他们提供 食物和金钱来生活。
该犹知道，他不是在与其他教会或领袖竞争。他知道，他们都在同一个团队中。 这就是该犹，一个合一的建造者，祂的行为为教会和教会的使命带来了稳定和健康。
Contrast Gaius with our second leader:
Diotrephes – a unity breaker
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. (2 John 9-11)
In contrast to Gaius – a unity builder, Diotrephes is a unity breaker.
与该犹相对应，第二位领袖：
丢特腓–一个团结的破坏者
“我曾略略地写信给教会，但那在教会中好为首的丢特腓不接待我们。所以我若去，必要提说他 所行的事，就是他用恶言妄论我们。还不以此为足，他自己不接待弟兄，有人愿意接待，他也禁 止，并且将接待弟兄的人赶出教会。亲爱的兄弟啊，不要效法恶，只要效法善。”（约叁9-11）
该犹是一位合一的建造者，相对应，丢特腓是一位团结的破坏者。
Strong personalities like Diotrephes often become leaders and teachers because they have strong views. They can garner a following quickly. But, just in case Gaius thinks he should model himself after leaders like Diotrephes, John is clear – don’t imitate him. Don't do what he does. Because his actions destroy something precious to God. Now, it is easy to dismiss this and say ‘I’m not like that. I’m not perfect but I’m more like Gaius and less like Diotrephes.’
None of us likes to think of ourselves as a unity breaker. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Ahh, it’s Monday, 7am – time to break something apart today. I have a long-term aspiration of sowing seeds of distrust and breaking relationships apart and upsetting the heart of God.’
Diotrephes didn't set out to be a unity breaker. Most likely, he didn’t see that that was what he was doing. If you were asking him about it, my guess is that you would hear him say things like, “I’m just protecting the community. None of my ideas is being taken on board. I’m not being listened to. I’m being overlooked. This is the only option.”
像丢特腓这样个性强烈的人常常能成为领袖和教师，因为他们有强烈的观点，可以迅速获得追随 者。但是，为了防止该犹认为他应该以丢特腓这样的领袖为榜样，约翰明确地指出，不要效法丢 特腓，不要做他所做的事。因为他的行为破坏了上帝所珍视的东西。我们很容易自认为‘我不是那样的人，我并不完美，但我更像该犹，而不是丢特腓。’
我们都不喜欢把自己当成一个团结的破坏者。没有人在早上醒来说：'今天是星期一，早上 7 点， 今天是破坏一些东西的时候了。我有一个长期的愿望，就是播下不信任的种子，破坏关系，扰乱 上帝的心。
丢特腓并没有打算成为一个团结的破坏者。最有可能的是，他没有看到他在做什么。如果你问他 这个问题，我猜你会听到他说："我只是在保护社区，我的想法没有被采纳，我没有被倾听，我 被忽视了。这是唯一的选择。"
I’ve never met anyone who intended to be or wanted to be a unity breaker. Instead, they normally see themselves as the guardians of truth and protectors of the community – whether it be a family, a small group, or a larger community. Even when they pulled out the stabilising blocks, they likely never saw it that way. Instead, they tend to see themselves on a righteous crusade because their idea or their preference needs to be THE idea that must be taken on board to save the community.
This can happen to any of us. We often don’t realise we’re doing it. That’s what makes all this so dangerous.
我从来没有见过任何一个人打算成为、或想要成为团结的破坏者。相反，他们通常认为自己是真 理的守护者和社区的保护者，无论是家庭、小团体，还是更大的社区。即使他们拉出的是稳定的那些积木，（建筑也会最终倒塌）他们很可能从未这样看 待问题。相反，他们倾向于看到自己在进行正义的讨伐，他们认为，他们的想法或偏好必须被采 纳，以此来拯救社区。
这可能发生在我们任何人身上。我们往往没有意识到我们正在这样做。这就是使这一切变得如此 危险的原因。
Q: How do we know when we’re slipping towards being a unity breaker, rather than a unity builder?
