WE BE BRETHREN

WE BE BRETHREN

“So Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my

herdsmen and your herdsmen; for WE BE

BRETHREN.’”

Genesis 13:8

DUNKIRK, FRANCE 1940

Ephesians 2:11-22, Ephesians 3:6

“We Be Brethren”

Biblical perspectives on the lives of first- century Christians as displayed in

their obedience to the “one another” passages of the Bible…

“Greet One Another ” Romans 16:17

Romans 16:1-16

In the last verse of this section of Scripture is a

command we often ignore…

“Greet one another with a holy kiss”

Before we casually dismiss this passage, please note…

On five occasions, two Apostles gave as many as eight different local congregations this same

instruction.

I Corinthians 16:20

“All the brothers here send you greetings . Greet one another with a holy kiss”

II Corinthians 13:12

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their

greetings.”

I Thessalonians 5:26

“Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.”

I Peter 5:14

“Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are

in Christ.”

Romans 16:17

“Greet one another with a holy kiss, the churches of Christ

salute you.”

Why do we too often ignore this command?

NOTE: Verse 1Verse 2Verse 4Verse 5Verse 6Verse 7Verse 9

Verse 10Verse 12

The church at Rome had room for all kinds of

people because their focus was not on the differences that might divide them but rather their focus was on

the Christ that would unite them.

10 women...17 menMarried…single

Slaves…freeJews…Gentiles

Convicts…guardsSlaves…slave owners

Poor…Rich

How can a local church be so diverse and yet so

affectionate at the same time?

Because they are all one “in Christ”.

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ”.

Galatians 6

"How To Be A Hero"

"How To Be A Hero"

The “Parable of the Good Samaritan” describes a

man who, at great expense and peril to himself,

nevertheless did what he could to help a fellow-man

in great need.

Every day we are surrounded by folks who have been crushed by this world…

…we can ignore their pain and they might “die”.

Or..like the good Samaritan, we

can stick close, risk personal injury and perhaps save their

life.

Galatians 6:1-3

Paul wrote to the Galatians to address two problems...

Oppressive legalism of the Jews.Galatians 3:1-3

Hypercritical Judgmentalism. Galatians 5:13-15

To properly obey that command, we must ask two

questions...

Is it sin?

Am I the one to restore my brother?

How do I do that?

Make yourself availablePray for that one regularly

Meet with that one periodicallyBe willing to carry more should

he struggle again.

The New Testament church is to be a hospital for sinners and saints...

… it does not matter how doctrinally sound we are if

no one gets any help.

Christians must attempt to make our culture a dog

SAVE dog world.

“Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you”.

Romans 15:7

"Your Right to Give Up Your Rights"

"Your Right to Give Up Your Rights"

Can you think of anything uglier or more

contradictory than to have a bride engage in a

fistfight moments before she takes her vows?

There is this one thing...

The church is the bride of Christ...

… like the bride we just described, it often limps

along, bloodied and discolored because it too has

been fighting.

In order that we might all understand the great impact that accepting one another

has upon the work and life of a local congregation, I’d like us to examine two different New Testament churches…

The church in JerusalemActs 2-6

The church in RomeRomans 14-15

The church at Jerusalem…Acts 2:44-46

Acts 4:32

The result… Acts 2:47

The church at JerusalemBut a problem arose…a

problem more cultural than Scriptural.

Accepting one another in Jerusalem led to...

Acts 6:7

The church at JerusalemThe solution was to treat

everyone equally and thereby preserve the unity of

the local church.

The church at Rome

A very diverse congregation of all sorts of people…

…but diversity naturally creates tension.

The church at RomeTension came over matters of

personal choice and understanding. Romans 14:1-6

The church at Rome

Brethren in Rome began to see each other in

unfavorable ways…

The church at RomePaul told them to stop!

Romans 14:13,19

Paul told them how to stop. Romans 14:1; 15:1-7

The church at Rome

Paul told them that in accepting each other, the key to peace

and edification was to understand that we have the right to give up our rights.

Romans15: 2-3

Being perfectly joined together demands three things:

•If we do not have a “thus saith the Lord”… then we

need to keep quiet.•The greatest right we have is

to forego our rights.•The key to acceptance and unity is selfless discipleship.

“…Therefore encourage one another with these words”.

I Thessalonians 4:18

"Encouragement ... Everyone Needs It""Encouragement ... Everyone Needs It"

The church at Thessalonica:Jobless members

Power struggles

Some infighting

There were some false teachers.

Doubt of resurrection

But at some point, we all need to be encouraged

even as Paul and Timothy encouraged the brethren

in Thessalonica.

It is easier to destroy than it is to grow or to

build…

It is easier to destroy another Christian than it is

to build him up.

It is easier to be a church splitter, a home wrecker or a nay-sayer than it is

to be a peacemaker, healer, or optimist.

Encouragement:The word is found 109 times in

the New Testament.Ask

ComfortExhortSpurUrge

Encourage

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your

mouths, but only that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29

Because of SatanBecause of trials and

sorrows

Why?Why?

Remind brethren of the promises of God.

Remind brethren to remain faithful.

How?How?

Never take the spiritual health of your brethren for

granted.

There are those here this morning that need to be

encouraged.

”…Forgive each other even as Christ has forgiven you”.

Colossians 3:14

"Getting Even Never

Ends up Even "

"Getting Even Never

Ends up Even "

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving

places on the earth.

Brethren avoid other brethren for something that happened

long ago.

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving

places on the earth.

They did not come to the wedding, so now we don’t

speak.

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving

places on the earth.

They didn’t visit you in the hospital, so now you attend

another Bible class.

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving

places on the earth.

They were too harsh on a doctrinal point and chased your nephew away, so now you are bitter toward them.

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving

places on the earth.

They disagreed with you publicly in a Bible class, so now you disrupt the class

with controversial questions.

Sometimes churches can be the most unforgiving places on the

earth.

But… if we are the real New Testament church, that cannot

be!

Colossians 3:12-14Ephesians 4:30-5:1

Two quick questions…How does God forgive?

How does God forgive us?

With impartiality Matthew 5:43-48

God pays the fine for the offender.Romans 5:7-8

How does God forgive us?

God is eager to grant forgiveness.

John 3:16

We must learn to forgive in that same way...

We must internally pay the fine for the offender.

We must be eager to forgive those who sin

against us.

Matthew 18:21-23

That means upon the 78th time I am offended by you

I can finally get even!

No… Jesus then tells this story.

Matthew 18:23-34

God can’t count to 78 because He doesn’t get past counting to one.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will

remember their sins no more.”Jeremiah 31:34

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also

forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your

sins”.

Matthew 6:14-15

”…Remember the Lord…and fight for your brethren”.

Nehemiah 4:14

"Fighting For One Another"

"Fighting For One Another"

“I Have Your Back”

Philippians 2:3-4

“I Will Stand at Your Side”

Acts 23:11; Proverbs 18:24

“I Will Face You”

Ephesians 5:21 I Thessalonians 5:14

“I Will Kneel at Your Feet”

Galatians 5:13; Matthew 23:11; Luke 22:26

With that being said… we end this series of

sermons.

My prayer is that we become a true community of believers…a real New

Testament church.

John 13:34-35