A. INTRODUCTION
MEMORY VERSE
“. . . so in Christ, we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5)
B. THE FIVE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR FELLOWSHIP
“Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take
delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” (Rom. 12:9-16, NLT).
1. The first building block is authenticity.
- “Love must be sincere” (Rom. 12:9).
- “Love must be without hypocrisy” (Rom. 12:9, NASV).
- Hypocrisy is wearing a mask, i.e., an actor has a different mask for each role.
- “If we live in the light as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with one another . . . (but) if we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (I John 1:7-8, NCV). Authentic people don’t fool themselves and others.
- Recovery ministries, i.e., AA. You are as sick as your secrets.
BECOMING AUTHENTIC
• Not from popular or practical sermons
• Not from theory
• Not from oooey-gooey feelings
• The Word of God makes you authentic
2. The second building block is courtesy.
- “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Rom. 12:10).
- “Believers shouldn’t . . . be quarrelsome, but they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone” (Titus 3:2, GW).
- You need extra grace for HMP, i.e., High Maintenance Persons.
- Learn to listen. “I tend to fix every problem before I hear what people say to me.”
3. The third building block for fellowship is mutuality.
- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).
- Mutuality means helping each other grow. “Together we are stronger than we are alone.”
- If one falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble” (Ecc. 4:10, NLB).
HOW MUTUALITY WORKS
a. Pray with those who hurt.
b. Honor. “Take delight in honoring each other” (Rom. 12:10, NLT).
c. Accountability. “Let us consider how we may support one another through love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24, NLB).
Five Friends for Friend Day – November 23
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2. ___________________________________
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4. The fourth building block is hospitality.
- “Practice hospitality”(Rom. 12:13).
- They worshipped together regularly at the temple . . . met in homes for communion and shared their meals” (Acts 2:46, LB).
WHY EATING FOSTERS FELLOWSHIP
a. People are relaxed.
b. People are open.
c. Barriers are down.
d. Responsive to communication.
e. Doing it together.
5. The fifth building block is unity.
- “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Rom. 12:16).
- Unity of purpose.
- You can have unity without uniformity. Everyone doing the same thing.
- You can have unity of destination, but all travel differently.
- “Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church . . . be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (I Cor. 1:10, NLB).
- You manifest humility by accepting one another’s weaknesses.
- You begin humility by accepting your weaknesses.
CONCLUSION
1. Share your true feelings - authenticity.
2. Respect other’s differences – courtesy.
3. Build up another - mutuality.
4. Give to others – hospitality.
5. Accept others as they are - unity.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
