How to Love One Another

How to Love One Another 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 October 11, 2020 § “brotherly love” defined à joining of 2 words: philos + adelphos = loving devotion to those born from the same womb § This love comes from God o Romans 5:5, 8 The Big Idea: § This love is expanding and deepening o Paul was probably thinking primarily of geography o Would eventually include matters of language, culture, traditions, styles o Unity and love are encouraged when you remember we’re all from the “same womb”. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (ESV) § “Living quietly” – Paul combines ambition/aspire to with quietness. It is a settling down and getting over chronic restlessness. Paul continues to explain the will of God for Christians – our sanctification. A major, additional aspect of our sanctification is loving our Christian brothers and sisters. As believers love one another, we’ll live out the Gospel before those in our community. 4 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. The Cultural Context That Brings This Passage Alive § Patrons § Clients è Why must “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” be rejected by Biblically-based, Christ-centered Christians: § Minding your own business – this isn’t at odds with loving your Christian family and carrying one another’s burdens – the prohibition is against nosiness that isn’t rooted in genuine love and a desire to help. § Working to provide for your needs and finding the joy and dignity of work. THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN LOVE WHEN OBSERVED BY THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ü Do others see Jesus in you? ü Do you see Jesus in others? Relationships That Are Marked By “Philadelphia” ____________ ___________ "Evangelism is the major instrument of social change. For the gospel changes people, and changed people can change society." - John Stott