Yesterday we met Gaius—the friend who opened his door and made room for the gospel. Today, the story takes a turn. Because every faith family has a Gaius, but if we're honest, every faith family also has a Diotrephes. In today's weekday podcast, Pastor Chuck walks us through the second half of Third John, where we meet a man who loved being first more than he loved being faithful. Diotrephes didn't just refuse to welcome traveling teachers—he kicked out anyone who did. He used his influence to make the church smaller, not wider. But John doesn't leave us with just a warning; he gives us another name: Demetrius, a man whose life was so consistent that even "the truth itself" spoke well of him. So here's the question for today: Which name is taking shape in you? Are you opening doors or guarding thrones? Are you making room or making enemies? This short letter ends with a longing for face-to-face conversation—because some things can't stay on paper. Truth wants to become presence, and peace needs to be spoken over actual people, by name.
