Bear Each Other's Burdens

6 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads.

6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon Should tumble and fall Or the mountains should crumble to the sea I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me

Lean on Me

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary, feeling small When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all) I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough And friends just can't be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

When you're down and out When you're on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you (ooo) I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

The New Revised Standard Version Bear One Another’s Burdens

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Recap last two weeks:

The Church of Galatia - finding what it means to live beyond the law.

Living Unbound, free

Freedom allows us to celebrate the fullness of humanity, neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, but all one and all particularly significant as God’s image bearers

Freedom also presents challenges — do we live into it, or do we fear it is a lie? Do we turn back to what is toxic, what is harmful? When we experience change, all our vices, all the needs for the law, rear their ugly heads. Freedom allows us to live another way in the face of temptation.

And finally, living unbound calls us to notice the needs of others and help along the way.

US Women’s Soccer

Playing soccer taught me to see others

Fluid unit, a oneness

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

We cannot truly hear this passage if we do not learn to see, open ourselves to see the needs of others, to listen for their cry.

It is fun to watch, to see, our nation, on this week of Independence Day, celebrating in unity alongside our Women’s Soccer team — our unity and particularity celebrating!

Many Generations, Bearing Burdens

Immigration Sunday

If what is happening at our southern border is not a picture of how we are to bear the burdens of another, what is? Think about this:

Is this not an opportunity to bear the burdens of those fleeing oppression?

In times of crisis, it is so easy to get jaded, to get cynical and angry.

But there are helpers out there, showing us how loving, gently, Christ-like compassion looks.

Story: Man named Scott Warren in Arizona’s Sonoran giving water to migrants coming across the border. Gentle, compassionate care.

That’s a picture of Christian freedom, of loving, unbound, freedom beyond law that sees the needs of another.

Certainly, that was his work to do. It’s not all of ours. Perhaps you were at the protest at Bellingham’s City Hall this week, raising your voice against the squalid conditions families are being detained in at the border. Perhaps you have written our state and national lawmakers. Perhaps you have prayed and fasted for the plight of the immigrant in our borders, to whom we, according to the law of the Scriptures, are called to treat as though they were native-born, one of us. Perhaps your work is to uphold the safety of our country, to seek lawful ways to both ensure welcome people and do not open ourselves to harm.

We all have different calls — but they are all united in the sense of bearing the burden of the other, to fulfill the law of Christ.

Many Generations, Bearing Burdens

Different stages and phases of life.

Invitation to bear the burdens for others

Younger generations — invitation to care for more responsibility as we step in and engage, to take on what others before us have carried, to take ownership and lead and look for the needs of our communities that we see in fresh ways.

Younger generations — also invitation to bear the burdens of our elders, to celebrate them, to honor their contribution, to listen to their stories, to gently make space for them to pass on what they have learned.

Older generations — bear the burden of those that come after you by passing on wisdom. Do not hoard what you have, but share it freely because we need it. Our burden is that we are doing it for the first time, you have been there, please show us the way and encourage us as we try to go there.

Older generations — love us in our inexperience, gently correct our path so we do not fall, nurture us and help make spaces for us to rise up and take on what is ours to hold now.

Mutuality and care — that is what a free church finds.

Being as Christ to one another

Spirit of Gentleness

A caution: weariness to caring

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for your reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”

Caring and compassion can be hard, draining.

Back to the songs

To stave off compassion fatigue, we embrace care for each other’s burdens in the way that God bears us up

For me, it’s like remembering lyrics of a song and, when I’m weary, knowing that others will sing along with me. And when I’m strong, I’ll step in and sing along too, bearing my part, singing with joy in the song that we can all sing together.

The song makes the bridge.

Take time to share Joys and Concerns : 5 minutes

Reintroducing a practice for our congregation

Opportunity to hear each other’s needs

2-3 willing people to model this vulnerability in sharing today?

Related Media

Related Sermons

Bear Each Other's Burdens

​