RELATIONSHIPS – PART 3
Our Relationship to One Another
-Introduction
-So far in our series of lessons, we’ve addressed:
-Our relationship with our Heavenly Father
-Our relationship with Jesus and His church
-In this lesson, let’s consider the importance of our relationship to one another.
-What/Who is the Church?
-What/Who is the church?
-1 Cor 1:2 – church, sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (Christians)
-The church is made up of those who have obeyed the Gospel of Christ and are no longer
serving sin but striving to serve God faithfully.
-So, obviously, our service to the church extends far beyond our times of worship and
far beyond the walls of this building!
-It is vitally important that we seriously consider our relationship one to another.
-Christianity is a “One Another” System:
-Rom 16:16 – salute one another (1 Cor 16:20, 2 Cor 13:12, 1 Pet 5:14)
-Rom 15:7 – receive ye one another
-Rom 15:14 – admonish one another
-Eph 4:2 – forbearing one another
-Eph 4:32 – forgiving one another
-1 Thess 5:11 – edify one another
-Heb 3:13 – exhort one another
-Heb 10:24 – consider one another
-Serving One Another – Gal 5:13
-Remember our role as servants – Rom 6:17-18, 22
-Mark 10:42-45 – example of Jesus
-If ever there was a person who walked the face of this earth that, in our minds, should
have been exempt from serving others, that person was Jesus.
-Yet, worthy of having all serve Him, He came to serve all.
-Let that example sink into your minds and into your hearts.
-1 Pet 2:21, 1 Cor 11:1
-Love One Another
-John 13:34-35
-God’s word has much to say regarding our love one for another.
-John 15:12-14, 17; 1 Thess 4:9-10
-1 John 3:11, 4:7-12
-If we don’t love one another, then our love for God is in vain.
-Think about the seriousness of that statement. Yet, it is true.
-Relationship Between Love and Service
-Matt 22:36-39 – What does it mean to love your neighbor?
-That love goes beyond an attitude and a feeling.
-Jas 2:15-16
-The love that Jesus spoke of is a love that wants what is best for one another. It is a love
that has another person’s best interest in mind. It is a love that is active – the application
of scripture.
-Gal 5:13-14
-Notice the connection between love and service.
-Those who will love you the most, be most helpful and encourage you: your brothers-
and-sisters in Christ. Those who will treat you the worst, betray you and discourage
you most: your brothers-and-sisters in Christ. The latter shouldn’t be but it is.
-To Serve Christ, We Need to Serve One Another
-Acts 9:4 – Saul’s persecution of the church was equated with persecution of Jesus. Who
was he persecuting? - Christians
-So, what we do to our fellow Christians is the equivalent of what we do to Jesus.
-Matt 25:31-40
-Our service to one another is equated with our service to Jesus.
-Now, how well are you serving Jesus?
-Summary and Invitation
-Are we too busy to love one another and serve one another?
-Let’s love one another and serve one another.
-Are we too focused on self to do things for others? Are we preferring one another, helping
one another, serving one another? Are we helping one another spiritually?
-Relationship with God = Relationship with Jesus = Relationship with His church =
Relationship with One Another
-These relationships should be the center and priority of our lives. Our lives should
revolve around these things. Our God is worth it!
-An invitation is offered – not because that’s just what you stick on the end of each lesson –
but because we care for your soul – the Lord cares for your soul.
-Won’t you respond to His word? Won’t you respond to His invitation?
-Obey the Gospel: Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10),
Repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts
17:30), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)
-If you have obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? Have you been
properly serving
Christ? If not, confess your shortcomings, repent of them and pray
for God’s forgiveness
(1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).