Sponsor s Guide. For Sponsors of Junior High, Young People and Adult CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS. Prepared by Richard Merritt

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1 Baptist Training Course Sponsor s Guide For Sponsors of Junior High, Young People and Adult Prepared by Richard Merritt Vol. 60, No. 2 ISSUED MARCH 1, 2014 SPRING QUARTER Outlines by Don Price EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@bogardpress.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@bogardpress.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase, Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen Copyright 2014 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS Quarterly Aim: To show how Christians are to interact with one another. CONTENTS Lesson No. 1, March 2, 2014 Love One Another Lesson No. 2, March 9, 2014 Do Not Judge One Another Lesson No. 3, March 16, 2014 Forgive One Another Lesson No. 4, March 23, 2014 Be Kind One to Another Lesson No. 5, March 30, 2014 Do Not Wrong One Another Lesson No. 6, April 6, 2014 Admonish One Another Lesson No. 7, April 13, 2014 Bear One Another s Burdens Lesson No. 8, April 20, 2014 Comfort One Another Lesson No. 9, April 27, 2014 Speak Not Evil One of Another Lesson No. 10, May 4, 2014 Submitting Yourselves One to Another Lesson No. 11, May 11, 2014 Have Fellowship One with Another Lesson No. 12, May 18, 2014 Teaching and Admonishing One Another Lesson No. 13, May 25, 2014 Use Hospitality One to Another

2 About the Writer Charles Richard Merritt, Sr. was born October 24, 1953, son of Charles P. and Nellie Merritt, Camden, AR. He was saved and then baptized by Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Camden, AR, in 1960, then married Marvanna McAteer in He graduated from Camden Fairview in 1972, Southern Arkansas University- Tech in 1974 with an Associates Degree in Computer Science in 2011 with a Bachelor in Theology, Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary, Minden, LA and in 2012 with a Master in Theology, Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary. He preached his first sermon leap day 1976 and has served churches in Oklahoma and Arkansas as assistant/youth pastor and pastor. He has been pastor of Trinity MBC, Camden, AR, since March 1, 1991 and a writer for the BTC curriculum since He loves writing, reading, piano, hunting and whittling. He has served two years as moderator for the Arkansas State Association and on the Baptist Sunday School Committee for several years. He has three children (Chuck and wife C.J., Staci and husband Steven Sewell, Holli and husband Chris Robertson) and four grandchildren (Bethani Sewell, Carlie Merritt, Brody Merritt and Michael Robertson). Brother Merritt may be contacted at rmerritt@cablelynx.com.

3 SPONSOR S GUIDE 3 LESSON 1 March 2, 2014 Love One Another Lesson Text: Romans 13:8-10. Related Scripture: Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 10:12; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; John 13:34; 15:12; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:14; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; James 2:8; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 2:5; 3:10, 11, 22. Application: To show that loving one another is not only possible but commanded. DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS A Reminder of God s Love in Sending His Son for Man s Sins, 1 John 4:7-21. John declared, God is love (1 John 4:8). God s character is love. It is God s nature to be loving, to show love, to express love and to demonstrate His love by His wonderful works. God s character has many facets including holiness, justice, mercy and others. He proved His love for sinners by offering His salvation to all. God recognized man s greatest need of a Savior and sent His Son to fulfill it. John stated, We love him, because he first loved us (verse 19). God s love for His creation is expressed in His works to maintain it. He provides the things every creature on the earth needs to live. God is a loving Creator who takes pleasure in His provisions for mankind. The human nature of every person does not seek God or righteousness. God first reached out to man. When Adam sinned, the Lord came where he was to offer him salvation and forgiveness through the shedding of blood. The innocent animals provided a covering for Adam and Eve just as Jesus provides a covering for sin through His precious blood. John taught the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (verse 14). But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). God reached out to all mankind with the greatest offer ever made salvation in Jesus Christ. Every person s greatest need is that of a Savior. Every person who enters eternity without Christ as Savior will spend eternity in the lake of fire. The best way to honor God s love is to be saved. God loves you. EXAMINING THE TEXT Romans 13:8-10. Paul s epistles commonly have a doctrinal beginning and a practical conclusion. In Romans, the first nine chapters reveal God s teachings on various doctrines. Beginning in chapter 10, the remainder of the book challenges and encourages the reader to makes the personal application of those truths by making right decisions and practicing the truth in one s daily life. Paul wrote to the struggling church at Rome to remind them of God s doctrines of creation, judgment, man, sin, salvation, baptism, morality, grace, redemption, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, the security of the believer and the faithfulness of God. Beginning in chapter 10, Paul wrote the proper

