Living Together: At home, in homes, etc.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Application Needed
Application Needed
If you want an intended result you need to apply some things to the intended results. So, application in our life together as a family is needed. As we finish our living together series may we be closer in our living together.
(Coffee Cup Picture inserted Here)
If you have a coffee cup, it may be nice, look nice, it probably feels good in your hand, but until you put the coffee, tea or hot chocolate into it, well it is not being used for it’s intended purpose. God’s intended purpose is made known throughout the scripture and we have looked at many things over the last few weeks. Today we are summing up this series, and throwing in some application (things not to do) and application (things to do) just for fun.
Here is where we have come from in this series (expand on each one for just a brief minute):
Living together in our fellowship with one another
Living together as an intimate family
Living together as the exampled church, characteristics of the family
Living together as the body of Christ, the body does the body good.
Living together in our giving, time, talents and finances
Living together in the fellowship of the supper
Living together without partiality
Today living together; at home and in our homes (application principles)
Ever watch T.V. commercial about a great new medication and half the commercial is about the bad or potential side-effects or things to avoid when taking this great new medication? Let’s start with application, things to avoid, then things to apply before we get to home and homes.
If you don’t have an outline, I’m covering, referencing a lot of scriptures this morning so be sure to pick one up on your way out.
Application: Things to avoid, things to do
Application: Things to avoid, things to do
Information without application is just knowledge, knowledge with application is wisdom, God gives wise words for application, things to do, and things not to do so that you can live for the intended purpose God has for you and for us as the church.
Application (Things to avoid)
Filthiness, wickedness (Jm1:21); Partiality (Jm2:1-9)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Avoid foolish, course talk, all filthiness; but we have some application of good in this verse too, receive the implanted word that is able to save your soul
In Jm2:1-9 it is about partiality, we are to be impartial regardless of a persons possessions or position for God is not partial. So avoid partiality
Problems with untamable tongue (Jm3:4ff; Jm4:11-12)
that small thing the tongue can create lots of problems, it can created lots of fire and it can defile the whole body, we need to avoid allowing our tongue our mouth to lead us where God does not wants us in the first place
11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
May we pay attention to the admonition of James here in Jm4:11-12 and not speak against one another and become our brothers judge.
Selfishness, selfish desire, covetousness (Jm4:1-2)
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
selfishness, covetousness causes many problems, so they are things to avoid. but hey, how about some good things to apply?
Application (things to apply)
Accept challenges as God given opportunities (Jm1:2-4)
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Pray for God’s wisdom, perspective not just for you but for others (Jm1:5-8; Jm1:9-11; Jm5:13-16)
Jm1:5-8 if you lack wisdom, ask, God will give to you liberally, but you must ask by faith
He humble in your circumstance, have the right perspective of things according to Jm1:9-11, then look out for others too, pray for others too
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Be quick to listen, slow to anger (Jm1:19-20)
Apply listening, and come on be honest we are quick to speak, to want to be heard, but it takes effort, it takes application to listen
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Oh, and don’t get angry, you see the results of that, it does not bring, does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Let your wisdom be shown in your conduct (Jm3:13; Jm1:22-27)
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
May our wisdom, that comes from above, that we ask for, in faith, be proven by our good behavior and deeds, May our works demonstrate our faith as it says in Jm1:22-27.
Be willing to help to restore the erring brother (Gal6:1; Jm5:19-20)
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Now talk about application, specific application, do this and look out at the same time, and then look what James has to say:
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The scripture gives us precepts and promises, but they need application. Application so that they can be used for the proper, intended purpose. A coffee cup is to be used for coffee, tea, maybe hot chocolate, but not intended as a planter, or a door stop.
So, now may we look inside the homes of the early church and see what we can learn.
Exampled use of homes in early church
Exampled use of homes in early church
So, when is a home more than a home? Our fellowship though starts at home doesn’t it. With our family, the spiritual feeding and growth of our family in the home then using the home for other intended purposes for fellowship as the church.
Homes used for fellowship and for worship (Act2:46)
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Homes were used for prayer (Act5:41-42; Act12:12)
So just after being beaten and ordered not to preach Jesus look what happens, preaching and prayers
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Did i mention rejoicing?
