One Another - Brooks Criswell

Why are we here? Why are each one of us here

assembled in this building tonight?

And I asked us this to hopefully give us pause because certainly,

there are many right answers. You know, we're here because

Christ died for us and he instituted his church that we

can read about Matthew 16 and 18.

We're here because we're members of that church and that we want

to continued steadfastly in doctor and just as we see in

Acts chapter 2, we're also here because God has commanded very

Acts 2 · chapter mention

expressways that we are to worship him which we can read

about in verses such as Corinthians chapter 11.

But well, does some of the things that we didn't look at in

that list? You know, there's lots of people

throughout this world today who are assembled in churches,

similar to ours. But there for there for entirely

different reasons, unlike those men and women, we're not here

because of what the church physically offers us.

We're not here because this building has, you know, a great

band behind me. We're not here because we have a

great day care program, because we have a giant gymnasium back

behind us, and on a more personal.

So now, getting back to our actual topic, we're not here

because we necessarily like the other members of this building

now certainly, we hope that's the case.

And that's something we want to grow and Foster, but I think as

we can see our work, here is the church.

It's not at all contingent upon our personal feelings.

It doesn't matter if we love the person sitting next to us or in

front of us, and it doesn't matter if there's a person

across the aisle, that we may not be able to stand be around.

We still have the same obligation to that person,

regardless of our feelings because they're a fellow member

of the, body of Christ. But what exactly is our

responsibility to one another? What does the Bible have to say

about those relationships and fortunately, for us gods, made

it pretty simple. The phrase one another, that

we've mentioned as it pertains to our relationships with those

around us. And Christ, it's used almost 100

times throughout the New Testament.

And obviously, we're not going to go through every one of those

settings tonight, but I think there's a couple overall

overarching themes that we can apply in our relationships with

one another. If we want the church to be what

it needs to be. And before I even list those

three categories, I do want to interject our relationships with

our fellow Christians are never going to be what they need to be

unless our Should ship with God as correct, first of all.

But be that as it may, I think the easiest place to start like

I said is with three overall categories.

The first and second are pretty simple, what not to do, what to

do for our brothers and sisters and the third is more of, how

can we help each other get to heaven what spiritual

responsibilities do? I have to my brothers and

sisters in Christ but let's start with the first.

Like I said, it's probably the simplest.

I mean, I'll all it is really is avoiding certain In things.

But it's still very, very important.

We can't expect any of our relationships to be what they

ought to be tonight by divine intervention or some form of

magic. It's going to take work, it's

going to take effort. Look at Galatians, five and

twenty six and we'll start here. Let us not become conceited.

Provoking one, another envying, one.

Another. Now, if you were to go back and

read the first few sections of this chapter, you'll see the

Paul's really been discussing the fruits of the spirit.

He's been discussing what it means to walk in the spirit, how

our Christian lives are supposed to be spent the way God wants

them to be spent. So really, as a base Foundation

of everything we discussed today.

It's our hearts, everything starts here, Proverbs 23, and

verse 7. As a man thinks in his heart, so

is he And our hearts need to view fellow Christians the same

way Christ does read Ephesians 5 and 25.

Husbands love your wives. Even as Christ also loved the

church and gave himself for her Christ, gave himself for his

Organization for his church. He gave everything.

He had to sanctify and to establish it.

So who do we think we are to treat its members with contempt

with disrespect? And Romans, 5:8 says, not only

did Christ do this, but he did it for us while we were still

Sinners, he died for those who hated him.

So our attitude towards our brothers and sisters, it

honestly should be irrelevant to anything.

They say anything they think or even anything that they do.

It doesn't matter who they are, it doesn't matter what their

attitude is towards us. We still are commanded to

practice that same love toward them that Christ has for us.

And thinking for me, you know, maybe it'd be easier to have

this attitude if I stopped and actually thought about who those

members are. If I stop thinking of them in

negative ways, but in still, maybe instead may be remembered

that they are fellow Christians that their souls, their people

who are trying, just the way I am.

And there's someone that Christ died for just as he did me.

I'm not anything special. I'm not better than they are.

We're not better than each other.

We're just different And we need God's love and grace just as

much as the person sitting next to us.

No exceptions. So again, do we think of other

people as souls or people that Christ died for?

And I want to interject that this lesson really isn't for you

all tonight. It's another refresher for

myself because these are the kinds of things that it's it's

difficult for me. I like to check a box and be

done with it, but it's hard to view people the way Christ does.