4 4 SPONSOR S GUIDE personal application of those doctrines included a burden for witnessing, how to demonstrate the goodness of God in daily living and how to encourage others. Owe no man any thing (Rom. 13:8). Although often misconstrued to teach that one should not borrow, this verse actually teaches us to faithfully fulfill our obligations to others. Give people the respect, the courtesy, the pay and the love they are due. This general command is followed by specific commands that give step-by-step instructions concerning treating others as they should be treated. This teaching agrees with the Golden Rule. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12). The Golden Rule is not a mantra to be memorized, it is a lifestyle to be practiced each day. This teaching includes paying debts, working to provide for one s own family and keeping one s promises. This is the practical way to show godly love toward others. Love one another (Rom. 13:8). Acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and love demonstrate the love one has for others. God set the example for every person by His loving actions toward mankind. God loves sinners. He sent His Son to Calvary to provide salvation so that every person could have the opportunity to be saved and go to Heaven. This offer of salvation cost God the greatest price ever the life and blood of His Son Jesus. God spared no expense in paying the sin debt of the world. When we follow God s example in loving one another, we will make sacrifices to meet the needs of others. This kind of love does more than the easy things. This writer has witnessed this love in action by a godly woman who mopped the floors of a friend and a godly man who cut a downed tree into firewood. Love does what needs to be done. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law (verse 8). Those who live by love in daily life perform the duties the Law demanded. There are two laws that need to be considered. The basis of God s Law for Israel is often referred to as the Ten Commandments. This Law has two parts how to treat God properly (the first four commandments) and how to treat man properly (the last six commandments). The other law in view here is the law of love. Jesus taught this law of love when He gave the parable of the good Samaritan. This kind of life is a life of perfect love which could only be fulfilled perfectly by Jesus Christ. Although the Samaritans were hated and mistreated by most Jews, this Samaritan acted as a good neighbor by helping someone he found to be in need. When our behavior fulfills the law of love, we demonstrate our love for one another. Thou shalt not commit adultery (verse 9). One way to show love, respect and honor to others is not to participate in an illicit, intimate relationship with someone to whom one is not married. Adultery is a betrayal of the trust, love and marriage vows by having an intimate relationship with someone other than one s own mate. The sin of adultery shows a contempt for one s own mate, family, God, the other person in the sinful act and his family. God s plan for intimacy places it within the bounds of marriage. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13:4). God will not ignore those who disregard this command. This judgment on this sin affects families, churches and nations. Those who truly love others as they should will scrupulously avoid committing adultery. Thou shalt not kill (Rom. 13:9). The act of taking a human life is a strike against God. Mankind is made in the image of God. God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Gen. 1:27). Every act

5 SPONSOR S GUIDE 5 of premeditated murder or murder of passion takes a human life. No person has the right to take any life, not even one s own. Only God has the right to take a life. The ultimate demonstration of love for another is to preserve a life. This verse covers the actions of Cain in taking his brother s life. Abel s murder was the ultimate expression of hate. God provided the cities of refuge in Israel for those who were manslayers. These unintentionally caused the death of another. Life is a gift from God and is precious. A godly society follows God s command to preserve all human life. Thou shalt not steal (Rom. 13:9). The act of theft is a betrayal of friendship or respect for another. The possessions any person has are the result of work or sacrifice. For another to take what does not belong to him treats one with contempt. The act of a loving neighbor or friend is to look after another s possessions so that they remain where they rightfully belong. Stealing includes eating a grape at the store, wasting time on the job, taking office supplies or tools home, rustling cattle, kidnapping children, borrowing a mower and returning it with an empty gas tank, borrowing things and not returning them as well as secretively taking the possessions of another. Most children reveal their sin natures by taking something that does not belong to them. Parents have the responsibility not to steal and to teach their children the same command. Thou shalt not bear false witness (verse 9). A false witness is a lie. All lies hurt. The liar is changed by the lie. He is not the same truthful, trustworthy, reliable, honest person he was before he lied. Many lies also hurt others. False testimony in a court of law does great damage to others. Some lies slander another s reputation. Other lies defame a person s character. God hates lying. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight (Prov. 12:22). Lying witnesses spoke against the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul. Today some engage in gossip, whisper campaigns and lie about others. Those who tell the truth show respect for God and one s fellowman. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous (Psalm 31:18). Thou shalt not covet (Rom. 13:9). The word covet means a great desire for something. Some speak of coveting other s prayers. This is the positive or good part of the word covet. The command deals with the negative part of greatly desiring things that belong to others or things that God has forbidden. Those who covet forbidden things will discover that coveting is a cluster sin that produces a group of other sins. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour s (Deut. 5:21). Coveting is an act against one s neighbor. Achan coveted. He took what did not belong to him, and he lied by hiding what he had done. When one lingers over the desire to have what belongs to another, sins follow. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Rom. 13:9). All of the six commandments concerning how to treat others properly is summed up in the command to love one s neighbor. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40). Every servant of the Lord should demonstrate his obedience to this law of love for one s neighbor. The word neighbor is defined as anyone one meets who has a need.

