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1 Corinthians 10 Parallel with Romans 14 2 Peter 1:5-7

Welcome! Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM www.SunsetchurchofChrist.net

Judges 5:3 "Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers Judges 5:3 "Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I--to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel” Hymns Invitation Red Songbook - Supplemental

Rules for Christian Communications 1 Peter 3:8-12 Story of John in Matthew 11

A Way of Dialogue “according to the Way” Acts 24:14 Between God and man The Word of God Prayer

A Way of Dialogue Between people of the Way 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encourage one another James 5:16 – Confess sins to one another Romans 15:14 – Admonish one another Matthew 18:15-18 – Confront about sin Matthew 5:23-24 – Reconcile with one another Colossians 3:16 – Teach one another

A Way of Dialogue For many of us, talking is difficult - Hate confrontation - Afraid of saying the wrong thing - Guilty of saying the wrong thing - Don’t think about the need to say it

Saying the Wrong Thing “You just need to get it together. Quit complaining and you will feel better” – Sister in Christ PURPOSE: encourage a depressed Christian RESULT: Christian moved away

Saying the Wrong Thing “If you don’t agree with us, there is the door” – An elder of the church PURPOSE: Admonish weaker Christians RESULT: A split of the congregation

Saying the Wrong Thing “This is a clear doctrine, and if you can’t see it you are just dumb” – A teacher of the church PURPOSE: Edification by teaching RESULT: Loss of respect and credibility

Saying the Wrong Thing PURPOSE: Encourage a non-believer “You did what? I’ve never done THAT in my life!” – A preacher of the church PURPOSE: Encourage a non-believer RESULT: Non-obedience

Saying the Wrong Thing “You ought to be ashamed of yourself for letting your children act that way” – A brother in Christ PURPOSE: Admonish young Christian parent RESULT: Absence in attendance

Saying the Wrong Thing It can be easy to say the wrong thing So why even try? Isn’t silence better? We are commanded to have communications

Saying the Right Thing Consider the qualifications of a preacher 2 Timothy 2:22-25 It can be easy to say the RIGHT thing Follow The Kingdom Rules of Communication 2Ti 2:22 ¶ Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Rule 1 - PURPOSE All things for edification Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Rule 2 - GENTLENESS Speak the truth with love but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:15

Rule 3 - HUMILITY Put others ahead of yourself Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Rule 4 - EMPATHY Speak to others in the way you would want "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12

Value of Communication Proper expressing ourselves: Brings the fruit of the Spirit Satisfies our Father Reveals Christ in us Mt 11:2 Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?“ 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.“ 9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 "This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.' 11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!

What Must I Do To Be Saved? Hear and believe – John 5:24 Confess Jesus – Romans 10:9 Repentance from sin – Acts 2:38 Baptism into Christ – Mark 16:16 Remain Faithful – Revelation 2:10