Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.  He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
                                                                                                            III John 11

Third John is an illustration of Gaius whom John loved.  When I was studying for this sermon, I thought of our good friend John Hood.  This past week we buried John. 

Gaius was a good church role model.  John Hood was a good church role model.  Today I want to preach on good role models and bad role models in the church.

What makes a good role model?

• III John 4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.  Deeds will always speak louder than words.  Word will always get around about who you area and how you live.  It is a known fact that bad news will fly around quickly, while good news travels at a snail's pace.  In other words, good role models or bad role models are known for the life they live.

• III John 5:  Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers.  Gaius had a good witness because he practiced what he preached!  He helped the person who was in need.  He brought the traveling missionaries into his home, fed and clothed them.  Brother Hood brought everyone into his home.  "Come on in, Buddy," he said.  "Can I offer you a soft drink?"  Everyone was always welcome in John Hood's home.

• III John 6:  Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.  A good role model will inspire others.  John Hood inspired everyone with his testimony for Christ.  He lived his faith everyday.  After he could no longer come to church, he would lay there every Sunday morning planning the entire service as he remembered it.  "They are starting Sunday School about now, Eva," he would say.  Around eleven o'clock, "Well, they are getting ready to go into worship service now," he would say.  John loved his church and loved everyone here.  On Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, during revivals, and all other services, John was always there.  That is one of the reasons he was a good role model.  He was faithful to God and to his church.

What makes a bad role model?

• III John 9: I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have preeminence among them, received us not.  A bad role model must have the last word.  It is their way, or no way.

• III John 10: Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.  The word will get out if you are acting up outside the church.  Things you do and say will become common knowledge to others.  Behavior of the church will get out, too.  The church should be a place of safety.  A place where you get a great big old hug when you are hurting.  I want to go to church where everyone is welcomed with open arms of love.  We have our flaws, but we are still a church that loves and welcomes everyone.  It's not about us anyway; it's about God. 

Bad role models will use their tongue to mar the character of another. (Man!  Could I chase a squirrel up a tree with that statement!)  Some people will take the words of others and turn them around to make things seem different than they really were intended to be.  They see things differently than they really are. 

To feel you are better than some else is a bad role model. God loves us all the same -- the poor, the rich, the good and even the bad.  We are all God's children; He cares for us equally.

• III John 12: Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself, yea, and we also bear record, and know that our record is true.  Demetrius was probably an early man of the church.

What role model are you following?  John Hood was a great role model from his very first time in this church until the Lord called him home.  We have good role models in the church today, people of great respect. 

What kind of role model are you?  Repeat these words:  "What king of church would this church be, if everyone here was just like me?"

Brother JR Fields........January 7, 2007

Sermon edited by Mary King