Faith Fellowship February 24, 2013 R12-Love The Brethren
5 Key Relationships -The context of a living faith... Relationship with God 12:1 Relationship with the world s values 12:2 Relationship with yourself 12:3-8 Relationship with believers 12:9-13 Relationship with nonbelievers 12:14-21
5 S s that flow out of the 5 R s: The profile of an authentic disciple... Surrender to God - Romans 12:1 Separate from the world s values Romans 12:2 Sober in self-assessment - Romans 12:3-8 Serving in love - Romans 12:9-13 Supernaturally responding to evil with good Romans 12:14-21
Robert Putnam in his classic book, Bowling Alone, identifies the number one need in America today: loneliness
Relationship with believers 12:9-13 Serving in love - Romans 12:9-13
Romans Ch. 1-11 Ch. 12 God Christian Agape Men Christian
Romans 12:9-13(NLT) Don t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Romans 12:14-16(NLT) Bless those who persecute you. Don t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don t think you know it all!
The principal evidence as to whether the Holy Spirit is controlling a believer's life is seen in how he treats his brothers and sisters in Christ, which in turn is often determined by how he thinks about himself.
Decide to love the brethren: Love: decision not just feelings.
Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church!
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:9-13 (NIV)
To live above with the saints we love The church will outlive this universe, so will your role in it.
If you are looking for a perfect church, don t go there if you find it because it won t be perfect after you get there! -you are called to belong not just believe.
Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love am committed to God s family?
Show special love for God s people I Peter 2:17(CEV)
I. Jonathan and David model how to experience authentic community.
7 Essentials for Biblical Community 1 Samuel 18-20 Be aware God orchestrates Circumstances and Chemistry 1 Sam. 18:1-2 Be intentional We rarely drift into authentic community 1 Sam. 18:3 Be honest -- Share the last 10% 1 Sam. 19:1-5
7 Essentials for Biblical Community 1 Samuel 18-20 Be aware God orchestrates Circumstances and Chemistry 1 Sam. 18:1-2 Be intentional We rarely drift into authentic community 1 Sam. 18:3 Be honest -- Share the last 10% 1 Sam. 19:1-5 Be available When crisis comes, friends arrive 1 Sam. 20:1-4
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17
7 Essentials for Biblical Community 1 Samuel18-20 Be loyal Don t shrink back when things heat up 1 Sam. 20:5-17 Be vulnerable Refuse to let fear or pride limit your relationships 1 Sam. 20:41-42 Be spiritual Help them become an r12 Christian every day in every way 1 Sam. 23:15-18
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
II. David and Jonathan s covenant with God was the basis for their devotion to one another.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:9-13 (NIV)
III. Jonathan and David s relationship reveals that authentic community occurs when the real you meets real needs for the right reason in the right way.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NAS)
Authentic community is the core of Christianity.... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21 (NAS)
How can you experience authentic community?
1. Get connected in a spiritually positive, relational environment. Be aware Be intentional
2. Go deeper with one or two people in your group. Be honest Be available Be loyal
3. Share and pray about a significant struggle or fear in your life with a safe person. Be vulnerable Be spiritual
Warren Wiersbe... nothing reveals the wickedness of legalism better than the way the legalists treat those who have sinned. Call to mind the Pharisees who dragged a woman taken in adultery before Jesus (John 8). Or that Jewish mob that almost killed Paul because they thought he had defiled the temple by bringing in Gentiles (Acts 21:27ff). (Legalists do not need facts and proof; they need only suspicions and rumors
Warren Wiersbe Their self-righteous imaginations will do the rest). So, in this paragraph, Paul is really contrasting the way the legalist would deal with the erring brother, and the way the spiritual man would deal with him.... The legalist rejoices when a brother falls, and often gives the matter wide publicity, because then he can boast about his own goodness and how much better his group is than the group to which the fallen brother belongs.
Believe as I believe, no more, no less; That I am right, and no one else, confess; Feel as I feel, think only as I think; Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink; Look as I look, do always as I do; And then, and only then, I'll fellowship with you.
The church is not a museum for saints; it is a hospital a place where sinful, hurting, depressed and troubled people should be able to find someone who is concerned about them, willing to try to restore them, and able to help carry their heavy load.
Let love be your greatest aim I Cor. 14:1(LB) -top priority. -primary objective. -greatest ambition.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10