“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 …

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 “Members Of One Another”

Eph 4:25 How We’re Taught Re: One Another  What we shouldn’t do  Provoke, envy one another Gal 5:26  Grumble against one another Jas 5:9a  Bite, devour one another Gal 5:15

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We’re Taught Re: One Another  What we must do  Be hospitable to one another 1 Pet 4:9  Comfort, encourage (edify) one another 1 Thess 5:11  Submit to one another Eph 5:21  Be kind to, forgive one another Eph 4:32

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We’re Taught Re: One Another  What we must do  Confess our sins to, pray for one another Jas 5:16  Serve one another Gal 5:13  Love one another Jn 13:34-35

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We’re Taught Re: One Another  We are 1 body in Christ…“individually members of one another” Rom 12:5  We’re connected…we’re part of each other  Descriptive of a family  All possible because of what we share together through Jesus Christ, our Head

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another  In the Lord’s church, we deal with God-given inspired truth, doctrine  We always want to teach, practice truth  We never (knowingly, unknowingly) want to teach or espouse error

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another  This might sound to some that the only important thing = “theology”  We want to get the facts right  We want to say things in the right way  True…but it isn’t the only important thing

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another  In the Lord’s church, we also deal with people  The concern is how we treat “one another”  The only way to properly do this (in a God-approved way) is based on His word

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another  In the Lord’s church, we also deal with people  People attempt every day to apply Divine truth in normal & “abnormal” situations  Human interaction is the focus of this lesson

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another  In the Lord’s church, we also deal with people  It is most likely we fail here more than in “getting the facts wrong” (error)  We have doctrine / examples of Christians in local churches re: “one another”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another Rom 12:15  Passage demands ability to show empathy  Whether brethren enjoy success or suffer heartache, we should know we can rely on “one another” when needed with those who weep.” “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another Rom 12:15  Passage also demands communication  Personal interaction throughout the week  Yet, some hesitate to do this because they have been betrayed in the past by gossip with those who weep.” “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another Rom 12:15  Others show they aren’t able to “weep” because they seem to take some delight in the misfortunes of their brethren  If we fail in these areas, we are failing “one another” with those who weep.” “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another 1 Cor 13:7  “Love” spoken about = agape love  Sacrificial…highest form of love (God’s)  This love “believes all things”  Not literally without condition 1 Jn 4:1  Believing the best about others, situations “Love…believes all things,…”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another 1 Cor 13:7  Cautions against skepticism, cynicism… even paranoia ( a lack of trust)  Prevents us from looking at “one another” with suspicion, incorrect motives  Easy to fail here, given our culture “Love…believes all things,…”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another 1 Cor 13:7  Our own feelings can lead us to believe, think, & see things that aren’t really there  Before long, we assume the worst  We may even feel “targeted” or “ignored” for reasons that don’t even exist “Love…believes all things,…”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another 1 Cor 13:7  Love believes the best until the evidence proves otherwise  If evidence eventually materializes, we must still love “one another” (and pray) “Love…believes all things,…”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 How We Treat One Another 1 Cor 13:7  Even then, we must still “hope all things”  Not feel “proven right” (vindicated)  Consider Paul’s feelings for a troubled church – Corinth 1 Cor 16:13-14, 24 2 Cor 7:2-7 “Love…believes all things,…”

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 Conclusion  “We are brethren…” Gen 13:8  Even when we may not treat “one another” as we should, we’re still family  We’re not just a collection of people who meet inside a big room 3 times a week  If so, we’re a “crowd” at a game/office

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 Conclusion  Be hospitable to “one another” 1 Pet 4:9  Comfort, encourage (edify) “one another” 1 Thess 5:11  Submit to “one another” Eph 5:21  Be kind to, forgive “one another” Eph 4:32  Confess sins to, pray for “one another” Jas 5:16  Serve “one another” Gal 5:13  Love “one another” Jn 13:34-35

“Members Of One Another” Eph 4:25 …