One Another Part 1
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Date: 13 November, 2019
Text: Topical Message on "One Another."
Title: One Another
Introduction:
saying: You have heard the saying, "No man is an island."
1) It means that human beings do not fare well when isolated from others and need to be part of a community in order to thrive.
2) It also means that what we do affects other people within our community.
God made communities -
- When you were born you were put into a family "community".
- Nuclear family - dad/mum and kids
- Extended family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins....
- What we think of as our community - is often the neighbourhood where we grow up.
- Neighbours
- School chums
- When you got saved God puts you into a new community.
- The family of God - made up of all your brother's and Sister's in Christ
- The body of Christ - the local New Testament Church.
Communities are a blessing from God to those who work know how to form a good community.
exp. Sadly not every community is a good community.
- Families can be broken apart.
(too busy, too many divises, too much social media.....)
dysfunctional family - not functioning like a community should.
- Neighbour's today are less community minded.
ill. Doing flyers with Don in Livingstone in a community that has a lot of negative signs, "If we did not invite you over and do not know that you are coming, do not ring the doorbell (or we will ring your neck.)"
ill. We do a lot of our shopping online or at superstores instead of local businesses.
ill. Many people commute to work and only live in their community instead of being a part of it.
- Churches can also face the danger of not being a good community.
The message this morning will help us in all of our communities
but expecially in our church family.
(Believer) You need to be a good contributor to your local new testament church community. How are you contributing to your community - expecially with regard to your church community?
Topical Message - multiple texts - as we consider the phrase "one another." The New Testament has much instruction about how we interact without local new testament church community.
You need to be a good contributor to your local new testament church community.
I. Love one another.
ill. I remember my mum doing an object lesson for our church SS opener with three jars. One was empty. One had small rocks in it and the other had large rocks in it. She asked if we thought they'd all fit into an empty jar she had sitting there. She tried first by pouring in the little rocks, then putting in the big rocks which didn't work. But, if you put the big rocks in first - the little ones would all go in around the big rocks. Her lesson was on priorities.
exp. Love is our big rock.
- 12 of our "one another" texts deal with this phrase of "LOVE one another."
- It needs to be our priority.
note: We'll divide these 12 texts into 4 main ideas.
A. First, Love one another like God loved you.
ill. Have you ever had someone give you an impossible instruction? My boys like to look at the super cars at Fort Kinnaird. Lamborginis, Ferrari's, Bentleys, Porsches....
exp. If you go in there, the salesman will come by and say that all you need to do is put 50 thousand pounds down and make payments of 2,000 pounds a month for the next five years with a final payment of 100,000 pounds due at the end of the agreement.... if you ask them, "Do you own one?" (No they don't, because they can't do that kind of transaction and neither can we....) It is impossible - we can't afford a super car.
exp. John, the beloved disciple gives in these text a nearly impossible command. We nearly feel like we can't afford to love like this. We could balk at this command if John neglected to remind us that it is a command given to us by God.
note: John is the Apostle of Love because he so emphasized love in all his writing.
1. Love one another - Like God the Father loved you.
2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
question: Who commanded us from the beginning to love one another.
1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
exp. John says - "It's commanded" and "It is reasonable because the command giver did so Himself."
Joh 3:16 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.
ill. God knew ahead of time what He was going to do.
1.) He created us with a free will.
2.) He knew we would exercise that will against Him.
3.) He knew that he would have to sacrifice his own Son for our sin.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all
4.) He knew many would reject his offer of everlasting life.
5.) He went through with it anyway.
app. Do you love like that? Love people knowing they are going to wrong you. Love them so much that you would SACRIFICE ANYTHING to help them be right with God? Offer them whatever they need even though you know so many will reject that love.
app. This kind of love gives up everything without any consideration of reciprocation. Do you have that kind of love for one another this morning?
2. Love one another - Like God the Son loves you. (In Jesus own words.)
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
exp. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." (In the middle of those last two commands he said this....
