"A Model You Can Trust"

“Remember when…?”

In the beginning

Acts 4:32 HCSB

Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.

Acts 4:33 HCSB

And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.

Acts 4:34 HCSB

For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:35 HCSB

and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.

Acts 4:36 HCSB

Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,

Acts 4:37 HCSB

sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Great, isn’t it?

Have you read chapter 5? What about chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation?

The problem with snapshot memories

A model you can trust

Consider the “Finally...” passages

Philippi

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:9 ESV

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

1 Thessalonians 5:13 ESV

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

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 ESV

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 ESV

Rejoice always,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV

Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:20 ESV

Do not despise prophecies,

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV

but test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV

Abstain from every form of evil.

And of all churches…Corinth

2 Corinthians 13:5 HCSB

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.

2 Corinthians 13:6 HCSB

And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test.

2 Corinthians 13:7 HCSB

Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail.

2 Corinthians 13:8 HCSB

For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

2 Corinthians 13:9 HCSB

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.

2 Corinthians 13:10 HCSB

This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

2 Corinthians 13:11 HCSB

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Do you see the pattern?

Church

The “One Another” Passages The phrase "one another" is derived from the Greek word allelon which means "one another, each other; mutually, reciprocally." It occurs 100 times in the New Testament. Approximately 59 of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how (and how not) to relate to one another. Obedience to those commands is imperative. It forms the basis for all true Christian community, and has a direct impact on our witness to the world (John 13:35). In addition to allelon, the Bible uses other words and phrases to instruct us how to relate to others. With that in mind, the following list is not exhaustive, and primarily focuses on the use of allelon.

POSITIVE COMMANDS

Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)

Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)

Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)

Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)

Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)

Accept one another (Romans 15:7)

Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)

Greet one another (Romans 16:16)

Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)

Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)

Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)

Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)

Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)

Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)

Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)

Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)

Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)

Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)

Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)

Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)

Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)

Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)

NEGATIVE COMMANDS (how not to treat one another)

Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)

Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)

If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you'll be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:15)

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)

Do not slander one another (James 4:11)

Don't grumble against each other (James 5:9)

We do all this because we are in a real sense “members of one another” (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:25)

The end of a quite different letter

2 Timothy 4:1 HCSB

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:

2 Timothy 4:2 HCSB

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

2 Timothy 4:3 HCSB

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.

2 Timothy 4:4 HCSB

They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

2 Timothy 4:5 HCSB

But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:6 HCSB

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

2 Timothy 4:7 HCSB

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:8 HCSB

There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:9 HCSB

Make every effort to come to me soon,

2 Timothy 4:10 HCSB

for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

2 Timothy 4:11 HCSB

Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.

2 Timothy 4:12 HCSB

I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:13 HCSB

When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:14 HCSB

Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.

2 Timothy 4:15 HCSB

Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

2 Timothy 4:16 HCSB

At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

2 Timothy 4:17 HCSB

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

2 Timothy 4:18 HCSB

The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Proclaiming the Lord’s Death Until He Comes

All the gifts - grace, mercy, forgiveness of sins, God’s Word, the Holy Spirit…one another