Now, of course, it matters of error, we don't accept people as

they are, we don't brush sin under the rug but we still have

an obligation to always, always always speak.

The truth in love Ephesians 4 and 15 and if we can't address

are in love, then I want to submit to you that you might

want to get someone else to address that are Or you sin as

well and you may run the risk of doing more damage than good to

the Lord's body pushing people away, rather than bringing them

back to Christ. So, back to Galatians, 5 and 26,

don't provoke one, another meaning, don't look for ways to

stir up anger. Don't look for ways to point out

negative emotions and our fellow Christians and Paul addresses

where, so many of those things started with Envy.

Maybe we feel that there's someone who were jealous of,

maybe they're getting more attention than we think they

ought to get. Or maybe we want, whatever it is

that we perceive they have, we have to squelch that emotion

right away, because if we don't, it's going to continue to build

until the next few verses that we talked about.

We'll see. It has no place in our

relationships. We don't envy one another.

But instead we Rejoice with one, another Romans 12, and 15

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, we

need to be so connected to our fellow brothers and sisters.

That when one thing happens to them, we feel that emotion ride

along with them. You know, do you ever think of

us as a body, the Bible describes it that way multiple

multiple times. So when you go in the gym or

maybe out in the yard, whatever it is, you're doing, if you go

to lift a heavy weight with your left hand, if it's too much for

that left hand to handle what happens.

Well, immediately I'm going to bring my right hand in to try

and help support that weight. My right hand doesn't sit back

and think. Wow, I'm so glad I'm not the

left hand right now. There's no way I could handle

that. No, it's an immediate response

and in fact not only is my other hand going to come into play.

I'm probably going to start straightening and bending my

entire Body to support that weight and help that left hand

out. That should be the same that we

do for our fellow members in the body of Christ and it's a

reflex. It's not something that we need

to be thinking about and wondering.

OK, do I do this? Do I not?

It needs to be instantaneous if we're going to be as connected

as Christ commands us to be First Corinthians 12, 26, and

27. And if one member suffers all

the members suffer with it, or if one member is honored all the

members Rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ

and members individually. So, now is the time for us to

start reaching out. And if you are the person who

maybe you're the left-hand, who's hurting, don't think that

you can't also be reaching out to other members who might also

be hurting ever been working out in the yard and you cut both of

your hands. Well if you do, I'm still going

to be needing. Both my hands to bandage.

The other one. Ever tried to put a bandaid on

with the same hand doesn't work. Same thing goes for the body of

Christ, doesn't matter who's hurting or doesn't matter.

If you're the one hurting, you can still reach out, you can

still have an impact on your fellow members in Christ.

But again, what are we doing for one another?

It's up to us to answer that question.

I'm moving back to Galatians back up.

A few verses, to verse 15 of that.

Fifth chapter that we were already reading in the Apostle

Paul says, but if you bite and devour one, another beware lest

you be consumed by one. Another remember I mentioned

there was a bigger consequence. Well, this is where Paul starts

to get into it. It starts in our heart but it's

going to very quickly manifest itself in each one of our

actions. So Paul tells the Brethren here

and us, keep your actions in check.

Pay attention, if you're going to be envious of one another,

the natural response is going to be bitterness.

And that manifests itself in several ways biting or stinging,

is this Greek word can also report refer to basically any

sharp and deliberate pain. We go about inflicting on our

brothers and sisters. And we might feel totally

justified and what we're doing they may very well have

something that needs correction and something that needs to be

addressed. But regardless of the reason

again we're only authorized to speak to one another in love.

We may be direct, we may admonish.

When fact, we're commanded to a montage and rebuke but only out

of love, never with the intent to harm or to lash out.

Now, the next thing Paul mentions here is devouring

eating each other alive is what the connotation is.

So the bite and sting might start small but before long it's

going to escalate and it seems to me that Paul is really

addressing both our words and our Deeds here by saying word

and deed by saying B and devoured, both our speech, and

our actions have to be aligned and have to be Godly towards our

fellow Christians or what. So what if they aren't Paul,

what's the big deal? You know, we're all going to

show up here building once a Regardless, what's the big deal?

Well, Paul answers that too, he says, beware lest you be

consumed by one another As cliche as this may sound,

there's no winner when it comes to bitterness and slandering.

There truly are only two losers in that fight and both will end

up being destroyed by it. And what's more, so is God's

body. So it's God's house that were

commanded to build up. So we need to always keep our

hearts in our actions in check and is Ephesians 4:31 commands

Ephesians 4:31

us. Let all bitterness and wrath and

anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with

all. Malice.

