The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout
Bible:
Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 1

Prints on letter paper in black and white. No answers are printed on the student sheet.

3 John 1 · Grade 4

Imitate the Good

Name Date

Read and Think

The elder writes a personal letter to Gaius the beloved. He prays that Gaius will prosper in all things and be healthy, even as his soul prospers. Brothers had told the elder that Gaius walks in truth. The elder says he has no greater joy than to hear that his children walk in truth.

Gaius had shown faithful love to traveling brothers, even those who were strangers. They had gone out for the sake of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. The elder says believers ought to support such people, so that they become fellow workers for the truth.

In contrast, Diotrephes loves to be first. He refuses to accept the elder, speaks against him with wicked words, refuses to welcome the brothers, and puts out of the church those who want to welcome them. So the elder says, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He commends Demetrius and hopes to speak with Gaius face to face.

Show What You Know

  1. How does the elder describe Gaius’s soul?

  2. Why had the traveling brothers gone out?

  3. What wrong things did Diotrephes do?

  4. Who does the elder commend at the end?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

lovejoytruth
  1. Brothers had told the elder that Gaius walks in .
  2. The elder says he has no greater than to hear that his children walk in truth.
  3. Gaius had shown faithful to traveling brothers, even those who were strangers.

Think About It

  1. How could your family support people who serve God far from home?

  2. Why is loving to be first a danger in a church?

Memory Verse

“Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.”

3 John 1:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What brings the elder great joy?
  • Why should churches help missionaries?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.