01 01 02 18 - The One Another's
The “One Another’s”
Gen 2:18
Intro:
· Today – Deacon Care Groups — Why?
o We want to make sure that as the church continues to grow that no one gets left behind – no one “slips through the cracks”
o It’s kind of new and there is still work to be done
§ So if you have suggestions, tell your deacon
o Just like it is not my job alone to win people to Christ
§ It is not the deacons’ job alone to care for people!
· Our purpose statement:
o CBF exists to exalt God, to evangelize the lost, to encourage and edify believers, and to equip believers for the work of the ministry.
§ Encourage – speaks to fellowship. Helping people feel welcome at CBF
o We’ve shortened it to a slogan – “helping people grow closer to God and to each other.”
§ It’s that second part I want to focus on today.
· Genesis 1-2 the creation account
o “It was good” – 4 — 10 — 12 — 18 — 21 — 25
o 2:7-25 – a detailed description of man’s creation
§ V 18 – “it is NOT good... that man should be alone”
o 1:31 – end of 6th day (after woman) – “it was VERY good”
§ No matter your marital status —— We need each other!
· In view of all that, decided to preach a message focussing on our relationship with each other as the Lord would have it
o “One another” passages of God’s Word
§ Thought maybe 7 or 8 times
§ Over 40 passages in the WoG with that phrase as instructional!
§ Boiled them down into 5 broad categories.
o My initial thought was, “hang on! This is going to be a fast one.”
§ But I just cannot rush over these principles
§ SO, whenever we have a 5th Sunday of the month, we will have deacon care groups and I will finish this series then
· Today, will you make certain you apply this?
o We have a cuppa every Sunday after church –
o if that’s the level of your fellowship with others, you’re missing 95% of what God wants for you in relation to others.
· God wants you to relate to each other much more seriously than cuppa talk.
o In what ways?
o First of all — Love One Another
I. INtro
A. 14 times we are told to “love one another”
B. All but one time Agape is used
1. Eros – a selfish “love” – not even used in the Bible “LUST”
2. Storge – a family type of love – give and take
3. Philos – a friendly type of love – give and take...
a. Nothing wrong with these two
4. Agape
a. A selfless love
b. Desires to sacrificially benefit the other person
c. Stop and think about that!
(1) What will that look like?
(2) Marriages — children — friendships — church
d. This is not an easy task!
II. Why Should We Love One Another?
A. Love Reflects Who God Is
1. 1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
2. “God is love”
a. It’s not just an action that He does
b. It is His very nature — He never stops loving
3. “Born of God”
a. In other words, this refers to God’s children
b. If you have received Christ as Saviour, you are His child
c. Ephesians 5:1 - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
4. Loving each other is a reflection on God
a. It is our way of showing who God is
b. We are reflectors
B. Love Passes God’s Love to Others
1. 1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
2. @ What happens to a lake that has an incoming river but no outlet?
a. It doesn’t get better because it has more water
b. It stagnates and becomes useless
3. Your very existence — your life — you salvation —your daily provisions...all are because of God’s love
a. God is dumping His love on us every day!
b. Only soak up without passing to others, will stagnate spiritually
(1) We become selfish hoarders of God’s love
(2) In the process we don’t get to enjoy what He has given
4. We’re not only reflectors, we’re conduits
C. Love Is Taught By God
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 - ...you yourselves are taught by God to love one another
2. This is not a natural thing for people to do
3. As a believer you have been taught by God how to love
4. Don’t squander that lesson
5. Where can you go for the best lesson about love? 1 Cor 13
a. Read that passage — study it — apply it
D. Love Simplifies the Christian Walk
1. Romans 13:8 –Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
2. For far too many believers, the Christian walk is a list of rules
a. “Just give me the list.”
