1-Others-2
INTRODUCTION: Many people and churches (Me Included) totally miss the issue of caring. Either we overlook this area all together or we
stop at fellowshiping together and never get to genuinely caring for one another. Often caring is accidental not intentionally planned for.
PROPOSITION: If we do not intentionally plan to care for one another, caring may never happen.
TRANSITION: This morning, I want us to look at 8 gifts we can give one another in order to help us to care for one another.
OUTLINE:
Gift #1 is commitment.
Rom. 12:4-5 Just as each of us has one body and many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we
who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all
the others.
1 Cor. 12:25 So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Pet. 4:9-10 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
We belong to one another.
We should value and care for each person the same.
Use our gifts to care for the body.
(like preparing and eating a meal)
Gift #2 is Love.
Rom. 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves.
1 Pet. 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another
deeply, from the heart.
1 Jn. 4:7 Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 Jn. 4:11-12 Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in and his love is made complete in us.
Issues of commitment. Phileo & Agape
Love that grows out of being family. (Time Home)
(Are you anxous to be back with us??)
Love that grows out of mutual commitment.
I can't pick family, but I can pick friends.
God wants us to love not just because were family, but
because we have chosen to love one another
Gift #3 is Humility / Respect.
Rom. 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves.
Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
1 Pet 5:5b All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because , "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Rembering who and what I am as I relate to others:
---A sinner saved by Grace
---A servant
I am/ you are not above or better that anyone. All we are, are
sinners saved by grace, called to be searvents to one another.
Gift #4 is Unity and Acceptance.
Rom. 15:5-7 May the God who who gives endurance and encouragement
give you a spirit of unity among yourselves (with one another) as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
1 Cor. 12:25 So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Pet. 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
How did Christ accept me? ................ UNCONDITIONALLY
How does God expect me to accept others?
We don't accept others for their potential, we accept
them for who they are!
Unconditional acceptance of each other leads to unity.
Living in harmony is somethng we chose to do.
It does not just "happen".
Gift #5 is Kindness, Compassion, Patience & Gentleness.
Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with
one another in love.
Eph. 4: 32 Be kind and compasionate to one another, forgiving each
other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be nice
Be willing to slow up and care about others cares.
Be willing to help others grow at their own pace.
(Lets not be so focused on "results.")
Be willing to embrace and help a person back to their feet when
they fall without giving them some kind of stigma.
Gift #6 is Forgiveness.
Eph. 4: 32 Be kind and compasionate to one another, forgiving each
other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Col. 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you
may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
What did I do to God?
What did God do for me? forgive / forget / not hold it against me
(What do I still do & what does God still do?)
What should I do for others?
This is hard because we want to give pay-backs & gossip.
Gift #7 is Honesty.
Col. 3:9-10 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Be willing to admit when we are wrong.
No facades
Create an environment where someone can be honest
and still survive and grow.
Gift #8 is Encouragement.
Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
1 Th. 4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Th. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Heb. 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called , Todayso that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habbit of doing, but let us encourage one another
and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Through Godly counsel and worship.
By reminding each other of the iminent return of Christ.
So that one can experience victory over sin.
To Godly living and patience.
By ministering to others as they face difficulty, harship, discouragement, illness, a death in the family, etc…
CONCLUSION:
People who care for each other, give each other these gifts..
Are you willing to care for each other by intentionally planning to give one other these gifts..