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
exp. Jesus didn't just lay down his life for his friends. (Romans 5)
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
note: Since Jesus out of love layed down his life not just for his friends but for his enemies. Can't we lay down "our love" for our local church family?
app. What have you given in love for this local church body? (Time, energy, effort, ministry, care, concern.... What has love for ONE ANOTHER cost you?) We are to love as God loved.
B. Second, love one another by doing right towards one another.
exp. Nobody here would say this morning, "I'm perfect at 'loving one another.'" We feel very inadequate in our love towards each other because we often fail in love. If we were perfect in our love we would never sin towards God or each other.
question: You might think - Pastor, did you make a mistake in what you said? You said if we loved as we ought to love, we would never sin. Is that what you meant to say?
answer: That is what I said, because that is what the Bible teaches. (When mankind sinned against God it was because they failed to love God as they should.)
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
ill. I've talked before about my S1 class and our sinfulness. Another of our crimes that year, was that someone got a stamp and stamp pad in the cereal box one morning. We proceeded to stamp one another's shirts. When we were caught, we lied and said that we stamped our own shirts. (You may think - surely that sin wasn't committed because of a lack of love.)
1.) Did we love our parents who had provided our clothing?
2.) Did we love one another and care about each other's property?
3.) Did we love God, our teacher and the principal as we knowingly transgressed?
question: How much more seriously then is every sin, we have ever committed a transgression because of a failure to love.
- Would a gossip slander someone if they loved them.
- Would a thief steal from a person he truly loved?
- Would a boyfriend violate someone they really loved? (immorality)
app. Every sin you can think of, the problem will be a failure of love. Love each other and do right.
C. Third, love one another by having affection for one another.
exp. Often when we think about love - this is what we think about. A warm feeling in our hearts towards someone else. Although this isn't the essence of love, it is to be an expression of our love.
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
ill. I remember getting in fights with my brother and sister growing up. Part of our reconciliation was mom and dad making us give one another a hug.
saying - Kiss and make up.
note: In some european nations it is still common to greet one another with a kiss. And no - I'm not going to start a new greeting at our church - but here are 4 more affectionate one another texts.
Rom 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
1Co 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
2Co 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
1Th 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
note: 3 of those are our one another texts.
app. The point is - affection within the body of Christ is appropriate. If we love each other as we ought, there ought to be affection which is rightly demonstrated towards one another.
D. Fourth, love one another as a testimony that you are truly born again.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
note: LOVE IS OF GOD - WHAT A STATEMENT! Thow who truly love are born of God and knoweth God.
question: Do you mean an unbeliever can't truly love? They are not without love - it is that they can't love as they ought to love - they can't fulfil the law and fail constantly because they don't have the God of love in their hearts.
contrast: Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
note: Loving as we ought to love allows THE GOD OF LOVE to be seen in us.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
app. The greatest testimony we can give to this world is sincere love for one another. Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love one another - is the big rock - put it in first and all the other rocks we consider will fit in.
II. Serve one another.
exp. Your a good contributor to our community if you serve one another.
Gal 5:13 Brethren, .... by love serve one another.
ill. Jesus put on a towel to demonstrate this. (John 13)
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
exp. Jesus knew that God the father had given him ALL THINGS - he was from God and going to God. He rolled up his sleeves and did the job of a servant.
ill. Men's camp - low costs - kitchen volunteers - There are certain guys who have a servants hearts WHO BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER.
exp. At camp you should be someone who doesn't have to be reminded to get a towel.
note: Would you like to do something great for God - serve one another
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Serve one another)
III. Prefer one another.
exp. You are a good contributor to our community if you prefer one another.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
ill. We've all heard the stories of churches who have been split apart by an argument over the colour of the new carpet. We laugh and smile and think how silly. But, those are true stories.
question: How did it happen? There were people on both sides who refused to honour each other by letting them have their preference. THEY WANTED TO HONOUR THEMSELVES.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention:
app. Are you humble enough to prefer others in your family, your neighbourhood, your church?
