[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 002 Iss 116

Sat Apr 21 16:34:07 CDT 2007

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetcofc.com

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME 002::ISSUE 016::April 22, 2007  

ARTICLE ONE: Three Keys To Togetherness

ARTICLE TWO: Three Keys To Selflessness

Article One: Three Keys To Togetherness

            We are here in order to achieve the greatest of goals together. There is a description in 1 Corinthians 12 that Paul instructs us to emulate (12:25-27).  In order to be what we need to be-work is necessary. Individual efforts resulting in congregational fortitude is necessary to maintain our relationship. Let's consider the keys to our strength and success

The Key Of Trust

We must develop trust.  We have already established that we are in this together as brothers and sisters in Christ.  With the same goal we are on the same road. It should go without saying that we would give each other this benefit. When we constantly doubt or second-guess our brethren we drive a spitting wedge down the middle of our relationship. 

All too often we are suspicious and we, ourselves, develop an attitude that would say, "They aren't as strong as me so they will fail" or "They don't know enough". The Bible warns against those who would have these "evil suspicions" (1 Timothy 6:3-5).  It is easy to fall into this trap. So often we find ourselves reacting without a true knowledge of the situation. We base our conclusions on hearsay and half-truths instead on finding out the whole truth. When we have a problem with a brother or sister we need to go to that one and first make sure we understood them correctly (Matthew 18:15-18 Go to that one privately and work it out). 

When we understand the need of trust and pursue it, three great benefits are known. First, it forces us to bond together, to get to know each other. We rarely place our trust in a stranger. So we will become acquainted with our brethren in order to know and trust them. Second, it forces us to deal with situations expeditiously and efficiently (Ephesians 4:25-26). Third, it puts the reality of our responsibility to one another in our minds. If I know that you will believe me and not doubt me then I will not take advantage of your trust. I am going to strive to live in such away that you will never be ashamed for trusting me.

The Key of Reliability

One thing is a sense of reliability. Reliability is.trustworthiness: We all know that trust is not instilled in an instant. Trust must be developed. Sometimes we do misplace our trust. There are those who place their trust in the empty riches of this life (Matthew 16:26 "what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"). Some others place their trust in something other than the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Our trust will never fail us if we trust "the living God" (1 Timothy 6:17) Trusting in His word and will, not seeking any other. This same trustworthiness should be found in our brethren. We need to readily demonstrate this trustworthiness.

You may ask, "How can I establish this reliability?" "What can I do to instill in my brethren that I can be trusted?"  The easiest way: BE HERE! Be here to exhort one another, to stir up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). If you can be counted on to be at every service that speaks well of you and your reliability. 

We shouldn't need to ask this but "Why do we need to be reliable?" Because among the world we are the few and they are the many (Matthew 7:13-14)! A few can be strong if they are what Paul commended, "of one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2). If the few, even one, is with God there is great strength (Romans 8:31). Consider young David as he went into battle against the "mighty" Goliath (1 Samuel 17). His triumph was found in his single-minded faith in God.  We need to be able to rely on each other for strength, encouragement and help. 

The Key of Love

Another thing that we must give our brethren is love. Love is all encompassing (John 13:14-35). I could have started and ended this article on this one point. The things that we have discussed so far are things that come with love.  Trust comes because we love one another and have earned one another's trust. I can rely on you because you love me.

Our love is brotherly love-strong and caring (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). The love of brethren is not to be conjured and canned. Anyone can fake a hug, our love must be true not just when it is popular but through thick and thin. Truly loving one another is an essential ingredient in our success as a Christian (2 Peter 1:5-10). 

Conclusion: 

So often we are of the mindset that wants to know, "What will I profit from this." As brethren we are concerned with other's well-being and not personal profit. When we all have this mind-set and follow through with our actions every one of us will profit equally. Remember, we are in this together and I rely on you. You can rely on me. Together, we can and will reach our goals. ~tss

Article Two: Three Key's To Selflessness

Today's society teaches us to always ask, "What is in it for me?"  This self-centered attitude is in direct opposition to the paradox of Christ's teaching: Giving, without concern for self, leads to true happiness and ultimate success. 