6 6 SPONSOR S GUIDE Paul gave another way to sum up the law of love. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom. 13:10). RELATED SCRIPTURE Leviticus 19:18. God equates loving one s neighbor with not holding ill feelings toward another and not making any effort to get revenge. Proverbs 10:12. Hate and love are opposites. Hate causes strife. Love produces forgiveness in such qualities and quantities that it can cover a multitude of sins. God s love makes it possible to forgive any sin. Matthew 5: Jesus raised the standard from loving a neighbor to loving an enemy. In Matthew 5, Jesus said you have been taught this, but I say unto you (verses 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43, 44). Matthew 22: Jesus summed up the whole Law in two commands. Love God. Love your neighbor. John 13:34. Jesus teaching included Old Testament quotations. He also gave New Testament Scripture. This new commandment was for His church members to imitate the quality of His love in their dealings with one another. John 15:12. Jesus stressed the quality of love His church members were to have for one another. They were to rise above the world s standard of loving others as they were loved. Jesus said to love as I have loved you. 1 Corinthians 13. The love chapter of the Bible emphasizes the importance of love in all relationships. The description of godly love in verses 4 through 7 reveals how Christ loves. Galatians 5:14. The one word refers to one command. The Ten Commandments are commonly known as ten statements. To sum up the Law of God regarding dealing with others, one must love his neighbor. Ephesians 5:2. The church members at Ephesus were instructed to walk in love according to the way as Christ also hath loved us. This kind of love pleases God. 1 Thessalonians 4:9. Church members should deal with one another as with brothers. A New Testament church is a body or family of believers. Hebrews 13:1. Brotherly love is the right way to treat others. This is not an erotic love but a friendship love. Brotherly love is always the way to interact with people. James 2:8. James described the law of love for one s neighbor as the royal law. This command fulfills all the law. When the law of love reigns, God s Word is obeyed. 1 Peter 4:8. Peter wrote to Jewish church members to use fervent love toward one another. Fervent means great intensity of feeling. 1 John 2:5. John is contrasting the liar and the truthful person. The truthful person reveals the godly love and character he possesses. 1 John 3:10, 11, 22. Children of God should be recognized by the way they love others. How we treat others affects our prayers. RELEVANCE OF THE TEXT God s Word commands the people of God to love one another. This is the foundation for all human relationships. Love strengthens a marriage, solidifies the family unit, edifies a church and encourages cooperation on the job. Children of God should be examples of love that others can see. This remarkable love is not a human love or a love based

7 SPONSOR S GUIDE 7 on human ability or reasoning, but a godly love based on the new nature of a child of God. In the New Testament, Jesus taught His disciples to love one another. In the Old Testament, Moses taught the people of Israel to love one another when he explained the Law God gave them. The whole Bible agrees on the importance of love. For God to give this command throughout the Bible teaches us that we can treat others with love. God does not frustrate His children by commanding something they cannot do. Jesus acted in love when He came from Heaven to live, suffer and die on the cross to pay the sin debt of all people. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The children s song Jesus Loves Me rejoices in the love God expressed toward mankind in general and toward individuals in particular. Jesus love included enduring the stripes of the scourge, the nails in His hands and feet, the crown of thorns on His head, the crucifixion, the mockery and insults of wicked men and the loneliness of paying it all with no help from Heaven or earth. His great love becomes a part of the believer in the new nature of a child of God. As a believer, one can nurture and grow love in his own life. When Peter wrote about love (1 Peter 4:8), he encouraged believers to continue in love. Since the word fervent means intense feeling, Peter instructed them to always practice intense love. There is never a time to cease treating others with godly love. Jesus set the great example by forgiving and praying for those who sought His life. If we love as Jesus loved, there is nothing we cannot forgive. CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION Early in the Bible, the story of Cain and Abel reveals two brothers who had a wrong relationship. Relationship problems occur when one or both parties do not treat the other with love. First John has much information concerning godly love as well as the terrible results of a lack of godly love. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother s righteous (1 John 3:12). Family relationships that are strained are the result of unkind words and deeds that have not been forgiven. Church relationships can be strengthened by the loving acts of church members in dealing with one another. Work problems with coworkers may be greatly reduced by loving others enough to live by the Golden Rule. When God s people love as Christ loves, they leave a great witness. The actions of children of God will be loving and Christlike or hateful and full of strife. When believers act like the devil with a lack of forgiveness and ignoring opportunities to treat others with love, the Lord s work is hindered. When church members deal with others on the basis of the kind of love God has expressed in Jesus example, the world cannot help but see and be amazed at such unusual behavior.