Church Relationships

Lasting Change Requires Righteous Relationships

BELIEVERS WITH BELIEVERS

Sincerely love

Serve the Lord

Stay with them during trials

Selflessly serve the saints

Romans 12:9–13 NKJV

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Spend time with those you love, one day you’ll say “I wish I had” or “I’m glad i did.”

1. Sincerely love

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. 3 Honor widows who are really widows.

2. Serve the Lord

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Conquer the temptation to hold back.

Failure is waiting on the path of least resistance.

3. Stay with them during trials

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Loyalty is rewarded with loyalty.

A diamond is a hunk of coal that stuck with it through times of pressure.

4. Selflessly serve the saints

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

You can have anything you want as long as you help enough people get what they want.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNSAVED AND UNGODLY

Bless Those Who Persecute You

Show genuine interest in Others

Seek harmony with others

Live above reproach

Be at peace with everyone

Give No place for vengeance

Romans 12:14–21 NKJV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

5. Bless Those Who Persecute You

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

EX - Stephen’s testimony in Paul’s life.

6. Show genuine interest in Others

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

7. Seek harmony with others

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

--Teamwork makes the dream work.

8. Live above reproach

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

--Let your life put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

— easier to tear down than build.

9. Be at peace with everyone

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

10. Give No place for vengeance

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.