Strengthen the Chain

Announcements

Loose Change Offerings: Over the next several weeks, we will be taking loose change offerings to be a Christmas blessing to Mrs. Kelsey (Tanzania) and the Catalan Family (Philippines) as they are sent out of our own church.

Thanksgiving Praise Service: We will have our mid-week service this coming Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. We will have church planters, the Bradley family, with us. They are on deputation to New York City. We will also observe the Lord’s Supper.

Please keep one another in prayer as many have been/will be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Scripture Reading

2 Timothy 1:1-4 and 2 Timothy 1:15.

Title of Message: Strengthen the Chain

Message

I trust to keep the message brief this morning. (I know that I shouldn’t make such a statement but…)

As I begin the message this morning, I need to make a disclaimer and place an advisory label on the message:

This message is not intended for any specific individual, specific group of people, or specific family. Any names and situations are purely for illustrations sake. Names have been changed in order to protect the innocent.

Good. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I can begin the message. And, I want to begin the message with this statement:

I am thankful for my church family!

Paul, in 2 Timothy 1:3 was thankful for Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:3 KJV 1900

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Paul was thankful for the church family in Rome:

Romans 1:8 KJV 1900

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul was thankful for the church family in Corinth (in spite of its problems):

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV 1900

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Paul was thankful for the church family in Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:15–16 KJV 1900

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Nationally, Thanksgiving is observed this coming Thursday.

Are you thankful for your church family? How thankful are you for your church family?

If you are thankful for your church family - for this church family - what are going to do about it?

Illustration: Red Rover - Choose 8 individuals and create 2 teams to play Red Rover. The object of the game? Find the weakest link!

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link!

This is why I read the second set of verses from 2 Timothy chapter 1:

2 Timothy 1:15 KJV 1900

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Why did Paul specifically call out Phygellus and Hermogenes?

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

2 Timothy Exposition

Probably these were leaders who ought to have acted differently and to have stuck by the apostle. But when he was in prison, and likely to be put to death by Nero, many who had been his former companions forsook him and were ashamed to own him—for which we also are ashamed of them.

Even before I came across that from Spurgeon, the thought came to me that it was likely that Paul specifically called out these two individuals because he was shocked by their behaviour; Paul probably thought, “These two would have been the last two that I would have ever thought would have, when things gots difficult, turned their back on me!”

When Paul needed them the most, they were nowhere to be found!

We could say, then, that these two individuals were the weakest links in the chain.

A church is only as strong as its weakest link. Each individual and the relationships that they have with one another are the links that make up a church family.

If you are thankful for your church, what are you doing to strengthen the individuals within the church? What are you doing to strengthen your relationship with others within the church and the relationships that others have within the church?

Allow me to give you the Biblical truths - you’ll need to fill in the application - of how you can strengthen the chain that is known as South Charlotte Baptist Church!

As I give you these Biblical truths, ask God to point out an individual and a truth that you can act upon this coming week!

Love One Another

John 13:34 KJV 1900

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

This command, to love one another, occurs at least 16 times in the New Testament!

Prefer One Another

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Be of One Mind

Romans 12:16 KJV 1900

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Build Each Other Up & Encourage One Another

Romans 14:19 KJV 1900

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV 1900

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Care for One Another

1 Corinthians 12:25 KJV 1900

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Serve One Another

Galatians 5:13 KJV 1900

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Galatians 6:2 KJV 1900

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Be Kind to One Another

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Forgive One Another

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Be Patient with One Another

Colossians 3:13 KJV 1900

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Teach and Admonish One Another

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Comfort One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:18 KJV 1900

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 KJV 1900

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Exhort One Another

Hebrews 3:13 KJV 1900

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 1900

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Exhort:

An American Dictionary of the English Language EXHORT

To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.

Be Hospitable to One Another

1 Peter 4:8–9 KJV 1900

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Be Humble Toward One Another

1 Peter 5:5–6 KJV 1900

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Confess Your Faults to One Another

James 5:16 KJV 1900

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Pray for One Another

James 5:16 KJV 1900

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Church Family, This week, what will you do? To whom will you do it?

Strengthen the Chain