Building, Maintaining, And Nurturing Good Relationships THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CONNECTED TO OTHER CHRISTIANS

INTRODUCTION One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that of being connected to other Christians... 2 Peter 1:1 ...Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Being a child of God involves activity and some of that involves our "working together" with other Christians... So often we do not understand the importance of our "collective" work and live as though we believe in "solo Christianity"... Or maybe some believe we are to have just minimal involvement with others...

While some believe we should be doing more with each other on a more frequent level. There is a disconnect when it becomes what "they are doing" instead of what "we are doing"... The consequences of such attitudes are dangerous... Such eventually causes spiritual stagnation and worse... It is not God's intention that this should happen. Thus the significance of a Christian being connected to other Christians.

THERE IS THE "TOGETHER" ASPECT CHRISTIANS HAVE IN THEIR LIVES IN CHRIST... From the Bible we see some illustrations of our "togetherness"... One illustration is that of fellowship... Acts 2:42 ...And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ...God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

As Christians we are... "Fellow citizens" ...Ephesians 2:13, 19 ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ....Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, "Fellow heirs" ... Ephesians 3:6 ...that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, "Fellow workers" & "fellow soldier" ... Philippians 2:25 ...Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; We work together as we extend the right hand of "fellowship"... Galatians 2:9 ...and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. In short, we share together in the work and rewards of the Christian life...

Another illustration is that of "brotherhood“ 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. We need to feel a "family" consciousness about other Christians... We are the "house" or "family" of God... Ephesians 2:19 ...Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, One more illustration is that of "membership"... 1 Corinthians 12:27 ...Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. The church is Christ's body... Ephesians 1:22 ...And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Saints are "one body in Christ" and "members of one another" (Romans 12:5) ... Body members are functionally interdependent... 1Corinthians 12:26 ...And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. Each member must contribute to the body's growth... Ephesians 4:16 ...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

WHAT THEN ARE OUR SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHER CHRISTIANS? We have to maintain attitudes that promote this action, like... Concern for, and willingness to work with, one another... 1 Corinthians 12:21 ...And the eye may not say to the hand, I have no need of you: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.... 25 So that there might be no division in the body; but all the parts might have the same care for one another. 26 And if there is pain in one part of the body, all the parts will be feeling it; or if one part is honored, all the parts will be glad. (BBE) Appreciation for faithful Christians and their work... 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ...We give praise to God at all times for you, keeping you in memory in our prayers; 3 Having ever in mind your work of faith and acts of love and the strength of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; (BBE)

Affection and warmth... Philemon 7 ...For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Forbearance, longsuffering, patience, forgiveness... Colossians 3:12 ...Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

And we must let these attitudes produce actions like... Identifying as a member of a faithful congregation... Acts 9:26 ...And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. One places membership with the intent of being an actual, functioning member of that congregation... It involves making real commitments to the group...

Praying for the other members of one's own congregation... James 5:16 ...Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Submitting to the congregation's elders...(when they exist). Hebrews 13:17 ...Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Attending and participating in the assemblies of the church... Hebrews 10:24 ...And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Drifters, "floating members", etc., are unscriptural... (Hebrews 10:25) The Christian must not neglect God's provision for collective, congregational worship and study of God's Word... Every aspect of our assemblies are vital to the Christian... 1) The Lord's Supper 2) Praying 3) Singing 4) Preaching and teaching5) Giving as we have been prospered... Assembling together is not merely a routine to perform, but God's given provision for our spiritual good and any quibbles about whether we have to assemble reveal a wrong attitude... Contribute financially to the work of the congregation...

1 Corinthians 16:1 ...Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. God expects each member to engage personally and directly in the work of the congregation... Evangelism Edification Benevolence

CONCLUSION: Much of the joy in Christ comes from our relationships with other Christians... 3 John 3 ...For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Thus, our connection with one another is not only crucial to having joy, but to remaining faithful to the Lord so that we might experience all the blessings the Lord provides for His servants... And also that we might be encouraged by others to be diligent in fulfilling our responsibilities as Christians.