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Word of Life
Korea SYME Discipleship Topics
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Week 4: THE CHURCH
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The One Another Principle
Part 2
In His book, Harvest of Humility, John Seamands told of a wounded
German soldier who was ordered to go to the military hospital for treatment. He arrived at a large building that had two front doors. One was marked "For the slightly wounded" and the other "For the seriously wounded." He entered through the first door and found himself going down a long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, "For officers" and the other "For non-officers." He entered through the second door and found himself going down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked "For communist party members" and the other "For non-party members." He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street. When the soldier returned home, his mother asked him, "How did you get along at the hospital?" Well, mother,"he replied, "to tell you the truth the people there did not help me at all, but they are very organized.
Many churches have excellent organization. Their people are busy. They are organized. But are they really meeting the needs of people?
We saw yesterday that the church is like the human body. I Ephesians 4:16 Paul said "The whole body" is "joined together." Just like your fingers are connected to your hand and your leg is connected to your foot and your neck is connected to your head in the church we are connected to each other.
8. Love and Care for One Another
In the New Testament there are twelve different passages that include the phrase: "love one another." John 13:34-35 says,
John 13:34-35 |
"A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" |
(cf. John 15:12,17). In 1 Thessalonians 3:12 Paul was praying for the Thessalonian Christians that they might "increase and abound in love one toward another". He repeated this theme in 4:9. In the epistles of John, there are five verses that say "love one another" (1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:11-12; 2 John 5:5).
9. Be Kind to One Another
Ephesians 4:32 says,
To be kind is the opposite of being mean. It wants to help and not hurt others. "Tender-hearted" means "compassionate, having inner emotions of effections." When one of my children does something that is mean to another person or that hurts another child I do NOT laugh. I do NOT ignore them. I do NOT let them continue. I stop them. I say, "Come here." The Bible says be kind to each other. Are you being kind? If you are going to be mean I will have to punish you for that is disobeying God.
10. Comfort One Another
1 Thessalonians 4:18 says,
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Comfort each other." 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, "Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all." When someone is weak and you comfort them it gives them courage. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says that "two are better than one, ... for if they fall, one will lift up his companion." We need each other.
11. Encourage, Edify and Build Up One Another
The word "encourage" is the Greek word parakaleo. It is used 109 times in the New Testament. It can mean "to exhort, admonish or teach," or "to beg, entreat, beseech," or "to console, encourage, comfort,help." It's main purpose is to build up one another." Romans 14:19 says,
Romans 14:19 |
"Therefore let us pursue the things that make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." |
Some Christians act like they have the gift of discouragement. They always find negative things to say. A Christian should be an encourager, not a discourager. There are many ways we can do things. We can give (1) encouraging words, (2) acts or works of service, (3) gifts, (4) physical touch and (5) quality time.
12. Confess Your Faults to and Pray For One Another
James 5:16 says,
James 5:16 |
"Confess your tresspass to one another and pray for each other."
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The two verses before this (14-15) talk about physical healing. And if I confess my sins to a brother and he prays with me, it will bring healing. It will bring healing to myself and to God. It will bring healing in my relationship with my brother or sister. And it will bring healing in the church. The church is like the human body. When one part of the body hurts the whole body feels it. But confession brings healing to the body. Jesus is the great Physician (or doctor). And one of His methods for healing in the church is to confess our sins and be accountable to one another.
13. Show Hospitality to One Another
1 Peter 4:9 says,
1 Peter 4:9 |
"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." |
The emphasis of this passage is reaching out to others. It includes being warm and hospitable to others such as visitors at church or here at SYME, having people in our homes and promoting fellowship among believers. However in the New Testament times it primarily referred to helping suffering believers such as those in Hebrews 13:1-3; 10:32-34 and meant opening up their homes to those in need.
14. Forgive One Another
Colossians 3:13 says,
Colossians 3:13 |
"bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a compliant against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." | In fact, Ephesians 4:26 says, "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath." We are not to go to sleep at night with unforgiveness in my heart.
For application this week think of just one person you could encourage this week. It could be another student at SYME. It could be another person away from SYME; maybe a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a friend. Maybe you could write a letter or card. Maybe you could call them this weekend. Maybe you could put a gift in someone's mailbox. Maybe you could spend time with them. What will you do?
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by Steve Nicholes
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LINKS TO . . .
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