An Inside Job John 13:34
OBITUARY"
Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill.
Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list,"Let SomeoneElse do it.
Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person waslooked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."
It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone!
We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a
wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this year, remember -- we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.
There are some things that can only be done by an inside job. At some crime scenes the police conclude from the evidence that it had to be an inside job. When there is no break-in, and the alarm was not set off, and certain items were taken from a secret vault without blowing it - they conclude it must have been an inside job. I want to look at relationships inside the church. The word of God gives us many principles to guide us, and they are called “one another” passages. On the Church Health survey you took you rated yourselves low on “loving relationships.” Not only was the problem diagnosed in this room, the answer is also in this room. The Wesleyan Headquarters can’t fix it, the district can’t improve it, Danny, Jeff, or Bryan can’t make it happen. It has to be an inside job. We all have to do our part to changing the relational atmosphere inside the church. We can’t expect the world to take notice of Jesus unless the church learns how to make each other feel loved. Jesus said this would demonstrate that we are his, v“35. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “ John 17:23
1 Serve One Another “Wash one another’s feet”
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
13. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. Gal. 5:13
A Man With a Servant’s Heart
A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody’’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course this was America and there were no hall servants.
Walking the dormitory halls that night, Moody saw the shoes and determined not to embarrass his brothers. He mentioned the need to some ministerial students who were there, but met with only silence or pious excuses. Moody returned to the dorm, gathered up the shoes, and, alone in his room, the world’’s only famous evangelist began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret.
When the foreign visitors opened their doors the next morning, their shoes were shined. They never know by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, different men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret. Perhaps the episode is a vital insight into why God used D. L. Moody as He did. He was a man with a servant’’s heart and that was the basis of his true greatness.
You’’re Going to Die
A man went to the doctor after weeks of symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully, then called the patient’’s wife into his office. ““Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. Without treatment, he’’ll be dead in a few weeks. The good news is, it can be treated with proper nutrition.””
““You will need to get up early every morning and fix your husband a hot breakfast——pancakes, bacon and eggs, the works. He’’ll need a home-cooked lunch every day, and then an old-fashioned meat-and-potato dinner every evening. It would be especially helpful if you could bake frequently. Cakes, pies, homemade bread——these are the things that will allow your husband to live.
““One more thing. His immune system is weak, so it’’s important that your home be kept spotless at all times. Do you have any questions?”” The wife had none.
““Do you want to break the news, or shall I?”” asked the doctor.
““I will,”” the wife replied.
She walked into the exam room. The husband, sensing the seriousness of his illness, asked her, ““It’’s bad, isn’’t it?””
She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. ““What’’s going to happen to me?”” he asked.
With a sob, the wife blurted out, ““The doctor says you’’re gonna die!””
2. Love one another
34. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart 1 Pet 1:22
Childs Letter =
> Dear God,
> I bet it’’s very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nan
Love in Action
A lady by the name of Opal Whetset is a Christian writer. She was riding on a bus one night; a Greyhound bus between Flagstaff, Arizona to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a cold February night, and the bus stopped in a little Native-American community. A young Native-American Indian teenager got on the bus and sat down behind her. Maybe it was the warmth of the bus or the rocking motion, but she could tell that by his breathing that he was soon asleep. Sometime later he awakened and ran down the aisle and asked about a certain stop where he was supposed to get off. The driver snapped back and said, "We passed that stop a long time ago. Why didn’’t you get off then?" The boy went back to his seat. She could tell he was anxious and upset. Immediately he walked back to the driver, and he said, "Will you stop the bus and let me get off and walk back to where I was supposed to get off?" The bus driver said, "No, it’’s too cold and it’’s too far. You’’d freeze. You’’ve got to ride the bus all the way into Albuquerque, then catch another bus back to your stop. The Indian sat down in his seat behind Opal, and she could tell he was so upset. She turned around to this young man she never met before, and said, "Are you afraid? Is there anything I can do to help?" He said, I don’’t know what to do. I’’ve never been to Albuquerque, and besides, I don’’t have any money. They’’re going to make me pay again. I don’’t know what to do." She said, "Well listen, don’’t worry, you just stick with me. When we get to Albuquerque, I’’ll make sure you get on the right bus. And if they want to charge you, which they shouldn’’t do, I’’ll buy your ticket." Then Opal went up, talked to the bus driver, and explained the situation. She said, "Can you make sure the next bus he gets on, they don’’t charge him to take him back to where he needs to go?" The bus driver finally agreed. Opal went back, sat down, and turned to the Indian behind her and said, "It’’s all taken care of. Don’’t you worry. Everything’’s going to be okay." For ten minutes, there was total silence, and then Opal felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and that young man was leaning forward, and he asked her this question. He said, "Ma’’am, are you a Christian?"