IV. Judge not one another.
exp. You are a good contributor to our community if you don't pass judgment on one another.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
exp. Romans 14 is dealing with how we treat one another regarding things that are not issues of sin. One person may eat meat and thank God for it. The other person out of love for God may not eat meat. (It had to do specifically with meat that was offered to idols.)
note: The point of chapter 14 is IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER'S CHOICE - IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT GOD THINKS.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
app. Our church is going to have people with different views on some things that are not sin issues.
If we love each other we respect each other's right to have different views because we are not the judge - the judge is God.
V. Unite with one another.
exp. You are a good contributor to our community if you unite with one another.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
exp. To be united - they must receive each other - just like Jesus received us to the glory of God.
ill. Thomas Chalmers - as a minister of the church of Scotland - despised the high cost of pew rental as keeping the common man from being able to attend church.
ill. William Booth - took a group of destitute people to a Weslyan Chapel. They church was greatly offended by their presence and he was strongly cautioned against a repeat of his offence.
exp. A Biblical church is made up all classes of people from all walks of life.
app. We are to unite with all those who are accepted by Jesus into the family of God IN THE SAME WAY IN WHICH HE RECEIVED US. (Jesus never accepted OUR SIN - but he accepted us as a repentant sinner and so shall we if we do as He did.)
VI. Admonish one another.
exp. Just because we do not pass judgment on one another does not mean that we don't have a ministry the REPROVES, REBUKES, EXHORTS the body of Christ.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
note: If you want a sharp instrument it must go to the grinding wheel.
exp. We become dull when we don't get together to admonish one another. What keeps us sharp is the exhortation that comes from our communion with one another.
our texts:
A. A mature community admonishes one another.
Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
exp. Paul expected the Romans to be mature and know right from wrong.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
ill. When our MSP voted for homosexual marriage, I asked him how he voted and said, "Do you know what the Bible says about it?" He said, "no."
app. Let's not join the crowd - who act like they are ignorant of God's Word. We know it. God help us to hold one another accountable to God's holy book. Let's be mature followers of Jesus.
B. Our public worship will admonish one another.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
exp. The hymn texts which we sing are full of the richness of God's Word and as we lift up our voices together - those words teach and admonish.
hymn - Am I a Soldier of the Cross - Isaac Watts
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follow’r of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
app. Do you join your voice in singing? When you do, you teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
C. Our daily communication ought to exhort one another.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
exp. We may not live as close together as some believers did when the church began. BUT - by technology - we are only a phone call or text away from encouraging another believer to live in victory over sin. (Sin is a deceiver - but the church ought to exhort one another.)
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
app. Do you want to be a good part of the community? Help your brothers and sisters to victory.
D. Our consideration of one another will provoke one another to be here.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
exp. Out of consideration for one another, we encourage each other to be here and plan to be here ourselves. We need the exhortation and so does everyone else in our church.
conclusion: There are many communities in which we find ourselves.
- family
- neighbourhood
- work
- Our focus is on the church this morning - though these principles benefit us in every community in which we find ourselves.
You need to be a good contributor to your local new testament church community.
(How well are doing this morning as a member of our local church community?)
Love one another
Love one another as God loved you
By doing what is right towards one another
By having affection for one another
As a testimony that you are born again.
Serve one another - put on the towel
Prefer one another - put other's before yourself.
Unite with one another - accept into our assembly whoever God accepts
Judge not one another - God is the judge.
Admonish one another -
Be mature enough to know right and wrong.
Sing the hymns that teach and admonish
Send out communication as needed to help someone do right.
Provoke one another to faithful attendance.
God help us to be the best local new testament church community that we can possibly be!
(to be continued)
VIII. Don't argue with one another.
Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
IX. Don't be jealous of one another.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
X. Support one another.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
XI. Be patient with one another.
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
XII. Be kind and forgiving to one another.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
XIII. Comfort up one another.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
XIV. Edify one another.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
ill. Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
