Making The Uncommon Common Series

MAKING THE UNCOMMON COMMON

Matthew 7:12

S: Golden Rule

Th: Grace-Full Living

Pr: We are “grace-full” when we are one another-oriented.

?: How? How do we do this?

How do we follow the Golden Rule?

KW: Practices

TS: We will find in our study of Scripture, four practices that will aid us in being “grace-full” people that are one another-oriented.

The _____ practice that aids us in being “grace-full” people that are one another-oriented is…

I. CARRY ONE ANOTHER’S BURDEN (Galatians 6:1-2)

II. TREAT ONE ANOTHER IMPARTIALLY (I Timothy 5:21)

III. SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON (Hebrews 10:24)

IV. SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER (Ephesians 5:21)

RMBC 11/26/00 AM

INTRODUCTION:

1. There is nothing like a crisis to bring out the best in people.

We saw that this week, didn’t we?

All over the news, Buffalo was being touted as the city of good neighbors.

Our family experienced this over and over again.

On Monday night, a family from CCA I don’t even know took JJ, Elizabeth and Joel in after the bus got stuck down the street.

The fire department delivered Joel to me later that evening via snowmobile.

Dondra got stuck on Wehrle and spent a night at Ingram Micro.

They gave out food called snowed-in specials for both supper and breakfast.

On Tuesday, when we were all shoveling out, we actually talked to some neighbors that we hadn’t before.

We were helping each other shovel and push cars out snow.

On Wednesday, I got stuck in a gas station, a fellow came along and helped push.

It was a lot of fun, helping each other.

Perhaps you had similar experiences.

But I have a question…

2. Shouldn’t the church be like that all the time?

Shouldn’t we be known as people that care in all kinds of circumstances?

It shouldn’t just be limited to snowstorms.

TRANSITION:

1. Our theme for the year has been “Grace-Full Living” (II Corinthians 9:8).

Our theme verse for the year has gone like this…

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As a church family, it has been our goal this year to grow in grace.

It has been our goal that we would be known for grace.

It has been our goal that we would be full of grace.

We have spoken about grace in so many ways in our studies both in the morning and evening messages.

I hope you never tire hearing of grace, for here is good news…

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.

And along with that, here is sobering news…

Your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.

God’s grace is not a one-time event, but a process.

We need God’s grace at work in us constantly.

And as He works, we, in turn, are to demonstrate grace.

For…

2. If there is any place that a “grace-full” lifestyle ought to be evident, it is the church (John 13:35).

Listen to this sobering statement by Jesus…

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

God is very concerned about the spiritual health of the church as a group as well as the individual.

We tend to emphasize an individual’s relationship with Christ.

But so very often in Scripture, the emphasis is on our relationships with each other.

More specifically, it is extremely important that we act with grace in our relationships with one another.

For the identifying mark of Christians is not primarily our individual relationship with Jesus.

It is our relationships with each other.

We are to be full of grace in our relationships with each other.

3. WE ARE “GRACE-FULL” WHEN WE ARE ONE ANOTHER-ORIENTED (Matthew 7:12).

Note what our primary study verse of the morning says…

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

You may recognize this as “The Golden Rule.”

Universally, this is accepted as a proper way to behave with our fellow man.

But it is not, sadly, the typical way we live.

ILL Notebook: Threaten (revolver)

A man was walking down a dark street when he met a very rough looking character who said, “Sir, could you help a poor, hungry, homeless man who has nothing in the whole world to call his own, except this loaded 38-special revolver which I hold in my hand?”

You see…

4. The prevailing culture communicates, “Do unto others before they do unto you.”

In the routine of our day to day matters, the typical person is only concerned about themselves.