Now, there are other excellent verses that we could go to.

That gives us plenty of don'ts. Such as Romans, 14 and 13, do

not judge one, another, don't put a stumbling block in one

another's, way, or maybe John 6, + 43, don't Grumble against one

another, but I think the underlying principle we've

already touched on in these things.

And I think there's summed up by the themes that we've already

read from Galatians. So I want us to move on to the

vowel shallots and this is where things really get convicting at

least for me because like I said, it's really easy for me to

Check that box and think, you know, I haven't done that.

Haven't done that, haven't done that.

I'm pretty good with everybody. So I just kind of wash my hands

and that's all I need to do. Well, that's wrong.

We still have a great, great obligation.

You mean, even though we're in good, standings, with other

people, we still have more that needs to be done.

Yeah, that's exactly what this means.

And that's why I struggle with it because in addition to

checking a box, I also, I like my personal time.

I like to leave church at church think.

Okay, I've associated with the members now, it's time to go

back and do what I want to do. But that's not pleasing to God.

That's not what he's after in his body.

And think of the implications here, not only can we not treat

each other in certain ways, but we have certain ways that we

must treat. Arch, other treat each other

with skew. Meaning, we have actions that

have to be taken and we have to work.

We have to go out of our way to do some of these things.

We can't be passive in our relationships towards our

brethren. At least not if we expect the

church to be what it needs to be.

Why else would Paul liken it to a race in second?

Timothy 4 & 7. So what all does that entail?

What are all those actions that were talking about?

Well, first of all, I do find it interesting that while I was

putting this lesson together, it was a lot easier to find do's

and don'ts throughout the scripture for our relationships.

And I don't think that's any coincidence because if we're

busy doing the work of the Lord, doing what we need to be doing

for our brothers and sisters, we don't have to worry about the

don'ts. They're already taken care of.

Of. But be that as it may first off,

I want to notice a broad command that we have in the scriptures

Mark 9 + 50 salt is good but if the salt loses its flavor, how

will you season? It have salt in yourselves and

have peace with one another. There's that word again, one

another God has always intended as people to be a peaceful

people, but this is especially true in the church.

We can't expect to accomplish God's will tonight if we're

constantly fighting or aren't at peace in our own congregation

Jesus himself said that A House Divided is not going to stand in

Matthew chapter, asking me, Matthew chapter 12 and also

Matthew 12 · chapter mention

think back to versus such as Matthew 5.

And 9 blessed are the peace makers takes work takes effort

or how about James 3 and 18. Now, the fruit of righteousness,

is sown in Peace by those who make peace again, making peace.

Actively sewing the fruits of righteousness.

That's our responsibility But how do we go about doing this?

How do we achieve that peace that God is intended for all of

us to have? Well not surprising.

Yet again, it starts in our hearts John 13:34.

John 13:34

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, that's how we're even

identified as Christians by the world.

Is that blood brotherly love. So can we honestly say we're

loving one? Another, if we're practicing

some of those don'ts that we already talked about if we're

gossiping backbiting, treating each other negatively, perhaps

it would do all of us. Well, to remember that, every

time we do these things, we weaken the church.

And what's more than that, we're not even showing ourselves to be

Christians. We're not even demonstrating

ourselves to be the very people in the very things.

God put us on this Earth to be And how do we love as Christ?

Did giving every bit of himself for a world that absolutely

hated him? No.

Thought of anything in return. No thought for self at all.

That's our job, especially with members of the church.

And I really want all of us to consider this right now.

Remember how we're supposed to treat our fellow Christians

because we only get one shot at this down here?

That's it. And we may not get any kind of a

second chance. Once the damage is done now

certainly that love can take a lot of forms and the Bible gives

us a few. So I want us to look back and

look at what it means to love each other as Christ, did term

with me yet again, to Galatians the fifth chapter and I think

verse 33 verse 13 summarizes. The issue quite well For you

Brethren have been called. The Liberty.

Only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but

through love serve one another Now, the context here is pretty

interesting, Paul has just been discussing Christian Liberties.

In other words, these are things that these Christians may very

well have the right to do. They may very well have the

right to do the things that they want to do.

But so often we get wrapped up in.

Do I have the right to do something that we miss?

The bigger picture. Paul isn't addressing these

Liberties saying, okay, you have the right, you're good to go.

He's addressing these things saying.

