One Another Part 2

24/11/2019 13:17

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Date: 15 November, 2019
Text: Topical Message on "One Another." PART 2
Title: One Another
 
 INTRODUCTION:
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?)
 
VII. Be protectors of one another.
Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
ill. My family has enjoyed watching planet earth at times. I remember watching those with my dad growing up. You see the pride of lions stalking their prey. You are always half hopeful that the gazelle is going to get away. But, you know what is going to happen once the jaws of that lion clamp down. There is going to be a flurry of activity as the pride converges and tears that helpless animal apart - devouring it.
 exp. Paul uses that graphic picture to illustrate what a church community should not be. Don't bite and devour each other.
ill. One of the more awkward humerous moments on deputation was when a woman came up to me and said, "You may not remember me, but we were in nursery together and I remember once that I bit you on the face." She has turned into a very nice lady who it is evident no longer bites people at church.
 exp. We know that Paul isn't warning us about "physical biting" - so how could we be in danger of biting and devour people. Well - IT ISN'T OUR TEETH IT IS OUR TONGUE.
Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
James 3:8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
exp. A tongue can hurt with bitter words, angry words, complaining words, words of gossip.
 ill. Thomas Chalmers mother lived in the small community in Fife of Anstruthers. People were very social back then and would often visit in one another's homes. However, gossip was prevalent. If someone insisted on telling her something, she would immediately get up and go to that other person telling them what she had heard and asking them if it was true. (I imagine that people stopped telling her things.)
question: How careful are you within this local church community (and within other communities) to use your tongue wisely to protect other members of that community?
ill. Paul - as a preacher was careful in the use of his tongue lest he hurt his church community.
2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
exp. Paul even in admonishing them was careful that he do so in a way that protected the local church community.
 app. You are a good part of this community if you protect one another (from the danger of your tongue.)
 
XIII. Be selfless towards one another.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
 def. vain glory is self conceit - pride 
note: We just studied in Proverbs that pride is the root cause of contention.
Pro 13:10  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
 exp. When there is an argument - on one side or both sides there is pride.
exp. Pride will irritate our church community with jealousy. WE MUST BE ON GUARD AGAINST PRIDE AND SELFLESS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.
 ill. Pride was the root sin of Satan.
Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
ill. Pride is a danger to those who are just beginning to be leaders in a local church. 
1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
 ill. The disciples struggled with pride.
Mark 9:33  And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
 ill. Jesus had good advice for Peter as he struggled with pride in considering the apostle whom Jesus loved. - John 21:20  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
app. You'll benefit this local church community in a great way if you will be selfless towards one another and do what God has given you to do within this body. "What is that to thee, follow thou me."
 
IX. Support one another.
Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
exp. If you are selfless, you can see past your own problems to help others with burdens they are carrying.
 ill. Burden's Are Lifted at Calvary.
Hymn written by Pastor John Moore who pastored the Seaman's Chapel in Glasgow at the time. 
Man - who had fallen down the hold of the ship - from the South of England.
Visited him in a ward with 12-15 men - introduced himself to the bandaged up man.
Carried a bag of spiritual amunition - put hand in bag and grabbed the one from pilgrim's progress. (John Bunyan's book)
Pilgrim got to the cross and had his burden lifted - John Bunyan's testimony of savlation.
Praise God - the Seaman got saved.
note: We know sinners carry burdens, but believers can have burdens as well.
ill. There are two  men in the OT who represent our ability to lift up the weary hands of one another. They are Aaron and Hurr.  (Israel was fighting a battle against the Amelekites. Exodus 17)
11  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12  But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
app. Are you lifting up heavy hands and heavy hearts? You'll be a great help to our church community if you support one another.
 
X. Be patient with one another.
Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
 exp. Paul in this "one another" passage, instructs us to be humble, meek, longsuffering. But, the action that comes out of that is FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER.
def. Forbearing means -  patient and restrained. (Patiently not reacting.)
ill. When kids get in a fight you may here excuses like the following.
1.) He ticked me off.
2.) He purturbed me.
3.) He pushed my buttons.
4.) He's the instigator.
5.) He lit my fuse.
question: What was the problem - the problem was a lack of forbearance - patient restraint? 
- They had a short fuse. 
- They had a button that was easy to push.
question: Aren't you happy today that God doesn't have buttons that man can push and that he doesn't have a fuse. When God acts, it is not with impatience and He is always forbearing.
Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
 note: Israel had blown it - they had made a golden calf and entered into wicked idolatry - Moses had broken the tablets of stone - but God has come upon Mount Sanai again and there he made again the tables of stone with his law.
app. How long would we last if God wasn't patien and longsuffering?  Are you like the Lord this morning - suffering long - forebearing one another. You'll be a great contributor to our local church community if you are patient towards one another.
 