Here in 3 John, we have a real-life example in the early church about power plays and the resulting unity issues. So, pay close attention to the words and actions that John highlights as a way of us asking ourselves – ‘are my words and my actions building unity or breaking unity? ‘
问：我们如何知道自己何时会成为团结的破坏者，而不是合一的建设者？在约翰三书中，我们有一个早期教会中，关于权力争竞和由此产生的合一问题的真实例子。
因此，密切注意约翰强调的言行，作为我们问自己的一种方式：“我的言行是在建立合一还是破 坏合一？”
Here’s the first trait John highlights: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.” (3 John 9)
Trait 1: ‘Loves to be first’ vs. ‘Love for others first’
Jesus was constantly dealing with this nasty trait of ‘love to be first’ in his own twelve disciples. Even the night of Jesus' betrayal and arrest we read that: A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. (Luke 22:24)
Here is Jesus about to give his own life for people who disagreed with him and hated him – and on that very night, they’re arguing over which is greatest. Jesus said to them, that’s how the world operates. “But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves….I am among you as one who serves. (Luke 22:26, 27)
The way of Jesus is opposite to the behaviour of Diotrephes.
以下是约翰强调的第一个特征：“我曾略略地写信给教会，但那在教会中好为首的丢特腓不接待我们。”（约叁 9） 特征一：‘好为首的’对比‘以爱他人为首’
耶稣不断地在他自己的十二个门徒中处理这种“爱争第一”的不当特征。甚至在耶稣被出卖和逮 捕的那个晚上，我们也读到：“门徒起了争论：他们中间哪一个可算为大。”（路二十二 24）
那时，耶稣即将为那些与祂意见相左、憎恨祂的人献出自己的生命，而就在那天晚上（！），门 徒们正在争论哪个是最大的。耶稣对他们说，这就是世界的运作方式。 “但你们不可这样。你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服侍人的。…… 我在 你们中间如同服侍人的。”（路二十二 26-27）
耶稣的言行与丢特腓截然相反。
Recall some of the things Jesus said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
You win by losing. You find yourself by giving your life away for others. In other words - It doesn’t have to be your idea or your preference that is the way forward!
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)
“Greater love is this – someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
Paul picks up on this in Phil 2 –“…In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil 2:3-4)
Whenever you see disunity, typically there will be a person or leader or a group who wants their way to be THE way. They have to win at all costs. But a unity builder embodies our value of humility: deferring to others.
回顾一下耶稣在马太福音第十六章说过的一些话语：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架，来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生 命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。”（太十六 24-25）
你通过失去而获胜，你通过为他人奉献生命而找到生命的价值。换句话说，不一定非的是你的想 法或偏好才是前进的方向！
“若有人愿意作首先的，他必作众人末后的，作众人的用人。”（可九 35） “施比受更为有福。”（徒二十 35）
“人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。”（约十五 13）
保罗在腓立比书二章这样说：“……只要存心谦卑，各人看别人比自己强。各人不要单顾自己的 事，也要顾别人的事。”（腓二 3-4）
每当你看到不团结时，通常会有一个人或领袖或一个团体，要求他们的方式成为大家的方式，他 们不惜一切代价地想要获胜。但合一的建造者体现了谦卑的价值观：尊重他人。
How would you score yourself on this first trait? ‘Loves to be first’ vs. ‘Love for others first’
Q: Am I more driven by a love to be first or a love for others to be first?