Okay you have the right awesome. Give it up.

Let go of That thing, if it benefits, someone else in the

church. That's what Paul's getting at

give up what you may be allowed to do.

If it benefits another member of the body of Christ and no

person, better exemplified this than Christ himself.

Go back again to John the 13th chapter.

Now we already read a section of this but I want to read a few

more verses. So when he had washed their feet

taken his garments and sat down again, he said to them, do you

know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord and

you say well for so I am if I then your lord and teacher have

washed your feet. You also ought to wash.

One another's feet for. I have given you an example that

you should do. As I have done to you, verses 12

through 15. Frank even talked about this

this morning and remember where we are also in Jesus life.

He's at the end of it, this is at the end of his ministry.

He's already done so much to serve them and what's more?

He's about to die for them. And not only that, but the

disciples have just been arguing and bickering among themselves

as to, which one's the greatest. So in my mind I can't help but

think Christ has got to be sitting back thinking seriously

guys. I'm the one who's about to die

for you so you guys need to hush.

I'm obviously the greatest, but he doesn't do that.

Instead he Stoops even lower and performs a slaves job for these

ungrateful disciples touching their dirty and disgusting feet.

He gives us this as an example and then what's more an explicit

command that we need to be doing these same kinds of things for

our fellow brothers and sisters. We have to find a way to put

those things into practice or how about Romans 12 and 10 be

devoted to one another in love and devotion.

That's a pretty strong. That's a pretty strong sentiment

willing to set everything else aside and then there's

Philippians 2 & 3. Let nothing be done through

selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind, And let

each esteem one. Another better than himself.

Think of each other as more important than you are.

Then the actions really follow naturally.

And the same chapter again says, this is what Christ did.

He didn't cling to equality with God, but instead he made himself

of no reputation and became a servant submitting himself to

God's will. And I think that humility is the

key here. That's really what it takes in

order for us to have the right attitude serving one another

Now, there's again, countless more versus we could discuss,

but I want us to move on and wrap up with our last section.

We know how to treat each other. We know how not to treat each

other, but there's one more incredibly important concept

tonight. If we want the church to be what

it needs to be, then we have spiritual obligations to one

another. We have to watch out for each

other's souls. And really, if you think about

it, this is the Capstone of our love for each other.

How better could we show love to our fellow brothers and making

sure that they're in good standing with God and we all get

to heaven. I want to start with Colossians

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 in verses 12 through 13.

Therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved put on Tender

Mercies kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering bearing

with one another and forgiving one.

Another, if anyone has a complaint against one another

even as Christ forgave you. So you also must do Now, think

about what Paul is really saying here.

First of all, he reminds each of us who we are, the elect, he

says those chosen by God to come out of the world, to be

different from the world to do, his will to obey him and his

kingdom. So are we not to keep this in

mind when our with our interactions with our Brethren?

Remember who you're addressing with the phrase, one another, a

Christian and I remember who you are, you're a Christian Not only

are we the elect. But Paul also says that we're

beloved, we're Sanctified and loved by God.

And as such again, we've been given an important role to play

in. One another's lives, we can't

downplay that. Being merciful just as Christ

had mercy. Upon us, being kind to one

another being humble and meek, just, as Jesus was Meek every

action throughout Jesus entire life.

Even when he was upset, exhibited, perfect self-control

that's our responsibility to our fellow.

Christians and then the last few things once again stress the

terms one, another long-suffering and bearing with

one another be patient with your brothers and sisters, don't be

angry. Don't get frustrated with them.

But bear with them and I want to insert Galatians 6, and verse 2

right here at this point. Not only do we bear with our

Brethren but we bear for our Brethren bear.

One another's burdens that verse says, We help them with their

loads and we again, always do it out of love, not obligation, not

forcibly, but out of love. But above all these things put

on love which is the bond of perfection, Colossians 3 and 14.

That love is what's going to bind us together when hard times

come along, we can't lose that as the body of Christ, but

there's one last thing in verse 13 that gets touched on here.

And I think it would be a mistake not to dwell on it for

just a little bit forgiveness. And that's a hard concept, you

know. It's one thing to be patient

with someone, it's one thing to help them bear up their burdens.

It's one thing to be long-suffering with them, but

when you're the target of that person, that's a whole nother

ball game. But it is what we're commanded

even when we're the target, we forgive and we bear with one

another, and it doesn't matter what they've done and it doesn't

matter how many times they've done it, Matthew, 18, and 21.

