Daily Bible Plan - 3 John 1
- Reverend Joseph Antwi
- Apr 14
- 4 min read
14. April 2026
Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi
Theme: Sharing the Love of Christ to the Undying World — Church Without Walls
1. Introduction: Love That Moves Beyond Walls
The letter of 3 John is deeply personal, yet powerfully communal. It shows us that the early church was never meant to be confined to buildings, status, or positions—but to be a living movement of love.
The apostle John the Apostle writes to Gaius, celebrating a faith that is active, visible, and mobile—love that travels, supports, and strengthens others in the mission of Christ.
This is the heartbeat of a Church Without Walls:
A church that does not only gather, but goes.
A love that is not stored, but shared.
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2. Walking in Truth — Love That Has Direction (Verses 1–4)
John rejoices that Gaius is “walking in the truth.”
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (v.4)
Truth here is not just doctrine—it is life alignment with Christ.
A Church Without Walls is built on this foundation:
• Truth that guides behavior
• Love that reflects Christ
• Faith that is visible in daily life
📖 John 13:35 — “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Key Thought:
Truth without love becomes harsh. Love without truth becomes unstable. But together, they build a living church.
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3. Love Expressed Through Action — Hospitality as Mission (Verses 5–8)
Gaius is commended for supporting traveling believers—mission workers spreading the gospel.
“You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.” (v.6)
This reveals something powerful:
The gospel advances through relationships, support, and generosity.
A Church Without Walls:
• Welcomes strangers
• Supports missionaries
• Partners in global mission
• Sees hospitality as ministry
📖 Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers…”
Key Insight:
Every act of love becomes a bridge for the gospel.
When you support God’s work, you become a fellow worker for the truth (v.8).
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4. When Walls Are Built Inside the Church (Verses 9–10)
John exposes Diotrephes, who loves power, rejects leadership, and refuses fellowship.
This is the danger of building invisible walls inside the church:
• Pride replaces humility
• Control replaces service
• Division replaces unity
• Ego replaces love
A church may have no physical walls, yet still be divided internally.
📖 Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction.”
We see Diotrephes here, and sadly we recognize that there are many Diotrephes even today in churches who distort church order. They can be internal within leadership, or individuals who stir up internal conflict. They can be very dominating, very loud in expression, very opinionated, and often show little or no respect for spiritual authority, choosing instead to do what they want.
The Apostle John himself faced such people, and therefore we are not to be surprised when similar spirits or attitudes creep into the church today. But it is our prayer that in LCC (Love City Church) and FCC (Fortified City Church), LCF, Bern Piwc, Global prayer Hub, such influences will not find space to operate or grow.
We pray against any Diotrephes spirit—anything or anyone that seeks to dominate, divide, or disrupt the unity of the body of Christ. May every attempt to bring division or to resist godly order be hindered and removed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Warning for today:
Whenever leadership stops serving and starts dominating, the church begins to lose its “without walls” identity.
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5. Follow What Is Good — A Culture of Imitation (Verses 11–12)
John instructs:
“Do not imitate what is evil but what is good.”
Then he highlights Demetrius, who has a good testimony.
A Church Without Walls is shaped by:
• Godly examples
• Visible integrity
• Consistent character
📖 1 Corinthians 11:1 — “Follow my example, as I follow Christ.”
Key Thought:
We don’t just teach love—we model it.
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6. Face-to-Face Love — Real Fellowship (Verses 13–15)
John ends with a desire for personal connection:
“I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”
Even in written ministry, he values presence.
A Church Without Walls is:
• Digital, but not distant
• Global, but still personal
• Connected, but still relational
Love cannot be fully expressed through distance alone—it must be experienced in relationship.
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7. The Message for Today: Sharing the Love of Christ
This letter calls us to a living reality:
A Church Without Walls is:
• A church that walks in truth
• A church that serves in love
• A church that supports mission
• A church that rejects pride
• A church that builds real relationships
This is how we share the love of Christ:
Not only in sermons, but in service.
Not only in gatherings, but in going.
Not only in words, but in works.
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8. Reflection Questions
1. Am I walking in truth in my daily life?
2. How am I actively sharing the love of Christ beyond church walls?
3. Do I build unity or create division in relationships?
4. What kind of testimony do I carry like Gaius or Demetrius?
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9. Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Teach me to live as part of Your Church Without Walls. Let my life reflect truth and love in action. Remove pride and selfish ambition from me. Make me a vessel of hospitality, unity, and service. Help me to share Your love beyond places and platforms, into lives and hearts.
May I walk in truth, serve in love, and carry the gospel wherever I go.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Shalom
Rev Joseph Antwi
Wow, was für eine kraftvolle Andacht zu 3. Johannes 1 🤩 Ich spüre Gottes Liebe überall 🥰
⦁ Wir sind nicht nur dazu berufen, die Wahrheit zu kennen, sondern sie zu leben. Wahrheit ohne Liebe kann kalt werden, und Liebe ohne Wahrheit kann die Richtung verlieren. Wir brauchen beides, denn Beides gehört zusammen❤️
⦁ Andere zu unterstützen, willkommen heissen und denen zu helfen, die das Evangelium verbreiten, ist nicht optional – es ist der Auftrag. Liebe bewegt, gibt und ist präsent. (3. Johannes 1,5)
⦁ Stolz, Kontrolle und Ego können leise spalten und zerstört Gemeinschaft. (3. Johannes 1,9)
⦁ Wir zeigen durch unser Handeln, was gut ist. Wir lehren nicht nur, was gut ist – wir leben es vor. Unser Leben wird zum Beispiel,…
Wow, there isn’t a single day when Pastor doesn’t speak to us.
Today, I gained an even deeper understanding of what it means to be a church without walls.
A church without walls does not only mean taking the Gospel outside, but also ensuring that the people we reach outside come into a church that has no spiritual walls.
And how do we preserve a church without walls? By being loving, humble, welcoming, and hospitable. For the church is a house of prayer for all nations.
At the same time, it becomes clear how quickly walls can be built when pride, control, division, and ego take the lead. This shows us how important every member, servant, and the leadership are…
What I was able to learn today is that church without walls means that our faith becomes visible in everyday life.
Gaius is the best example of this: people testified about his good deeds.
It’s not only about knowing the truth or believing in it, but about putting it into action.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
So let us not be like Diotrephes; in the church, but not church in action.
Pride, arrogance, hate; all of these build walls, but we must break them down together.
Thank you Pastor Joseph for this daily blessing and enrichment!!
Thank you Comms Team
God bless you
Church without Walls - such a powerful Theme again! Our love has to be not only stored, but shared to others. Also what really spoke to me was, that to the outside our Church may be without walls but even then, there could be walls internally inside the minsitry. So Leadership and Love inside the Church and people was also described and explained beautifully in this Devotion, through the Book of 3 John
Thank you Pastor once again, I'm enjoying these Devotions a lot🙏