HOWDY YA'LL,
I hope everything is going very very well for you all. Please keep us updated on how you are doing!!!
3 John
So I (Justin) got the awesome privilege to teach the book of 3rd John for both classes we work with, the AM session who Annie works with and the PM session which I work with.
3rd John is the second smallest book in the Bible (next to 2nd John) and yet it is one of the most overlooked and crucial. The book's message of hospitality, is one that should to applied by every single person who desires to be a follower of Christ.
Both 2nd and 3rd John deal with the issue of hospitality within the church. 2nd John is known as the "Closed Door" book because the author is calling the original readers to not show hospitality to false teachers, who intended to do damage to their homes, and the church. 3rd John is the perfect contrast being known as the "Open Door" book because the author is writing to encourage a man named Gaius who is showing hospitality to those who are traveling and ministering the gospel.
Traveling teachers and philosophers were very common during this time (80's 90's AD). In fact they depended on the hospitality of others for their ministry to keep going. If they didn't have anyone to show them hospitality then they could no longer do what they were called to do.
The word Hospitality is made up of two Greek words "Philo" and "Xenos" and it means "The Love of Strangers". This love of strangers is so crucial to be walked out by believers because we are called to love all and the most important reason is because it is at the core of God's Character. In God himself we see the ULTIMATE act of Hospitality. It is God who calls every single person in the world to come to him and to live with him forever. Now that is Hospitality!
Now the amazing thing about hospitality is that it is so easy to walk out. It is probably the easiest thing we could work on to be more like God, and it is a huge part of who God is. This is a call that God has given us all.
I learned so much teaching this book. It is so easy for me to be selfish with what I have and not want to bless others with it, but God challenged me to give what I have and bless others with it even though it isn't much at all! I am so thankful for this lesson, and that I got to learn it through teaching this book.
As an application for the students, I challenged them to find ways of practicing hospitality in their own lives. Every day there are opportunities all around them to practice hospitality, and I encouraged them not to let those opportunities pass them by. It is a way for them to reflect God's character to others.
At the end of the lecture, the other SBS staff and I surprised the class with a special brunch, that we were prepared to serve to them. It was an awesome time of fellowship, and a great chance for us as staff to show hospitality to the students.
That is my lecture in a nutshell and if any of you want to talk 3 John please write me or call me...518-225-5602 or justin.frase@ywammontana.org
Prayer Requests
Marriage: That we will grow closer to God and each other during this exciting time getting ready for the baby to come.
Finances: This is HUGE need right now with the baby on the way! We really need to build our support base because we can't live on with what we have coming in right now. Please pray for an increase in our support. Please also pray about whether God would have you join our support team; Anything Counts...whether it is 5, 10, 25 dollars a month. We need to raise at least 1000 more dollars a month.
Health: Momma has been sick. Both "Baby sick" and she got a pretty nasty cold.
Pray for health for the little baby too. We are now 12 weeks along in the pregnancy.
Housing: Our little room isn't going to be suitable for our new little baby so please pray that a house opens up for us here on the YWAM base.
Lectures: Annie is no longer teaching Leviticus because she has been so sick. Justin teaches Proverbs in 4 weeks.
Thanks for readin' up on the Frase Files!
We Love you!
Justin & Annie