There is a second trait: #2 Authority in oneself vs. Authority from Scripture
John says: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.” (3 John 9)
在这第一个特征上，你会如何给自己打分？ ‘好为首的’对比‘以爱他人为首’
问：我是更多地被‘好为首’还是“爱他人为首”所驱动？
还有第二个特质。 “自己的权威”对比“来自圣经的权威”
约翰说：“我曾略略地写信给教会，但那在教会中好为首的丢特腓不接待我们。”（约叁 9）
The apostle John sent a letter to the church that Diotrephes was leading but Diotrephes in his pride and arrogance had refused to welcome John. He didn’t acknowledge John's authority. It sounds like he refused to read John's letter to the church. Maybe he even tore it up and binned it. My guess is that he feared if his church heard another type of ministry his own would be over-shadowed. The result was a rejection of the teaching given by the apostle John.
Now, this is at a time when the church did not have the NT we have today. The early church was built on apostolic teaching that included the letters the apostles would send to the churches. So, when Diotrephes is dismissing John, he is dismissing God-given authority.
I can almost hear Diotrephes saying: "I run this church! I'm not going to be dictated to by John or anyone else!"
使徒约翰给丢特腓带领的教会写了一封信，但丢特腓在他的骄傲和傲慢中拒绝欢迎约翰，他不承 认约翰的权威。看起来，他拒绝阅读约翰写给教会的信。也许他甚至把它撕掉，扔掉。我的猜测 是，他担心如果他的教会听到另一种类型的事工，他自己的就会被掩盖了。结果是拒绝了使徒约 翰的教导。
当时的教会没有我们今天的新约圣经。早期教会是建立在使徒的教导上，包括使徒寄给各教会的 书信。因此，当丢特腓否定约翰时，他是在否定上帝赋予的权威。
我几乎可以听到丢特腓说。"我管理这个教会! 我不会让约翰或其他任何人指手画脚的！"
Today, we have Scripture. But, it’s still really easy to still make ourselves the authority that must be listened to and obeyed. So, that what I say, or what you say becomes the most important thing that someone needs to hear. But as followers of Jesus, we have received a revelation that comes by the Spirit through His Word. When we look to someone or something outside of this as the ultimate or primary source of authority, it’s very likely we will bring harm to ourselves and to the unity of the church.
That’s why our preaching at Gracecity is not based on the personality or the charisma of a speaker. Rather, it’s based on the Bible. We unpack it and explain it because we believe the authority is not in the speaker but in the revealed Word. It’s common these days to look inwardly to ourselves or be swayed by popular opinion. But Christianity believes God has spoken. We receive this external revelation through His Word and through His Spirit.
A unity builder values the Word of God as the prime authority in all matters of life and faith. A unity breaker will allow other ideas–and other voices–to get in the way of the shared beliefs and commitments that unite followers of Jesus.
今天，我们有圣经。但是，我们仍然很容易让自己成为必须听从和服从的权威者。因此，我说什 么，或你说什么，就成了别人需要听的最重要的东西。但作为耶稣的追随者，我们有来自上帝的 启示，是由圣灵通过祂的话语而来的。当我们把上帝启示之外的人或事作为权威的最终或主要来 源时，很可能会给我们自己和教会的团结带来伤害。
这就是为什么我们恩典之城教会的讲道，不是基于演讲者的个性或魅力。相反，讲道是基于圣经。 我们解开、解释上帝的话语，因为我们相信权威不在演讲者身上，而在启示的话语中。
如今，高看自己，或被流行的意见所左右是很常见的。但基督教相信上帝已经说话了。我们通过 上帝的话语和圣灵接受这种启示。合一的建造者重视上帝的话语，将其作为所有生活和信仰事务中的首要权威。 破坏团结者会允许其他想法，和其他声音，妨碍将耶稣的追随者团结在一起的共同信仰和承诺。
How would you score yourself on this second trait? #2 Authority in oneself vs. Authority from Scripture
To what extent do I base my opinion on my own authority and to what extent do I look to authority from Scripture?
John highlights the third trait: #3 Loose with the tongue vs. a tongue that builds up
John writes, So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. (3 John 10)
Look closely at the wording here: So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. (3 John 10) I doubt Diotrephes saw what he was spreading as nonsense. Maybe he thought it was true. Or maybe he just didn’t like the way John and the church planters were doing things. But John says, ‘what’s he saying isn’t true. It’s nonsense.’