3. Be devoted to one
10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Romans 12:10
–Refers to family affection. We are family.
Nothing Like a Hug
When times are tough and things just aren’’t going your way, there’’s nothing like a hug. Someone putting an arm around you and telling you, ““Hey, everything’’s going to be all right. You’’re okay.””
And there’’s nobody better at that than your mom. Just ask Nick Anderson. The Orlando Magic guard missed four free throws in the waning seconds of his team’’s NBA finals game against Houston and the team went on to lose a game it otherwise might have won. Later Houston guard Clyde Drexler blew past Anderson for a lay-up late in overtime. Nick Anderson had a very bad game.
Understandably, when he got home Anderson was down in the dumps. ““My mom put her arm around me,”” Anderson later said, ““and told me, ‘‘You’’ve got nothing to put your head down about. You’’ve pulled your team through many other times.’’””
4. Honor one another
Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
-It is valuing. Placing value on something so that it came to have our honor and respect.
Rejoicing in the Success of Others
Forty thousand fans were on hand in the Oakland stadium when Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock’’s career stolen base record. According to USA Today Lou, who had left baseball in 1979, had followed Henderson’’s career and was excited about his success. Realizing that Rickey would set a new record, Brock said, ““I’’ll be there. Do you think I’’m going to miss it now? Rickey did in 12 years what took me 19. He’’s amazing.””
The real success stories in life are with people who can rejoice in the successes of others. What Lou Brock did in cheering on Rickey Henderson should be a way of life in the family of God. Few circumstances give us a better opportunity to exhibit God’’s grace than when someone succeeds and surpasses us in an area of our own strength and reputation.
5. Stop passing judgement on oneanother
13. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Romans 14:13
Whitfield and Wesley
Although George Whitefield disagreed with John Wesley on some theological matters, he was careful not to create problems in public that could be used to hinder the preaching of the gospel. When someone asked Whitefield if he thought he would see Wesley in heaven, Whitefield replied, ““I fear not, for he will be so near the eternal throne and we at such a distance, we shall hardly get sight of him.””
Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, W. Wiersbe, Moody Press, 1984, p. 2
6. Accept one another
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7
Jane Roe (Roe vs. Wade)
Most of us were shocked in early August when Flip Benham, national director for Operation Rescue, baptized Norma McCorvey, the woman known as Jane Roe in the U. S. Supreme Court’’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The events leading to the baptism started with an apology. Earlier this year Benhan relocated OR’’s national headquarters next to the abortion clinic where McCorvey worked. That same week Benham spoke to McCorvey. He apologized for an earlier encounter, when he had told McCorvey that she was responsible for millions of abortions. ““‘‘I saw that those words really hurt you,’’ I told her and asked her to forgive me. She said, ‘‘Oh yes, it did hurt.’’““ McCorvey forgave Benham and the two struck up a friendship. Even before her conversion, McCorvey spoke freely about the friendship. ““I like Flip,”” McCorvey told a reporter in March of this year. ““He’’s doing his thing.””
The unconditional love Benham and other OR workers showed McCorvey eventually broke through. Though an icon to the pro-abortion movement, McCorvey felt used. As she saw firsthand the love of Christ through her new friends, McCorvey eventually felt more comfortable with them than with her clinic co-workers. She even dropped by OR’’s offices and sometimes picked up the phone when no one else was available. That love and acceptance led McCorvey to a Dallas area church, where in late July she put her life in God’’s hands. ““Jane Roe was who the pro-abortion side cared about most,”” Benham says, ““but God was always concerned with Norma McCorvey.”” The non-condemning love continues today.
