TENDERHEARTED AND COURTEOUS
OBSERVATION:
BELIEVERS HAVE A BIBLICAL MANDATE TO CARE FOR FELLOW BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH.
INTERPRETATION: 1 PETER 3: 8 (NKJV) FINALLY, ALL OF YOU BE OF ONE MIND, HAVING COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER; LOVE AS BROTHERS, BE TENDERHEARTED, BE COURTEOUS.
POINTS TO PONDER:
IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOVE THE UNLOVELY. DO YOU AGREE? BELIEVERS NEED REMINDED OF THEIR CALLING. WE MUST SHOW LOVE EVEN THOUGH THE UNLOVELY MAY NOT RESPOND. A CHURCH BODY IS A FAMILY. THEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE NEEDS OF OTHER BELIEVERS. DEACONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THE NEEDY IN THE CHURCH TAKING THE PRESSURE OFF THE PASTORS (ELDERS) WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PREACH, TEACH AND EXHORT. BOTH MINISTRIES VITALIZES CHURCH GROWTH.
READ LUKE 10:30-34. NOTE THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN’S TENDERHEARTED RESPONSE TO A WOUNDED MAN.
ROMANS 15: 5-6 SPEAKS TO HARMONY WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE WORD HARMONIOUS IN GREEK MEANS, “TO THINK THE SAME, TO BE LIKE-MINDED”. BELIEVERS MUST MAINTAIN UNITY OF HEART, OF PEACE.
APPLICATION:
THE OLD SONG, “FAMILY OF GOD”, SPEAKS TO THE REALITY OF LOVE AND CONCERN FOR FELLOW BELIEVERS. OPPOSED TO DISRUPTION AND DISHARMONY.