b. Well here it is:
(1) Matthew 22:37-40 - 37Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(2) Love God with everything you have
(3) Love your neighbour as yourself
3. “How should I react to this situation?” — Love
4. “Yes, but how to I respond to this?” — Love
5. Instead of trying to play games, manipulate others, score points, or any other motivation for living right — we just love each other
E. Love Shows We Are Christ-Followers
1. John 13: 35 - By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
2. We show we are following Christ by:
a. LOVING each other
b. NOT by how much we can distance ourselves from other Christians or non-believers
c. NOT by church attendance, carrying a big Bible, etc
F. Love Is Commanded by the Lord
1. John 15:12 - This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
2. If for no other reason, we must love each other because of this
3. For the times when we don’t feel like loving – it’s commanded
4. When we come across the unlovable – it’s commanded
5. When we are abused and misused – it’s commanded
III. How Should We Love One Another?
A. Intro
1. Could do a study on 1 Corinthians 13, but I want to focus on what these “one another” passages say
B. Love As Christ Loves
1. John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another
2. You could stop there.
a. That sums up everything else we will look at
b. That also covers everything we will not look at
3. Bottom Line – How would Christ love the people of this church?
a. How would Christ show my deacon care group He loves them?
4. Keep that motivation!!
a. We are not on this earth for us
b. We are on this earth for Him
(1) He is to be our constant focus — guide —model, etc
5. If you get stuck for how to show love to someone – think on this.
C. Love Sacrificially
1. John 15:12-13 - 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
2. Spoken by Jesus to His disciples the night He was arrested
3. They all deserted Him – He died for them — SACRIFICE!
4. This is what separate Philos from Agape
a. Philos is the give and take – “I do for you as you do for me”
b. Agape says – “I do for you regardless of whether you do for me”
(1) Even if it is inconvenient
(a) People are more important than things.
(b) I say that at least 5 times a day in decisions I must make
(2) Even if it against your personality
(a) “I’m Shy” – “I’m a thinker, not a lover” – etc – no excuse
(3) Even if you see no return imminent
(a) Remember – love is not about what you get but about what you give
D. Love Tenderly
1. No that’s not an advertisement for an Elvis Presley song
2. Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love...
a. Kindly affectionate = φιλόστοργος – made up of two of the Greek words – Philos and Storge
b. Loving with that natural affection that characterizes members of the same family[1]
c. Tender affection and gentle care
3. Application
a. Avoids the “bull in a china shop” mentality
(1) “Well, I just tell it like it is!”
b. Even confrontation, which is an act of love, should be done gently
c. I really don’t believe there is room for harsh words in the Christian life
(1) That doesn’t mean we’re a bunch of saps
(2) That doesn’t mean we avoid confrontation
(a) It means “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar”
(b) It means you deal with people gently and compassionately
i. Confront someone gently –usually hear you better!
d. Other applications as well
(1) Every way you deal with people should be done with this compassionate love
E. love Selflessly
1. Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
2. Word
a. Used only here in the NT
b. to go before and lead
(1) Giving preference – letting others lead – putting others first
c. to exhibit a type of behavior far above the norm
(1) honor one another to an exceptional degree
d. to do something with eagerness
(1) be eager to show respect to one another
3. Application
a. These passages are all about putting each other in first place
b. @ Pedestal Partnership
(1) If both husband and wife seek to meet needs of each other without concern for themselves, it’s one big wonderful circle.
F. Love Fervently
1. 1 Peter 1:22 - ...love one another fervently...
2. Continuously and eagerly
3. There is no time to stop.
4. We should look for ways to demonstrate love to each other
5. So often people choose a church with “will I get my needs met?”
a. They come to church week after week with same thing
b. We should say, “I’m here to worship God with zeal and love others with fervency.”
G. Love Purely
1. 1 Peter 1:22 - ...love one another fervently with a pure heart
2. Unmixed, unspoiled
3. Application
a. Speaks first to right thinking and motivations about each other in the area of purity.
(1) Love cannot devolve into lust
b. Speaks of pure motives
(1) I’m not doing this to look good or get anything back
c. Speaks of pure expressions
(1) Consistent, dependable expressions of love
Conc:
· A whirlwind of looking at these verses in a very surface manner
· But hopefully you have been reminded that God wants our relationships with each other to be much more than weather, sports, and kids chat.
· As you enjoy the Deacon Care Group fellowship today, keep in mind what God’s goal is for this.
o Will you determine to actively love one another?
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[1]Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000, c1992, c1993), G5387.