Then Peter came and said to him. Lord, how oft shall my brother

sin against me? And I forgive him up to seven

times. Jesus said, to him, I do not say

up to you, seven times, but up, to Seventy Times Seven, as often

as we're in a situation that needs forgiveness.

We forgive it's that simple. But why pile?

Excuse me, Paul? Really drives it home, with this

next Point, even as Christ, forgave you again.

God, himself is our example, the night.

God himself, is who we hold ourselves up against a see if

we're meeting the criteria. And if you can count the amount

of times God has forgiven you tonight.

Maybe you've got a number that you can apply to your fellow

Christians, but I doubt any of us can count that high.

So what other spiritual obligations?

Do we have tonight flip over to 1st Thessalonians?

5 and 11. Therefore comfort each other and

edify, one another just as you are also doing well.

First of all he says Comfort, one another and again that plays

perfectly into what we've already been discussing.

It builds perfectly on the back of bearing burdens forgiving.

We can be there to lift our brothers and sisters when

they're down. And I think here, this may be an

odd example, but I think here of the Apostle Peter that even he

was able to lift up Jesus in a low point, Flip with me to John

John 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6 and will read verse 66 through 69.

From that time many of his disciples went back and walked

with him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve,

do you also want to go away? Jesus is genuinely hurt here.

He knows the hearts of men and he's incredibly saddened by

their carnal mind set. You know, he's just performed a

pretty awesome Miracle. He's fed thousands of people,

but once it comes time for the spiritual food, once it comes

time for the hard lessons about obedience.

Those same people, hop off the bandwagon, they're nowhere to be

found. So Jesus and discouragement

turns to his disciples and says, you know, you guys going to

leave me. But look at Peter's response,

but Simon Peter answered him. Lord to whom, shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Also, we have come to believe and know that you are the

Christ, the son of the Living. God, he Comforts Jesus.

He lets him know that his preaching hasn't fallen on deaf

ears. His ministry isn't in vain, and

it's up for us to look for ways to emulate that when it comes to

our fellow brothers and sisters. But there's one last Point

inverse that verse in Thessalonians that we need to

address edification edifying. Strengthening one another in

Christ is one of the biggest roles we can play in each

other's lives and we have to be doing that.

As members of his body constantly feeding each other

constantly helping each other grow spiritually.

And you know I think about it's real easy to complain about

people who we think are weak in the faith.

I can't believe what so-and-so did.

Can't believe that they even call themselves a Christian.

I think even showing up to services.

But what are we doing about it? How are we going about edifying

that person? How are we going about

strengthening that person? And along the same thought,

Hebrews 10 and 24 says, we need to be stirring up one another to

love and good works. So let me ask us this after we

interact with our fellow Christians after we leave here.

Will we have felt edified? Will we have felt stirred on to

be even better Christians in this up and coming week, because

we should that's our goal with any interaction, we have with

our fellow brothers and sisters. That's our goal. and in order to

do some of these things, we also need to be willing to be

vulnerable with our brothers and sisters and I mean this in a

very specific way James 5 and 16 confess your trespasses one to

another and pray for one another that you may be healed the

effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much Are we

willing to admit our faults and our sins to our fellow

Christians because that's the only way we can truly help one

another if we know what they're up against.

If we know each other struggles, and that also means on the

receiving end that when someone is opening up to us, we can't

react harshly and judgmentally. We have to be willing to react

as Christ. Did not judging them but willing

to help them through these things.

We looked at this first a little bit but I'll actually read it in

its entirety, Romans 14 and 13, therefore, let us not judge one

another anymore, but rather resolve this not to put a

stumbling block or caused a fall in her brother's way.

And how about that second part in the verse in James, pray, for

one another, you know, that should be the simplest and

easiest thing, if nothing else that we're doing for our fellow

Christians constantly going before God on their behalf.

And what's more James tells us, it's effective, it's worthwhile,

it's powerful. Well again there's countless

more lessons that I think we could apply here to our study

like being hospitable to one another first, Peter 4 & 9 or

maybe speaking the truth in love to one another if he's ins for

25. But again, I think the few

things that we have touched on this evening, really Encompass

the glove, the broad majority of our responsibilities there,

really a good place to start when we're looking for how to

treat our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

You know, we have a huge blessing with a people sitting

around us tonight. We have a huge blessing and a

huge asset that God has given us.

So let us always strive to remember our spot

responsibilities toward one another, and not take those

things for granted. We thank you for listening to

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