Invest in One Another
Sermon 2: Invest in One Another
Main Passages: Various
Main Idea: Our faith is a one-another-faith. This means the isolated Christ-follower is weak, confused, and ineffective. But for the ones who wisely invest in relationship with their brothers and sister, we can see their confidence in God grow immensely. On this issue, Jesus and the New Testament are abundantly clear. There is no such thing as solo Christianity.
Consider the massive amount of space the New Testament spends on this topic
Into the Text
- “Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)
- “Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
- “Love one another.” (John 13:34a)
- “Love one another.” (John 13:34b)
- “Love one another.” (John 13:35)
- “Love one another.” (John 15:12)
- “Love one another.” (John 15:17)
- “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (Romans 12:10)
- “Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
- “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16)
- “Love one another.” (Romans 13:8)
- “Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)
- “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” (Romans 15:7)
- “Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)
- “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Romans 16:16)
- “When you come together to eat, wait for each other.” (I Cor. 11:33)
- “Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25)
- “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (I Corinthians 16:20)
- “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (II Corinthians 13:12)
- “Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
- “If you keep on biting and devouring each other … you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15)
- “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26)
- “Carry each other’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)
- “Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
- “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” (Ephesians 4:32)
- “Forgiving each other.” (Ephesians 4:32)
- “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19)
- “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
- “In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
- “Do not lie to each other.” (Colossians 3:9)
- “Bear with each other.” (Colossians 3:13)
- “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13)
- “Teach … [one another].” (Colossians 3:16)
- “Admonish one another.” (Colossians 3:16)
- “Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12)
- “Love each other.” (I Thessalonians 4:9)
- “Encourage each other.”(I Thessalonians 4:18)
- “Encourage each other.” I Thessalonians 5:11)
- “Build each other up.” (I Thessalonians 5:11)
- “Encourage one another daily.” (Hebrews 3:13)
- “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)
- “Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
- “Do not slander one another.” (James 4:11)
- “Don’t grumble against each other.” (James 5:9)
- “Confess your sins to each other.” (James 5:16)
- “Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)
- “Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 3:8)
- “Live in harmony with one another.” (I Peter 3:8)
- “Love each other deeply.” (I Peter 4:8)
- “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9)
- “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” (I Peter 4:10)
- “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” (I Peter 5:5)
- “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” (I Peter 5:14)
- “Love one another.” (I John 3:11)
- “Love one another.” (I John 3:23)
- “Love one another.” (I John 4:7)
- “Love one another.” (I John 4:11)
- “Love one another.” (I John 4:12)
- “Love one another.” (II John 5)
Ok, but what happens to all this one another talk when real persecution happens?
Let’s Narrow the Focus (Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians)
Background
- Paul and Silas help start this Church (Acts 17:1-4)
- They were persecuted by Roman officials (Acts 17:5-9)
- Some were jealous
- They stirred up a mob with a false accusation
- They brought local legal action against them
- Paul decided to flee this city during the time of persecution (Acts 17:10)
- Paul reconnects with this congregation through his letter
First:
Let’s notice how the church here was thriving. (1:2-3)
- If our goal is to avoid the very worst of persecution, then we may be avoiding God’s very best plans for His Kingdom.
Let’s Examine this “one another” mindset in 1 Thessalonians
- “Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9)
- They asked God to stir up a loving affection for one another
- This love was inspired by God’s teaching
- “Encourage each other.”(I Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11)
- This means to build up
- Keep on encouraging, because everybody needs it
KEY POINT
When persecution happens out there, we need to bond together in here.
Application:
To grow big faith, you need other people. You CANNOT do this alone.
How can you pour some of your freedom into community this week?