PURSUE \u201cONE ANOTHER\u201d RELATIONSHIPS<\/strong> in the church. John 13:34<\/strong> John 13:14<\/strong> Romans 12:16<\/strong> 1 Thessalonians 4:18<\/strong> 1 Thessalonians 5:15<\/strong> James 5:16<\/strong> These commands necessitate relationships in which we intentionally serve each other. We need others, and they need us as well. Obeying these commands is both inviting and scary at the same time. When members of a spiritual community reach a sacred place of vulnerability and authenticity, something is released. Something good begins to happen. An appetite for holy things is stirred. For just a moment, the longing to know God becomes intense, stronger than all other passions, worth whatever price must be paid for it. Spiritual togetherness, what I call connecting, creates movement: Togetherness in Christ encourages movement toward Christ.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Most churches include small gatherings as part of their ministry. They may be called by different names (life groups or community groups, for instance). They are great opportunities to practice the \u201cone another\u201d commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 If you are part of a small gathering<\/strong> that practices these \u201cone another\u201d commands, well done! Take a small step to live out a \u201cone another\u201d command with someone in your group today. Church is \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 a total identity that is ours in Christ Some \u201cone another\u201d commands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Greet one another (Rom. 16:16) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HABIT 5, LESSON 4 One Another PURSUE \u201cONE ANOTHER\u201d RELATIONSHIPS in the church.It\u2019s easy to think of church as a Sunday worship service. As we discussed in the previous lesson, worship services are important. But the church is also a lot more.The church is a community and a family in which we get to follow […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-8hfg"],"yoast_head":"\n
It\u2019s easy to think of church as a Sunday worship service. As we discussed in the previous lesson, worship services are important. But the church is also a lot more.
The church is a community and a family in which we get to follow the \u201cone another\u201d commands of Scripture.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLOVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
John 13:35<\/strong>
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 15:12<\/strong>
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17<\/strong>
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Romans 12:10<\/strong>
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 16:16<\/strong>
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 16:20<\/strong>
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12<\/strong>
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Galatians 5:26<\/strong>
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 6:2<\/strong>
Bear one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Peter 4:8<\/strong>
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 5:14<\/strong>
Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
1 John 3:11<\/strong>
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:23<\/strong>
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
1 John 4:7<\/strong>
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:11<\/strong>
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12<\/strong>
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
2 John 5<\/strong>
And now I ask you, dear lady\u2014not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning\u2014that we love one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSERVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another\u2019s feet.
Romans 15:14<\/strong>
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
Galatians 5:13<\/strong>
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Ephesians 5:19<\/strong>
\u2026 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart \u2026
Colossians 3:16<\/strong>
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1 Peter 4:9<\/strong>
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:10<\/strong>
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God\u2019s varied grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPROMOTE UNITY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Romans 14:13<\/strong>
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Romans 15:5<\/strong>
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:7<\/strong>
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 11:33<\/strong>
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
2 Corinthians 13:11<\/strong>
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Ephesians 4:2<\/strong>
\u2026 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love \u2026
Ephesians 4:32<\/strong>
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 5:21<\/strong>
\u2026 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Colossians 3:9<\/strong>
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.
Colossians 3:13<\/strong>
\u2026 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
1 Peter 5:5<\/strong>
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for \u201cGod opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nENCOURAGE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:11<\/strong>
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13<\/strong>
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called \u201ctoday,\u201d that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:24<\/strong>
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works \u2026
Hebrews 10:25<\/strong>
\u2026 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAVOID SINNING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
James 4:11<\/strong>
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
James 5:9<\/strong>
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCONFESS SIN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal for all of us should be to mentor and disciple others, helping them to grow. A good way to start is to practice the \u201cone another\u201d commands. Most of us feel inadequate to mentor others, but, with God\u2019s help, all of us can obey these commands. Look for a person or group of people, and get started.
The best place for this to happen is in small gatherings, often called small groups. It\u2019s where we switch from sitting in rows to sitting in circles. We begin to open our lives, to serve others, and to allow others to serve as well.
Obeying the one-another commands of Scripture is essential to the Christian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBIBLICAL COMMUNITY IS INVITING AND SCARY <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s inviting, because we all want relationships like this. We want to be known, loved, encouraged, supported, prayed for, received, and forgiven. When we experience these kinds of relationships, we feel alive. It feels like we could meet any challenge. We feel safe.
This is exactly what church should be like: a place where everyone is welcomed, warmly greeted, and loved.
But it\u2019s also scary. Being known means dropping the mask. It means letting people into our lives, including the messy parts. It also means loving, encouraging, supporting, and praying for others. It\u2019s inconvenient, and it takes time.
These kinds of relationships also involve risk. What if we open ourselves up, and we\u2019re disappointed? The truth is that this will probably happen. Pursue this kind of relationship anyway. It\u2019s worth the inconvenience and the possibility\u2014even likelihood\u2014of getting hurt.
Larry Crabb describes what this can look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\nFOR TODAY <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 If you are part of a church but haven\u2019t joined a small gathering<\/strong>, find out how you can join one. Visit the church website to see if they have small groups available, or contact the church to find out how to join one.
\u2022 If you aren\u2019t part of a church<\/strong>, then look for a church that has the essential qualities of a good church (see Habit 5, Lesson 2) and offers small groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReflect and Respond<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
REVIEW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 a community and family
\u2022 intentional relationships in which we live out \u201cone another\u201d commands
\u2022 where we are known, loved, encouraged, supported, prayed for, received, forgiven
\u2022 inconvenient, time-consuming, at times disappointing and painful, but always worth it<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18)
\u2022 Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)
\u2022 Build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11)
\u2022 Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
\u2022 Love one another (John 13:34)
\u2022 Bear one another\u2019s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
\u2022 Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)
\u2022 Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)
\u2022 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another (Eph. 4:32)
\u2022 Welcome one another (Rom. 15:7)
\u2022 Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)
\u2022 Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
\u2022 Pray for one another (James 5:16)
\u2022 Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)<\/p>\n\n\n\nCONSIDER <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSS <\/h2>\n\n\n\n