1. “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
Title Slide: ”Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

2. Genesis 4:9
“Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
Text—Genesis 4:9…

3. Introduction
Cain is the first person to protest God’s right to hold him accountable for his brother.
Echoing the sentiments of our self-centered world—he was NOT responsible for what happened to anyone else!
Cain was wrong and the world is wrong!
Introduction: (1) Cain is the first person to protest God’s right to hold him accountable for his brother.
(2) Echoing the sentiments of our self-centered world—he was NOT responsible for what happened to anyone else!
(3) Cain was wrong and the world is wrong!
God has made it very clear in His word that we are our brother’s keeper in many ways…

4. Who Is My Brother?
In this context, of discipleship, we will focus upon the responsibilities that we have towards other disciples—our brothers and sisters in Christ!
We are members together in the body of Christ
God gives responsibilities toward one another.
Who Is My Brother?
(1) In this context, of discipleship, we will focus upon the responsibilities that we have towards other disciples—our brothers and sisters in Christ!
(2) We are members together in the body of Christ
(3) God gives responsibilities toward one another. We want to CONSIDER some obligations that we have toward our brethren…

5. Romans 13:8-10
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Text—Romans 13:8-10…

6. Matthew 22:36-39
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?“ Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.‘ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Text—Matthew 22:36-39…focus on verse 40…

7. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Text—1 Corinthians 13:4-7…

8. LOVE The obligation to love our brother is a perpetual debt.
Love ensures we fulfill God’s will towards one another.
Love fills our hearts with right motives, actions and characteristics.
Can we love our brother too much?
Love…
(1) The obligation to love our brother is a perpetual debt.
(2) Love ensures we fulfill God’s will towards one another
(3) Love fills our hearts with right motives, actions and characteristics
(4) Can we love our brother too much? All we owe our brother can be summed up in the word LOVE! But how do we EXPRESS THIS LOVE?

9. Hebrews 10:24,25
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another..."
Text—Hebrews 10:24,25…

10. Consideration
Consider defined as “observe fully, to fix one’s eyes or mind upon.”
Temptation to become so focused upon ourselves we lose sight of needs of others
All live busy lives—families, home, job
Still, we must take notice of the needs of brethren
Genuine concern
Consideration…
(1) Consider define as “observe fully, to fix one’s eyes or mind upon.”
(2) Temptation to become so focused upon ourselves we lose sight of needs of others
(3) All live busy lives—families, home, job
(4) Still, must take notice of the needs of brethren
(5) Genuine concern—something that can be felt and observed. Life is not to be used as an excuse to fail in our duties to one another!

11. Provocation Provoke define as “incite or stimulate.”
Applied to good or bad things
To cheer on one another
Stimulate and provoke by genuine interest
By good examples and deeds
Seeking to provoke to a higher commitment to the Lord and His work!
Provocation…
(1) Provoke define as “incite or stimulate.”
(2) Applied to good or bad things
(3) To cheer on one another
(4) Stimulate and provoke by genuine interest
(5) By good examples and deeds
(6) Seeking to provoke to a higher commitment to the Lord and His work!

12. Exhortation Exhort – defined literally as “to call to one’s side.”
Calls for greater involvement than “consider” or “provoke”
Prop them up, keep them on track
This can be expressed in a number of ways…
Exhortation…
(1) Exhort defined literally as “to call to one’s side.”
(2) Calls for greater involvement than “consider” or “provoke”
(3) Prop them up keep them on track
(4) This can be expressed in a numbers of ways…

13. Exhortation Depending on needs of the situation Warn the unruly
Console and comfort fainthearted
Support the weak
Relieve a burden
Encourage
Teach
Exhortation…
(1) Depending on needs of the situation
(2) Warn the unruly—1 Cor.4:14
(3) Console and comfort fainthearted—1 Thess.5:11; Rom.12:15
(4) Support the weak—Heb.12:12; Rom. 15:1
(5) Relieve a burden—Gal.6:2
(6) Encourage—Rom.12:8; Acts 4:36
(7) Teach—Titus 1:9

