Changing to small groups...

In our travels through 1 John on Wednesday nights, God has lead us to a glorious (and obvious) truth that we are to love “one another” ...

– For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

– And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

– Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

– Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.

– But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.

This has helped to form the second part of our Mission Statement that reads as follows:

Our Mission Our mission is not innovative. It is first and foremost to be a “Great Commission” church () in Roselawn/Demotte and the surrounding areas. There are three major aspects to our mission: 1. How we relate to God 2. How we relate to one another in the church, and 3. How we relate to the neighborhoods in which we live. In a summary way, we state our mission like this: First Baptist Church of Roselawn is a people who bring God glory through Praising Him, Pursuing God-centered relationships, and by Proclaiming gospel hope to our neighbors.

The second part “How we relate to one another in the church.” is what we’re talking about in this letter. That part of the Mission is stated as follows:

We display God’s glory by being a church that is in committed community together. Community life is important to us. We live out authentic relationships in which we celebrate and apply the gospel together. … This is how we carry out the more than thirty “one anothers” of Scripture that cannot be done on a Sunday worship service.

Our vision states: A Church that…Loves One Another (, , , , -16Colossians 3:5-17)“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (). The church is not a building but a body of people, gathered together by Jesus to care for one another and to partner together in worshiping God and sharing the gospel with the world.

Our community life is not an optional extra but a fundamental part of our mission together. We are called, first to God, and then, to one another. To be a member of our church is to commit to integrating one’s life with the other members, encouraging one another by the Word, serving one another practically, giving generously to one another, showing hospitality to one another, confessing our sin to one another, exhorting one another toward godliness, guarding the integrity of the church’s witness, and most importantly, celebrating the grace of God at work in our lives.

A primary vehicle for this loving community involvement will be our small group structure, designed to focus our efforts of care and fellowship on a particular group of people in the church.

Some Other New Testament Commands for Mutual Ministry (non- “one another” texts)

– Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

– as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,

– Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

– I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

– Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

– esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

– Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.

– Let mutual love continue.

– Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

– Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

– Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

– Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

– Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

Some Demonstrations of Mutual Ministry in the New Testament

– They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

– Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Commands Regarding Spiritual Gifts Necessitate Mutual Ministry

– For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

– So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

– It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

– Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Theological Applications of living out the “one anothers”.

– so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

– So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

– but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

– No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Our Goal: We are seeking to provide a context where we can Pursue God-centered relationships and demonstrate this mutual ministry that all of us have been called and have been given Spiritual gifts to live out to one another.

Our Hope: To seek to form three groups from our current morning bible study group (approx. 42 regular attendees) as soon as possible. At first we are hoping to ‘appoint’ people (to the best of our ability) based upon availability, where they live etc.