XI. Be kind to one another.
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another,
def. Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
 ill. Jesus told a story about kindness - (A man who was friendly, generous considerate.) We know him as the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10:30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
note: The good samaritan was kind to a stranger - caring for him, sacrificing time and money....
 app. GO AND DO THOU LIKEWISE! Are you friendly, generous and considerate of those in our local church community, if so, you will be a great contributor to our church community?
 
XII. Be sympathetic towards one another.
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, 
def. Tenderhearted - full of pity, compassionate, sympathetic
def. sympathy - feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
 ill. We love sympathy. On a run a couple weeks ago I hit my hand on a wheelie bin and got a wee cut. I wanted to tell my wife - I thought about it a couple times - because our heart craves sympathy. (The only reason I probably didn't tell her is that I didn't need sympathy, I needed someone to tell me to toughen up.)
note: Kids who get boo boo's don't go to their father - they go their mother - she is more sympathetic.
IF YOU HAVE A HARD UNCARING HEART YOU AREN'T GOING TO CARE WHAT HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE. (Guys we probably need to work on this more than the women.)
 note: Life is a lot rougher than just a wee bump or bruise. There are times when life is very difficult. We are facing a misfortune and we need a sympathetic member of this body to listen and by sympathetic to our difficulty.
Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
1Co 12:26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
app. You will be a great contributor to this local church community if you can have SYMPATHY (tender heart) with one another.
 
XIII. Forgive 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.
exp. Both of these texts have the same emphasis by Paul. God forgave you for Christ's sake. 
WE NEED TO FORGIVE FOR THE SAME REASON.
 ill. Jesus told a parable to illustrate this same truth.
Matthew 18: 21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
exp. Forgiveness is taking away a debt. When someone transgresses against you, if you don't forgive them it is because THEY OWE YOU AND YOU REFUSE TO CANCEL THEIR DEBT.
ill. You are not only to say "I forgive you" you are to forgive from your heart? Every parent who has corrected their children has seen at times someone forgive someone with their lips but not with their heart (gritted teeth and angry countenance) THAT IS NOT FORGIVENESS AT ALL.
exp. If you refuse to forgive FROM YOUR HEART, you won't be forgiven.
 app. You owe God so much more and God has forgiven you for Christ's sake. Surely there is nothing anyone else owes you greater than what God has forgiven you. You will be a great contributor to our church community if you forgive one another (from your heart.)
 
XIV. Comfort one another.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
exp. Here we find a great funeral text. How often this passage has been shared just as God intended at the graveside of a member of the local church community.
13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
 note: I've not preached many funerals. But, when I have preched a funeral, it has been my desire to comfort the family of the deceased. For this reason, I would much rather preach the funeral of a believer than a funeral for an unbeliever. Why - BECAUSE BELIEVERS CAN COMFORT BELIEVERS AT A BELIEVER'S FUNERAL.
app. There will be times in the life of this local church community where in times of deep sorrow, we'll need to come alongside with comfort for one another. THAT COMFORT WILL ALWAYS BE THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. If you comfort others with God's Word you are a great contributor to this local church community.
 
XV. Build up one another.
1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
exp. All of what we considered today has the purpose of "edifying" our local church community.
 def. To edify is to build up. WE CAN EITHER BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY OR TEAR IT DOWN.
Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
 ill. A barn raising, also historically called a raising bee or rearing in the U.K., is a collective action of a community, in which a barn for one of the members is built or rebuilt collectively by members of the community. Barn raising was particularly common in 18th- and 19th-century rural North America.
note: Our influence within our local church community ought to accomplish the building up of the body.
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.
 exp. Jesus didn't please himself but did what was in the best interest of others in His community.
app. You are a good part of this local church community if you are building up one another.
 
 Conclusion: 
We are all a part of different communities. We ought to be a good contributor to our communities expecially as we have consider - our local church community.
 
What kind of contributions are you making?
 
1) Are you protecting one another (from your tongue?)
 
2) Are you selfless towards one another? (more interested in other's interests)
 
3) Are you supporting towards one another? (helping carry burdens)
 
4) Are you patient towards one another? (not easily set off)
 
5) Are you kind towards one another? (generous and good)
 
6) Are you sympathetic towards one another? (Caring with your heart)
 
7) Are you forgiving one another? (No indebtedness because Jesus forgave you everything)
 
8) Are you building up one another? (Edifying not tearing down the local church community.)
 