14. Galatians 6:1
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."
Text—Galatians 6:1…

15. RESTORATION Restore - defined as “thoroughly mend or repair.”
Brethren can be so broken and beaten down they are in a spiritual state of emergency
Fall into sin and depart
James 5:19,20
Leave the 99—go retrieve the one!
Matthew 18:12-14
Restoration…
(1) Restore define as “thoroughly mend or repair.”
(2) Brethren can be so broken and beaten down they are in a spiritual state of emergency
(3) Fall into sin and depart
James 5:19,20
(4) Leave the 99—go retrieve the one!
Matthew 18:12-14…If we don’t do it who will? Easy route is to just let them go… Love demands that we try to stop the spiritual death of another brother in Christ!

16. Titus 3:14
“And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."
Text—Titus 3:14…

17. GOOD WORKS
Sincerity and good intentions are commendable but they do not meet urgent needs
Love is action—needs of brethren not satisfied by feelings
1 John 3:17,18
Ready to do good when the opportunity presents itself
Galatians 6:10
Good Works…
(1) Sincerity and good intentions are commendable but they do not meet urgent needs
(2) Love is action—needs of brethren not satisfied by feelings
1 John 3:17,18
(3) Ready to do good when the opportunity presents itself
Galatians 6:10

18. 1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
Text—1 Timothy 4:12…

19. GOOD EXAMPLES All of us are examples to others
Faithful Christians are to be patterns to follow—Philippians 3:17
The power of influence and example cannot be denied or disowned
Held responsible how we influence others
Matthew 18:6,7
Need to be conscious how our actions can be interpreted by weaker brethren
1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Good Examples…
(1) All of us are examples to others
(2) Faithful Christians are to be patterns to follow—Philippians 3:17
(3) The power of influence and example cannot be denied or disowned
(4) Help responsible how we influence others
Matthew 18:6,7
(5) Need to be conscious how our actions can be interpreted by weaker brethren
1 Corinthians 8:7-13

20. gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22,23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
Text—Galatians 5:22,23…

21. PATIENCE Patience or longsuffering is part of the fruit of the Spirit
Patience must be shown toward brethren
All are at different levels of maturity
Ephesians 4:2
Different backgrounds, likes and dislikes
No brother has right to destroy body of Christ over personal judgment
Patience…
(1) Patience or longsuffering is part of the fruit of the Spirit
(2) Patience must be shown toward brethren
(3) All at different level of maturity
Ephesians 4:2
(4) Different backgrounds, likes and dislikes
(5) No brother has right to destroy body of Christ over personal judgment

22. BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT Does it mean we need to be gullible?
Love compels us to give our brother the “benefit of the doubt”
Gossip has power to destroy one’s character and reputation
Careful not to interpret a situation in the worst possible light
Unless I have evidence to the contrary…
Proverbs 18:17
Matthew 7:12
Benefit of the Doubt.
(1) Does mean we need to be gullible
(2) Love compels us to give our brother the “benefit of the doubt”
(3) Gossip has power to destroy one’s character and reputation
(4) Careful not to interpret situation in the worst possible light
(5) Unless I have evidence to the contrary…
Proverbs 18:17
Matthew 7:12

23. Matthew 18:35
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Text—Matthew 18:35…

24. FORGIVENESS
The Lord places a strong imperative on disciples to forgive one another.
Brother sins against us seek to correct it
Matthew 18:15-17
Forgiveness from God is conditional on us forgiving our brethren!
Matthew 6:14,15
Colossians 3:13
Forgiveness.
(1) The Lord places a strong imperative on disciples to forgive one another
(2) Brother sins against us seek to correct it
Matthew 18:15-17
(3) Forgiveness from God is conditional on us forgiving our brethren!
Matthew 6:14,15
Colossians 3:13

25. “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
Invitation: ”Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”