Ad notice that word ‘malicious’: So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. (3 John 10) What he was saying was designed to be hurtful, to slander John and other Christian leaders.
在这第二个特征上，你会如何给自己打分？ “自己的权威”对比“来自圣经的权威”
我在多大程度上将自己的观点建立在自己的权威上，在多大程度上从圣经中寻找权威？
约翰总结第三个特征： “信口开河”对比“说建设性话语”
约翰说道：“所以我若去，必要提到他所行的事，就是他用恶言妄论我们。”（约叁 10） 英文的恶言由两个单词 nonsense + malicious 描述。
我怀疑丢特腓认为他所传播的是无稽之谈。也许他认为那是真的，或者他只是不喜欢约翰和教会 建造者们的行事方式。但约翰说，'他所说的不是真的，是胡言乱语（nonsense）'。丢特腓所说的是为了中伤人，是为了诽谤约翰和其他基督徒领袖。
In the book of Proverbs – over in the OT – we read that there are a bunch of sins that God really hates. He hates all sin but there are a few that make the top of the list. Proverbs gives us a couple of lists of these. In both lists, slander is right at the top of the list.
Here’s how it tends to happen: We see a decision that we don't like. We make a motive accusation about why they’re doing it. That’s an incredibly arrogant thing to do because none of us can read someone’s heart. Then, we say things like: “They don’t care about us. He wants to build an empire. She wants to get her name in lights…” That’s slander.
Over the years in ministry, I’ve heard some backstories about me. Sometimes I have got labelled with making a decision that I didn’t even make and knew nothing about. Along with the story came a bunch of supposed motives and agendas. If it wasn’t personal, it would actually be humorous because of how ridiculous stories can be framed. And that’s how slander works. If you’ve been on the receiving end of it, you will know how painful that can be – and the way it destabilises unity.
在旧约箴言中，我们读到一些上帝所厌恶的罪。上帝憎恨所有的罪，但有几项是最憎恨的。箴言 给我们列出了几个清单，在这些清单中，诽谤都是排在首位的。
它往往是这样发生的。我们看到一个我们不喜欢的决定。我们对他们为什么要这样做，进行动机 上的指责。这是一件非常傲慢的事情，因为我们没有人能够读懂别人的心。然后，我们会说这样 的话。"他们不关心我们，他们想建立一个帝国。他们想让自己的名字出现在聚光灯下……" 这 就是诽谤。
在多年的服事中，我听到了一些关于我的闲言碎语。有时我被贴上标签，说我做了一个我根本没 有做的决定，我对那个决定一无所知。伴随着这些闲言碎语的是一堆所谓的动机和自己的计谋。 如果这不是针对个人的，那实际上是很幽默的，因为闲言碎语可以被诬陷得很荒谬。这就是诽谤 的作用。如果你被人诽谤过，你会知道这有多痛苦，这就是破坏团结的方式。
So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. (3 John 10)
Notice too that Diotrephes wasn’t speaking TO John and others- but “about” them. Isn’t this the way it tends to be? That’s why Jesus says ‘go and speak to the person who has apparently said X or done Y.’ At least check the accuracy and give them the respectful right of reply.
But, instead, we tend to do what Diotrephes did. He spread it around.
So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. (3 John 10)
It’s easy to talk about people to others. Once those words are gone, they spread like wildfire in the damage they can do. From elsewhere in Scripture, we know traits like gentleness, listening, humility– this is the posture we embody as we share truth with each other.
The words we use and the way we use them can build unity or break down unity. The choice is always ours.