McCorvey has quit her job at the clinic and now works for OR. But she and Benham still do not see eye-to-eye on every issue. ““We’’ve got to give her some time and space,”” says Benham. ““Changes on such a personal level take a little bit longer.”” McCorvey’’s conversion reminds all of us that the people who represent our opposition——even those whose actions we find most repulsive——are loved by God and are not beyond his reach. ““It moves this issue from politics to the Gospel. That is where God wanted it any way,”” Benham said.
7. Instruct one another & Admonish one another
14. I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16
8. Greet one another with a holy kiss
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. Romans 16:16
-to embrace- it was a sign of love, affection, and genuine interest in others
-in our culture it would include, a warm hand shake, arm around the shoulder, hug
9. Agree with one another
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Cor. 1:10
10. Bear with one another (Put up with)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2
-To endure, to bear with, or put up with. We tend to be provoked by others who do not cater to our whims or even our ideas or convictions because we cling to our rights and desires rather than the well being of others. When we become provoked, we are in danger of hurting others and the peace of the body of Christ.
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the intercom asking for a carry out at checkout register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.
Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road.
Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn’’t possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn’’t afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.
That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, lets take the kids with us." She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed.
Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had a older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with down syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don’’t understand why the kids can’’t come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities. Just like her first husband and father of her children did. That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the rest room, he picked him up out of his chair, took him, brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.
So what happened to the stock boy and check out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs Kurt Warner, now live in St. Louis, where he is employed by the St.Louis Rams and plays quarterback. He was selected Most Valuable Player of the National Football League this before he led his team to the Super Bowl.
11. BE kind and compassionate to one another
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32
Abraham Lincoln
Despite his busy schedule during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln often visited the hospitals to cheer the wounded. On one occasion he saw a young fellow who was near death. ““Is there anything I can do for you?”” asked the compassionate President. ““Please write a letter to my mother,”” came the reply. Unrecognized by the soldier, the Chief Executive sat down and wrote as the youth told him what to say.
The letter read, ““My Dearest Mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won’’t recover. Don’’t sorrow too much for me. May God bless you and Father. Kiss Mary and John for me.”” The young man was too weak to go on, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and then added this postscript: ““Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln.””
Asking to see the note, the soldier was astonished to discover who had shown him such kindness. ““Are you really our President?”” he asked. ““Yes,”” was the quiet answer. ““Now, is there anything else I can do?”” The lad feebly replied, ““Will you please hold my hand? I think it would help to see me through to the end.”” The tall, gaunt man granted his request, offering warm words of encouragement until death stole in with the dawn.
Kindness to a Stranger
"Dear Ann, I’’m a 46-year-old woman, divorced, with 3 grown children. After several months of chemotherapy following a mastectomy for breast cancer, I was starting to put my life back together when my doctor called with the results of my last checkup. They had found more cancer, & I was devastated.
"My relatives had not been supportive. I was the first person in the family to have cancer & they didn’’t know how to behave toward me. They tried to be kind, but I had the feeling they were afraid that it was contagious. They called on the phone to see how I was doing, but kept their distance. And that really hurt.
"Last Saturday I headed for the laundromat. You see the same people there almost every week. We exchange greetings, & make small talk. So I pulled into the parking lot, determined not to look depressed, but my spirits were really low.
While taking my laundry out of the car, I looked up & saw a man, one of the regulars, leaving with his bundle. He smiled & said, ‘‘Good morning. How are you today?’’ Suddenly I lost control of myself & blurted out, ‘‘This is the worst day of my life! I have more cancer!’’ Then I began to cry.
"He put his arms around me & just let me sob. Then he said, ‘‘I understand. My wife has been through it, too.’’ After a few minutes I felt better, stammered out my thanks, & proceeded on with my laundry.
"About 15 minutes later, here he came back with his wife. Without saying a word, she walked over & hugged me. Then she said, ‘‘I’’ve been there, too. Feel free to talk to me. I know what you’’re going through.’’
"Ann, I can’’t tell you how much that meant to me. Here was this total stranger, taking her time to give me emotional support & courage to face the future at a time when I was ready to give up.
"Oh, I hope God gives me a chance to do for someone else what that wonderful woman & her husband did for me. Meanwhile, Ann, please let your readers know that even though there are a lot of hard-hearted people in this world, there are some incredibly generous & loving ones, too."
