9. Encourage One Another
Hebrews 3:7-19
Life just isn't fair! Have you ever thought that? Our circumstances can change in an instant and we may face challenges that are hard and difficult to bare. Just ask Job. He was a godly man but found himself facing unthinkable tragedy after tragedy. His children were killed, his livestock was stolen, and he found himself covered in boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. This man was in definite need...
Hebrews 3:7-19
Life just isn't fair! Have you ever thought that? Our circumstances can change in an instant and we may face challenges that are hard and difficult to bare. Just ask Job. He was a godly man but found himself facing unthinkable tragedy after tragedy. His children were killed, his livestock was stolen, and he found himself covered in boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. This man was in definite need of encouragement. His dear wife came to him and said, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die." (Job 2:7,9) Wow! She had a weird way of encouraging others.
In our text today, the author of Hebrews is writing to a suffering and persecuted group of believers. These Jewish Christians were struggling and going through a very difficult time. The author is writing to them so that he might encourage and exhort them. He writes "exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:13)
We all go through difficulties in life and we all need to be encouraged from time to time. As children of God we should be encouraging and exhorting one another. Let's see what God has to say about this today.
-Pastor Terry
8. Comfort and Agree with One Another
2 Corinthians 13:11-14
In our continuing series “One Another” we'll look today at the city of Corinth, where there are problems with all the fame, prosperity, and status that came to that city. The city of Corinth was known for its sexual immorality. Due to the transient population of the city it had little or no inhibitions in their society,
2 Corinthians 13:11-14
In our continuing series “One Another” we'll look today at the city of Corinth, where there are problems with all the fame, prosperity, and status that came to that city. The city of Corinth was known for its sexual immorality. Due to the transient population of the city it had little or no inhibitions in their society, which contributed to its little or no moral restraint unlike most settled societies.
Our society is no different than Corinth. We are being influenced with false teachers who are adding to the “Gospel” denying the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Just like Corinth, our churches are battling the world, the sensual desires of the flesh, and being engaged on every front by the devil. In our scripture passage this morning, Paul concludes his letter to this troubled church that he loved so much and summarizes the concerns of his heart for them in verse 11, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” So how is it that we are to Comfort and Agree with One Another while living in this depraved world? Is it even possible? Let's open our Bibles today and see what God says.
6. Teach One Another
Colossians 3:12-17
As we continue with our One Another series today we are to be reminded that everything we do should be with a heart of love and it should be done for God's glory. Whether we are praying for one another, confessing to one another, forgiving one another, sharing the love of Christ, and serving one another, it should always be with a heart of love...
Colossians 3:12-17
As we continue with our One Another series today we are to be reminded that everything we do should be with a heart of love and it should be done for God's glory. Whether we are praying for one another, confessing to one another, forgiving one another, sharing the love of Christ, and serving one another, it should always be with a heart of love.
In the book of Colossians Paul is speaking to believers and reminding us of who we are in Christ. As believers we have a new life. We are to "put off" or put away sin (anger, slander, obscene talk, etc.) and we are to "put on" Christ (such as fruit of the spirit characteristics). As Paul is instructing these believers he tells them they must teach and admonish one another these things. And they must do it in love. Let’s see what God has for us today in Colossians chapter 3.
-Pastor Terry
5. Free to Serve One Another
Galatians 5:13-15
There’s a television show called “Motive”.
show we are told who the victim is and who the killer is. They spend the next hour figuring out the “motive” for the murder and, as they say in police work, “it always goes to motive”. That’s the way it really is with God and in life, too. We witness...
Galatians 5:13-15
There’s a television show called “Motive”.
show we are told who the victim is and who the killer is. They spend the next hour figuring out the “motive” for the murder and, as they say in police work, “it always goes to motive”. That’s the way it really is with God and in life, too. We witness believers showing acts of kindness, giving sacrificially to the poor, to the ministry of Christ, and serving the needy and less fortunate. We are also able to see those who benefit from the true believer’s kindness. What we don't know is the “motive” for serving others. It’s the “why”. Why do they do acts of kindness, give generously, and serve those in need?
In our text today we are commanded by God to serve one another in love. Let’s learn from this passage what our “motive" should be in serving others.
-Pastor Terry
4. Pray for One Another
James 5:13-18
You know what's right biblically, but somehow you're still depressed. The issues of life are too devastating for you. There's an unfaithful spouse, a divorce, a separation. A child has rebelled against you, against the Lord, and broken your heart.
You have lost your job. There’s economic...
James 5:13-18
You know what's right biblically, but somehow you're still depressed. The issues of life are too devastating for you. There's an unfaithful spouse, a divorce, a separation. A child has rebelled against you, against the Lord, and broken your heart.
You have lost your job. There’s economic uncertainty. You're in debt over your head. Physical illness. You just learned that you have cancer or you’re waiting on the results from a lab test, and you're fearful about that. You're looking at a possible heart surgery.
Whatever it is, you're really struggling to rise above it. When you can’t find the strength within yourself what do you do? Where do you go? That's the question. Prepare your hearts and listen to what James has to say to you.
-Pastor Terry
3. Be Kind & Forgive One Another
Ephesians 4:31-32
In Ephesians 4:31-32 the Apostle Paul wants to teach us how we can live out the grace of God. He is also teaching us how we can enhance the unity of the body in our daily living, and how we are to distinctively live as Christians in this world and bring glory to God. It is this whole...
Ephesians 4:31-32
In Ephesians 4:31-32 the Apostle Paul wants to teach us how we can live out the grace of God. He is also teaching us how we can enhance the unity of the body in our daily living, and how we are to distinctively live as Christians in this world and bring glory to God. It is this whole area of the attitudes of our hearts expressed in our words and actions that Paul is addressing.
Paul is dealing specifically with the problem of sinful attitudes. He is contrasting a life of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and all malice that is expressed in attitudes, words, and actions, with a life of kindness, love, and forgiveness. Today we are going to examine our text to see how we are to “Put Away” sinful attitudes, words, and actions and begin to live a life of kindness, love, and forgiveness as we learn to be kind and forgive one another.
-Pastor Terry
1. Love One Another
John 13:31-35
In the book of Acts, the early church spent its time in engaging in the pursuit of the Lord through prayer, singing, reading and teaching of the Scriptures, and the Lord’s Supper. They were what I would call a biblical community. That means that they had certain characteristics...
John 13:31-35
In the book of Acts, the early church spent its time in engaging in the pursuit of the Lord through prayer, singing, reading and teaching of the Scriptures, and the Lord’s Supper. They were what I would call a biblical community. That means that they had certain characteristics such as being deeply involved in the lives of one another. They were “doing life together.”
So, what are the characteristics that were found in the early church? If you were to do a search of “one another” commands, especially within the New Testament, you would find such commands as Love One Another, Forgive One Another, Serve One Another, Pray for One Another, Encourage One Another, etc...
At CrossBridge Church, we desire to be a biblical community where we “do life together.” So, today we are starting our One Another series with “Love One Another”.
-Pastor Terry