“所以我若去，必要提到他所行的事，就是他用恶言妄论我们。”（约叁 10）
注意到丢特腓不是对约翰和其他人说话（To），而是跟别人说“关于”（about）他们的话。这 不正是它所倾向的方式吗？这就是为什么耶稣说‘去和说过 XX 的话或做过 YY 事情的人对话’。 至少要检查其准确性，并给他们答复的权利，这是应给的礼貌。
但是，我们反而倾向于做丢特腓所做的事，他到处传播（spread）。
对人谈论他人很容易，一旦这些话传开了，它们所能造成的伤害就会像野火一样蔓延。从圣经的 其他地方，我们看到像温柔、倾听、谦卑这样的特质，这是我们在与对方分享真理时应体现的姿 态。
我们使用的话语和使用的方式可以建立合一，也可以破坏团结。选择权永远属于我们。
How would you score yourself on this third trait? #3 Loose with the tongue vs. a tongue that builds up
Would people describe the content/delivery of my speech as words that build up or words that tear down?
John highlights one final trait: #4 Unwelcoming vs. hospitable
“He even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3 John 10)
This sounds like control issues, doesn't it?!
在这第三个特征上，你会如何给自己打分？ “信口开河”对比“说建设性话语”
人们会把我的话语内容、方式，描述为建设性话语，还是拆毁的话语？
约翰总结最后一个特征（第四个）：“不欢迎”对比“好客”
“还不以此为足，他自己不接待弟兄，有人愿意接待，他也禁止，并且将接待弟兄的人赶出教 会。”（约叁 10）
Maybe Diotrephes feared that if his church heard another type of ministry his own would be overshadowed. Maybe he even quoted what John said in the letter from last week about refusing to welcome so-called Christian leaders who did not teach what is core to our faith! And so, he shut the door to these church planters that the apostles had sent.
That was terrible. For the gospel to spread, church planters would travel from place to place, and they needed a place to sleep. There weren’t motels like we know them. There are no AirBandBs to rent. So, these church planters would carry letters of recommendation from their churches to vouch for their character and belief, and people they didn't know would take them in on that basis.
But Diotrephes shut the door to any help. Not only that, if anyone in his church tried to help them – they instantly became his enemies and he kicked them out of the church! My guess is that he saw these church planters as competitors. Maybe he was sacred people might leave. This unwelcoming behaviour causes churches to sway. It breaks families and friendships apart.
也许丢特腓担心，如果他的教会听到另一种类型的事工，他自己的事工就会被掩盖。也许他甚至引用了约翰在约翰二书中所说的，拒绝欢迎那些不教导我们信仰核心内容的所谓基督教领袖！所 以他对使徒们派来的这些教会建造者关上了门。
这很糟糕，为了传播福音，教会建造者会从一个地方去到另一个地方，他们需要一个睡觉的地方。 当时没有我们所知的汽车旅馆，也没有寄宿家庭可以租用。所以，这些教会建造者会带着他们教 会的推荐信，为他们的品格和信仰作担保，而他们不认识的人也会据此接纳他们。
但丢特腓却关上了任何帮助的大门。不仅如此，如果他的教会中有人试图帮助他们，他们立刻就 成了丢特腓的敌人，丢特腓会把他们赶出了教会! 我的猜测是，丢特腓把这些教会建造者视为竞争对手。也许他对会友可能离开感到担忧。这种不 受欢迎的行为导致了教会的动摇，它使得家庭和友谊破裂。
In contrast, we read that Gaius [guy-us]had opened his home to some of these men and women. So, John urges Gaius to continue to lay out the welcome mat to others because that welcome mat has been laid out to us. I love the way he sums it up:
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. (3 John 8)
“Together” is such a good word! Not everyone is called to be a church planter or lead a church movement. But, we all can work together for the truth. Rather than seeing someone else as a competitor, or another church as the enemy, we bless and we serve. We help each other follow Jesus.
It’s easy to hang out with people who have the same political views, ethnic mix, the same background. It’s easy to spend what we have on ourselves.
