Lesson 4: 3 John 9-10

3 John 9-10
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 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.

Related Scriptures
Matthew 5:11-12
Matthew 7:15-20
Mark 10:42-45
Romans 14:11-13
Galatians 5:26
Philippians 2:3
1 Timothy 3:1-7
2 Timothy 2:24-26
James 3:1 (The word masters means teachers in this verse.)

Questions

1. What did Diotrephes love to have?
2. Which osort of person should a church choose when selecting a church leader? b) Should a church allow someone who allows his own characterf the related Scriptures was he violating by this attitude?
3. a) What  to remain in serious violation of Biblical teaching to remain as a leader?
4. Today, we don’t have apostles like John to establish and remove leaders. When a church needs to make decisions about a leader now, what are the responsibilities of a) the rest of a church’s leadership? b) the individual member who votes?
5. If you desire a leadership role, will discrediting or putting down others qualify you for that role?
6. a) Does becoming a church leader make one exempt from the teachings of the Bible? b) Which of the related Scriptures would suggest that those who try to teach others will be held more accountable to the law of God than those who don’t?
7. Church leaders are not the only ones tempted by the love of preeminence. What sort of harm is done by this desire in anyone’s life?