The Bible shows that there is much more to a congregation of Christians than just a group who goes to church together. There is much more to the relationship of "brethren" than one can experience if they are too much like the world--in missing the attitude of selflessness. 

A congregation is a much like a quilt where many different materials are sewn together into one large blanket and it is the different designs within that overall blanket that makes it attractive. There are different personalities and different abilities all drawn together by one common thread-their faith. Each of us has an important role in the success of this congregation and the individual successes of our brethren.  When each of us contributes to the cause with a full measure of selflessness we will be what we need to be.

We are going to come to a better understanding of these things by examining in greater detail Romans 12:9-13.

"Let love be without hypocrisy." (vs. 9a)

The word love is familiar.  We use this word quite often in our everyday language. We use the same word to proclaim "love" for things as simple as ice cream or chocolate, and also we use the word to proclaim our much more complex feelings toward other human beings. In our language we have only the one word: Love.  This leads us to look further into the meaning, since our word does not lend the strength of definition. 

This verse uses the Greek term Agapé, which relates to: The selfless action of care for the welfare of another. This is the love that we need in this group: but this selfless love is further qualified by the words "without hypocrisy". 

          The phrase "without hypocrisy" is actually a negative translation of a positive word. The Greek term Anupokritos, means, "sincere, genuine".  The literal translation which means the same thing but reads differently would be, "Let love be sincere and genuine". This term teaches us that our care-"love"- for one another must not be pretense or pretend.

"Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (vs.9b,c)

Beyond the singular characteristic of our love we must be wholly focus on what is right and good. The word "abhor" from the Greek "Apostugountes" literally means "to have horror at the thought of" and the focus in this case is sin. This needs to be our view of sin and anything that would fit into the category of evil-anything that is not righteous. This also pertains to the "hypocrisy" element in that this distaste for sin is not in appearance only but is truly our disposition. 

"Cling to what is good" The word cling is from the Greek term "kollomenio". The word cling leads us to understand closeness and a devoted relationship with someone or something-in this case "what is good".  In true substance (if someone could look right into your heart they would see) we are full of "selfless care" for one another, "haters of sin", and "wholly dependent" on righteousness. 

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, giving preference to one another" (vs. 10). 

Both actions of this verse are to be done "to one another". This is "eis allelous" which describes the attached action as the responsibility of every member to every other member (reciprocal).  The actions are "kind affection" and "brotherly love" and "giving preference". "Kindly affectionate" is translated from a form of "philos"-"te philadephia". This is the love that Christians share because they are brethren; it refers the r  goalsti th this caseuine"ans the same things but reads differently common goals they share. 

"Brotherly love" is the next step. It is translated from the Greek "Philostorgoi" which takes the level of love up to that of true family and not just common cause. We can have the true family love, but it must begin with the selfless care of "agape" and work toward the true family love of "philostorgos".

 "Giving preference" This is from the original "proegoumenoi" which can be translated as "setting an example to show another the way".  So this section of verse ten might be written, "When it comes to honor, show one another the way". Deny our self and supply what our brethren need. 

Conclusion:  We can reach great goals in this time ahead if we determine to, we plan to, and we follow through.  Even in these two verses we have the foundation of our relationship set, as it should be. We can develop that type of relationship when we truly focus on what Paul is saying: All of these main points lead us to conclude that our relationship will be what it needs to be if we first "become selfless".

We are responsible for our part in the survival of this work and the individual successes of our brethren. This is why it is important that we develop our relationship with all of our brethren. We can do what it takes. There is another situation in which a selfless attitude is required. Jesus said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Are you ready? ~tss

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070421/dd6e2f8a/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3247 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070421/dd6e2f8a/attachment-0001.jpe 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 9365 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070421/dd6e2f8a/attachment-0001.gif 