But, every time you welcome others and serve others – you show that it’s not about you. It’s not about your title, your resources, your preferences, your time – because you are gifting and sacrificing for the sake of others – often people you don’t even know. All this is for Jesus. Jesus loves it – because it builds unity and showcases his love to others.
相比之下，我们读到该犹已经向这些人中的一些人开放了他的家。因此，约翰敦促该犹继续为他 人铺设欢迎垫，因为那张欢迎垫已经为我们铺好了。我喜欢约翰总结的方式：
“所以我们应该接待这样的人，叫我们与他们一同为真理作工。”（约叁 8）
“一同”（together）是一个很好的词汇! 不是每个人都被呼召成为教会建造者或领导教会。但 是，我们都可以为真理而一同服事。我们不是把别人视为竞争对手，或把另一个教会视为敌人， 而是祝福和服事。我们应当彼此帮助来跟随耶稣。
与具有相同政治观点、种族、相似背景的人相处很容易。把我们拥有的东西花在自己身上是很容易的。 但是，每当你欢迎他人、并服事他人时，你就表明这不再关乎你的头衔、你的资源、你的喜好、 你的时间，因为你是为了他人的缘故而给予和牺牲，而对方往往是你不认识的人。所有这些都是 为了耶稣。耶稣喜欢这样的服事，因为它建立了合一，向他人展示了祂的爱。
How would you score yourself on this final trait? #4 Unwelcoming vs. hospitable
To what extent would people describe me as welcoming of difference and to what extent would they say I’m closed off to people different to me?
在这第四个特征上，你会如何给自己打分？ “不欢迎”对比“好客”
人们在多大程度上会说我欢迎差异，在多大程度上会说对与我不同的人封闭自己？
Conclusion / 结语
There is a lot of division in wider society right now. Things around us are swaying – and unity is taking a hammering. There is a lot of destabilising going on! But, a divided world needs a united church. A divided world needs to see a place where everyone is loved, accepted and welcome – regardless of their differences.
Every time you make a call to check on someone – you are stabilising another crack in the wall. Every time you do an act of kindness for another – you are rebuilding what is broken. Every time you speak a kind word of encouragement, every time you serve another, every time you give to support the church - you are stopping the sway and stabilising the church.
So, my brothers and sisters of Gracecity - May we grasp the way …Grace rejects divisiveness and strengthens unity. May we realise that Grace is the stabilising blocks that build unity. May we be a united church in a divided world.
现在，在广泛的社会中存在着很多分歧。我们周围的事物都在摇摆不定，团结受到了冲击。有很 多不稳定的事情发生！但是，一个分裂的世界需要一个合一的教会。一个分裂的世界需要看到一个人人被爱、被接受和 被欢迎的地方，无论他们的差异如何。
每当你打电话查看某人状况时，你就在稳定墙上的一个裂缝。每当你为他人做一件善事时，你就在重建破碎的东西。每当你说一句鼓励人的好话，每当你服侍他人，每当你捐献支持教会时，你就在阻止动摇，稳定 教会。
所以，恩典之城教会的兄弟姐妹们，愿我们掌握这种方式，恩典拒绝分裂、加强团结。愿我们认 识到，恩典是建立团结的稳定模块。愿我们在一个分裂的世界中成为一个合一的教会。
Prayer / 祷告
Jesus – help us see where we might be breaking unity rather than building unity. Help us see it in our families, our communities, our groups, our places of work, our church, and churches throughout our city. Then – by your Spirit – help us put things right. Help us pursue practices and behaviours that build unity. So that the world will see something of your glorious grace.
Thank you Jesus – Amen.
主耶稣。帮助我们看到我们可能在哪里破坏团结而不是建立合一。帮助我们在我们的家庭、社区、 团体、工作场所、教会和整个城市的教会中看到合一。 藉着你的灵，帮助我们把事情纠正过来，帮助我们追求建立合一的做法和行为。 这样世界将看到你荣耀的恩典。
谢谢你，耶稣。 阿门。