May God help us as we help ONE ANOTHER.

Date: 15 November, 2019

Text: Topical Message on "One Another." PART 2

Title: One Another

 

 INTRODUCTION:

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?)

 

VII. Be protectors of one another.

Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

ill. My family has enjoyed watching planet earth at times. I remember watching those with my dad growing up. You see the pride of lions stalking their prey. You are always half hopeful that the gazelle is going to get away. But, you know what is going to happen once the jaws of that lion clamp down. There is going to be a flurry of activity as the pride converges and tears that helpless animal apart - devouring it.

 exp. Paul uses that graphic picture to illustrate what a church community should not be. Don't bite and devour each other.

ill. One of the more awkward humerous moments on deputation was when a woman came up to me and said, "You may not remember me, but we were in nursery together and I remember once that I bit you on the face." She has turned into a very nice lady who it is evident no longer bites people at church.

 exp. We know that Paul isn't warning us about "physical biting" - so how could we be in danger of biting and devour people. Well - IT ISN'T OUR TEETH IT IS OUR TONGUE.

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

James 3:8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

exp. A tongue can hurt with bitter words, angry words, complaining words, words of gossip.

 ill. Thomas Chalmers mother lived in the small community in Fife of Anstruthers. People were very social back then and would often visit in one another's homes. However, gossip was prevalent. If someone insisted on telling her something, she would immediately get up and go to that other person telling them what she had heard and asking them if it was true. (I imagine that people stopped telling her things.)

question: How careful are you within this local church community (and within other communities) to use your tongue wisely to protect other members of that community?

ill. Paul - as a preacher was careful in the use of his tongue lest he hurt his church community.

2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

exp. Paul even in admonishing them was careful that he do so in a way that protected the local church community.

 app. You are a good part of this community if you protect one another (from the danger of your tongue.)

 

XIII. Be selfless towards one another.

Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 def. vain glory is self conceit - pride 

note: We just studied in Proverbs that pride is the root cause of contention.

Pro 13:10  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

 exp. When there is an argument - on one side or both sides there is pride.

exp. Pride will irritate our church community with jealousy. WE MUST BE ON GUARD AGAINST PRIDE AND SELFLESS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.

 ill. Pride was the root sin of Satan.

Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

ill. Pride is a danger to those who are just beginning to be leaders in a local church. 

1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 ill. The disciples struggled with pride.

Mark 9:33  And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

 ill. Jesus had good advice for Peter as he struggled with pride in considering the apostle whom Jesus loved. - John 21:20  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

app. You'll benefit this local church community in a great way if you will be selfless towards one another and do what God has given you to do within this body. "What is that to thee, follow thou me."

 

IX. Support one another.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

exp. If you are selfless, you can see past your own problems to help others with burdens they are carrying.

 ill. Burden's Are Lifted at Calvary.

Hymn written by Pastor John Moore who pastored the Seaman's Chapel in Glasgow at the time. 

Man - who had fallen down the hold of the ship - from the South of England.

Visited him in a ward with 12-15 men - introduced himself to the bandaged up man.

Carried a bag of spiritual amunition - put hand in bag and grabbed the one from pilgrim's progress. (John Bunyan's book)

Pilgrim got to the cross and had his burden lifted - John Bunyan's testimony of savlation.

Praise God - the Seaman got saved.

note: We know sinners carry burdens, but believers can have burdens as well.

ill. There are two  men in the OT who represent our ability to lift up the weary hands of one another. They are Aaron and Hurr.  (Israel was fighting a battle against the Amelekites. Exodus 17)

11  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12  But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

app. Are you lifting up heavy hands and heavy hearts? You'll be a great help to our church community if you support one another.

 

X. Be patient with one another.

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 exp. Paul in this "one another" passage, instructs us to be humble, meek, longsuffering. But, the action that comes out of that is FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER.

def. Forbearing means -  patient and restrained. (Patiently not reacting.)

ill. When kids get in a fight you may here excuses like the following.

1.) He ticked me off.

2.) He purturbed me.

3.) He pushed my buttons.

4.) He's the instigator.

5.) He lit my fuse.

question: What was the problem - the problem was a lack of forbearance - patient restraint? 

- They had a short fuse. 

- They had a button that was easy to push.

question: Aren't you happy today that God doesn't have buttons that man can push and that he doesn't have a fuse. When God acts, it is not with impatience and He is always forbearing.

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

 note: Israel had blown it - they had made a golden calf and entered into wicked idolatry - Moses had broken the tablets of stone - but God has come upon Mount Sanai again and there he made again the tables of stone with his law.

app. How long would we last if God wasn't patien and longsuffering?  Are you like the Lord this morning - suffering long - forebearing one another. You'll be a great contributor to our local church community if you are patient towards one another.

