Building Relationships; Body of Christ; The Church

Psalms 133:1
[It’s good to be one.]“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”
1 Cor 1:10
[Let there be no divisions.]“I exhort you…that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind…”
1Pet 4:10
As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Heb 10:25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another}; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
1 John 1:7
but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Building Relationships – getting to know someone

  • Requires that you open up to them first
  • Requires that you listen to them
  • Requires that be honest with each other and have trust and confidentiality with each other
  • Requires that you do your best (time and energy) to build the relationship
  • Be yourself

Loving and caring for friends

  • You must know God’s love.

1 John 4:7-12
8. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

  • Encourage each other

1 Thes 5:11
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Heb 3:13
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is {still} called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Prov 15:1, 4
1. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
4. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

  • Support each other through hard times – point them to God.

Gal 6:2
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

  • Put others concerns before your own.

Phil 2:3-4
3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Rom 12:10
10. Be devoted to one another brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

  • Actions speak louder than words.

1 John 3:18
18. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

  • Help them grow spiritually

Heb 10:24
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

  • Pray with/for them

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Mutual Accountability Partners must:

  • Be close enough that they will come to you for help
  • Be close enough that you can go to them for help
  • Talk to each other and spend time together one on one
  • Be close enough to look out for each other

Gal 6:2
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

  • Be close enough to tell someone they are stumbling

Matt 18:15
[If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private.]“And if your brother sins, go and reprove him, in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”

  • Give real advice – not what they want to hear

Eph 4:25
25. So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth” because we belong to each other.
Col 4:6
[Speech needs to be seasoned with grace.]“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”
Prov 15:1, 4
1. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
4. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

  • Accept what you do not want to hear from someone who cares for you.

James 1:19,26
19. My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.

  • pray for each other, share each others problems.

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Acceptance of who people are

  • God accepts us for who we are - he made us the way we are.
  • We must accept people for who they are – nobody’s perfect.

Rom 15:7
Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

  • Everyone has flaws, we just have to try our best.

Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

  • Everyone is part of God’s group

1 Cor 12:25
that there should be no division in the body, but {that} the members should have the same care for one another.

  • Get rid of all the pride and favoritism. Don’t be judgmental and compare people.

Rom 14:13
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this– not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
James 5:9
Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
James 4:11
Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge {of it.}

Mending Relationships – when some thing has gone wrong

2 Tim2:23
Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.
Gal 5:26
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Col 3:15
15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Rom 14:19
So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

  • You must resolve the problem

Gal 5:15
But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.
Eph 4:26
26.And “don't sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27.for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.
Prov 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

  • You must want to be forgiven – try to make it up to the person.
  • You must forgive – by dealing with hurt and mistrust

Matt 18:21-22
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?Up to seven times?”Jesus Answered, “ I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
1 Cor 13:4-8 love
5. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

  • Forgive as god has forgiven us.

Col 3:12-17
13. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Eph 4:31-32
31. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.
32. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

  • See the bigger picture, have empathy, see the other person’s perspective. Be open minded.
  • It takes time, prayer, motivation and humility

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

  • Face the one you despise.

Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27
[“Love your enemies.”]

 
relationships.txt · Last modified: 2009/09/11 06:34 by jackson