Homes were used to host the church (Rom16:3-5)
I think most churches, in fact I believe this church (body of believers) started in a home that would host the church (body of believers) following the N.T. example
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
Homes used for hosting for preaching, teaching (Act20:17-21; Act28:30-31)
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, hosted in Miletus, and in Rome, while a prisoner for 2 years according to Act28:30-31.
Now, with time, things started to change, homes were not used as much for places of prayer and worship. In 3rd Century, Constantine started building buildings that were called “churches” a place to bring people together. Religious actives were t, that today “fellowship halls” or “Family Life Centers” being built, and are not necessarily bad at all, but some of the intimacy from the family in the home and houses can be lost. Our homes are a great place for family and for our spiritual family and a great place for intimate fellowship with one another. Our building is a great place to gather together for worship, but don’t let it be the only place and time, remember where we started today.
We see a lot of that today “fellowship halls” or “Family Life Centers” being built, and are not necessarily bad at all, but some of the intimacy from the family in the home and houses can be lost. Our homes are a great place for family and for our spiritual family and a great place for intimate fellowship with one another. Our building is a great place to gather together for worship, but don’t let it be the only place and time, remember where we started today.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
So, now onto how to use our homes to build fellowship
Using our homes to build fellowship
Using our homes to build fellowship
In the first century, in the culture of the times, they had all things in common and used all things for the common good (Act2:44-45). Our homes are a gift from God to be enjoyed (1Tim6:17). May we use the given gifts to help build the body, to build fellowship. Here are some simple things we can do.
Practice hospitality in our homes (1Pt4:9; Php2:14)
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Be hospitable and do it without complaint, you can see Paul said the same thing in Php2:14, without grumbling or disputing..
we are to
We are to called to be hospitable, but not everyone has the same ability in their home. Maybe room is an issue.
Be hospitable one person, or one family at a time
We can be hospitable in taking others out for meals when the home won’t work.
Use your God given gifts in serving one another, in home or elsewhere (1Pt4:10)
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1pt4:10
This year our theme being “together we can” may we bring our special gift, may we employ it and deploy it for serving one another as good stewards! You are needed for the body, remember the body does the body good.
Homes can be used for small groups, for bible studies (Rom16:3-5, 1Cor16:19)
as noted in the home Rom16:3-5 and 1Cor16:19
Hospitality in the homes is a two way street. We need to be willing to accept invitations into each others home, and to make visits with each other, and not only when there is a death. - - - - in this world these days can get so busy we can forget about being hospitable with and to each other. We forget to make invitations and accept invitations too.
We know how to do it to the shut-ins, or those in hospital, and some are gifted about those in care centers. We know how to be hospitable in card writing, text sending, prayer requests. We do need to read what the scripture says and consider that, do that, we need to be in each others homes with open heart, open arms, open hands to help one another in love. May we practice
Being hospitable to the new convert, to the recent guest or to the weaker brother in need of support
Be hospitable to those who may be considered the outcast, remembering we were all outcast at one time, separated from God, now reconciled
Take it outside of your home too, practicing undefiled religion (Jm1:27)
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Even Jesus loved to visit homes (Mk1:29-31; MK14:3-9; Lk10:38-42)
Jesus loved a good party, wedding in Canaan
Good home fellowship, in Peter’s home, Simon the lepers home
A place of and rest like in home of Lazarus, Mary and the good cook Martha, who doesn’t like a good home cooked meal
Using our homes for fellowship is a great way to build the intimacy of our forever family, our church! It is a practical way like showing hospitality and visiting one another.
(Invitation Slide - Life together)
Our life, our living together takes application, we need to continue to grow in love and service to one another, our living together needs to be beyond these walls. May we be hospitable as much outside the walls as we are inside the walls. Be hospitable to the body and those we want to be a part of our family, the family of God!
Let’s make friends so can make family
Let’s make family life worth living together at home and in our homes together
First, what does it take to be a part of Gods family? (Invitation)
(Invitation slide 2) song, prayer (exit slides)