 

XI. Be kind to one another.

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another,

def. Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

 ill. Jesus told a story about kindness - (A man who was friendly, generous considerate.) We know him as the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

note: The good samaritan was kind to a stranger - caring for him, sacrificing time and money....

 app. GO AND DO THOU LIKEWISE! Are you friendly, generous and considerate of those in our local church community, if so, you will be a great contributor to our church community?

 

XII. Be sympathetic towards one another.

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, 

def. Tenderhearted - full of pity, compassionate, sympathetic

def. sympathy - feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

 ill. We love sympathy. On a run a couple weeks ago I hit my hand on a wheelie bin and got a wee cut. I wanted to tell my wife - I thought about it a couple times - because our heart craves sympathy. (The only reason I probably didn't tell her is that I didn't need sympathy, I needed someone to tell me to toughen up.)

note: Kids who get boo boo's don't go to their father - they go their mother - she is more sympathetic.

IF YOU HAVE A HARD UNCARING HEART YOU AREN'T GOING TO CARE WHAT HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE. (Guys we probably need to work on this more than the women.)

 note: Life is a lot rougher than just a wee bump or bruise. There are times when life is very difficult. We are facing a misfortune and we need a sympathetic member of this body to listen and by sympathetic to our difficulty.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

1Co 12:26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

app. You will be a great contributor to this local church community if you can have SYMPATHY (tender heart) with one another.

 

XIII. Forgive 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.

exp. Both of these texts have the same emphasis by Paul. God forgave you for Christ's sake. 

WE NEED TO FORGIVE FOR THE SAME REASON.

 ill. Jesus told a parable to illustrate this same truth.

Matthew 18: 21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

exp. Forgiveness is taking away a debt. When someone transgresses against you, if you don't forgive them it is because THEY OWE YOU AND YOU REFUSE TO CANCEL THEIR DEBT.

ill. You are not only to say "I forgive you" you are to forgive from your heart? Every parent who has corrected their children has seen at times someone forgive someone with their lips but not with their heart (gritted teeth and angry countenance) THAT IS NOT FORGIVENESS AT ALL.

exp. If you refuse to forgive FROM YOUR HEART, you won't be forgiven.

 app. You owe God so much more and God has forgiven you for Christ's sake. Surely there is nothing anyone else owes you greater than what God has forgiven you. You will be a great contributor to our church community if you forgive one another (from your heart.)

 

XIV. Comfort one another.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

exp. Here we find a great funeral text. How often this passage has been shared just as God intended at the graveside of a member of the local church community.

13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 note: I've not preached many funerals. But, when I have preched a funeral, it has been my desire to comfort the family of the deceased. For this reason, I would much rather preach the funeral of a believer than a funeral for an unbeliever. Why - BECAUSE BELIEVERS CAN COMFORT BELIEVERS AT A BELIEVER'S FUNERAL.

app. There will be times in the life of this local church community where in times of deep sorrow, we'll need to come alongside with comfort for one another. THAT COMFORT WILL ALWAYS BE THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. If you comfort others with God's Word you are a great contributor to this local church community.

 

XV. Build up one another.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

exp. All of what we considered today has the purpose of "edifying" our local church community.

 def. To edify is to build up. WE CAN EITHER BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY OR TEAR IT DOWN.

Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

 ill. A barn raising, also historically called a raising bee or rearing in the U.K., is a collective action of a community, in which a barn for one of the members is built or rebuilt collectively by members of the community. Barn raising was particularly common in 18th- and 19th-century rural North America.

note: Our influence within our local church community ought to accomplish the building up of the body.

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.

 exp. Jesus didn't please himself but did what was in the best interest of others in His community.

app. You are a good part of this local church community if you are building up one another.

 

 Conclusion: 

We are all a part of different communities. We ought to be a good contributor to our communities expecially as we have consider - our local church community.

 

What kind of contributions are you making?

 

1) Are you protecting one another (from your tongue?)

 

2) Are you selfless towards one another? (more interested in other's interests)

 

3) Are you supporting towards one another? (helping carry burdens)

 

4) Are you patient towards one another? (not easily set off)

 

5) Are you kind towards one another? (generous and good)

 

6) Are you sympathetic towards one another? (Caring with your heart)

 

7) Are you forgiving one another? (No indebtedness because Jesus forgave you everything)

 

8) Are you building up one another? (Edifying not tearing down the local church community.)

 

May God help us as we help ONE ANOTHER.

 

 

 

 

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