12. Forgive one another
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32
The wife of a Zulu chief happened to attend a meeting of Christians & heard for the very first time in her life about Jesus. The message of a God who loves us & forgives our sins was something new & wonderful for her to consider. She had never heard of such a God before. And it wasn’’t long until she became a Christian, too.
When her husband learned of this he angrily forbade her, on pain of death, ever to attend a Christian meeting again. However, eager to hear more about Jesus, she dared to go, & when her husband found out what she had done he met her on the trail & beat her so savagely that he left her for dead.
But it wasn’’t long until curiosity got the better of him & he went back to look for her. She was not on the trail where he had left her. But he did see broken twigs & other signs to indicate where she had crawled away. Following them he finally found her lying under a bush.
Cruelly, he asked, ““And just what is your Jesus Christ doing for you now?”” She opened her eyes, & looking at him, said gently, ““He is helping me to forgive you!”” (Adapted from David Yarbrough –– SC)
13. Speak to one another
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 5:19-20
Pretty is as Pretty Does
A few years ago a cosmetic company sponsored a promotion in which people were asked to submit pictures & letters about the most beautiful women they knew. Thousands of letters & pictures poured in.
But one particular letter from a young boy captured a lot of attention, & it was shown to the president of the company. From what he wrote it was obvious that the boy was from a broken home, staying with his father, & living in an old & run-down neighborhood.
Writing about the woman, he said, ““A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers & she listens to my problems. She understands me, & when I leave she yells out the door that she’’s proud of me.””
He enclosed her picture & wrote, ““This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman.””
Intrigued, the president asked to see her picture. His secretary handed him a photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well-advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Her sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun, & the wrinkles on her face seemed to fade away beneath the twinkle in her eyes.
Smiling, the president said, ““We can’’t use this entry. It would show the world that our products aren’’t necessary to be beautiful.”” (Adapted from SC)
14. Submit to one another
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Eph 5:21
Humility is a mental attitude that allows and causes us to surrender our rights and submit ourselves to the needs and interests of others.
15. Encourage one another
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Heb. 3:13
In 1994 Thurman Thomas, head bowed with his hands covering his face, sat on the Buffalo bench following his team’’s fourth straight Super Bowl loss. His three fumbles had helped seal the awful fate of his Buffalo Bills. Suddenly, standing before him was the Dallas Cowboys’’ star running back, Emmitt Smith. Just named MVP for Super Bowl XXVIII, Smith was carrying his small goddaughter. Smith looked down at her and said, "I want you to meet the greatest running back in the NFL, Mr. Thurman Thomas.
Mike Yanconelli - The problem with the church today is not corruption. It is not institutionalism. No, the problem is far more serious than something like the minister running away with the organist is. The problem is pettiness. Blatant pettiness.
16. Spur one another on to good deeds
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24
17. Do not slander one another
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. James 4:11
18. Live in harmony with
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Pet. 3:8
The Trouble is
J. R. Packard wrote a short story entitled, "The Trouble Is." In that story there is one very moving scene. A riot is in progress with blacks & whites fighting each other. The mother of the little black boy who is telling this story has been hurt. Her family has just gone down & picked her up off the ground & carried her upstairs & placed her in bed.
Now, the little black boy is standing by the window with his grandmother watching what is going on below. As they watch the fighting they notice a white boy running away from a group of blacks. It seems that he’’ll get away until he makes a fatal mistake. He turns down their alley, not knowing that it is a dead end. Too late, he realizes his mistake & he turns with a look of horror on his face towards the black youths who are coming after him.
As the little boy watches, he sees a door open below & his grandmother standing there beckoning the white boy to escape through the open door. The little boy says, "At first I was glad because my grandmother had opened the door so the white boy could escape. Then I remembered my mother bleeding & suffering on the bed, & that white people had done that to her. Then I was angry at my grandmother for opening the door."
He goes on, "The trouble is that when people hate each other, that the people who are the objects of the hate want to hate the people who hate them, & hurt the people who hurt them, & insult the people who insult them. Soon we find ourselves in a vicious cycle of hating, hurting, & insulting. And nobody opens the door. So we just keep on hurting & hating & insulting."
APPL. You see the cycle will not be broken until there is kindness & compassion, until we begin to understand what is going on inside & open the door.
19. Offer hospitality
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9
Hospitality
In Albania, hospitality is evidently very common. It is part of their culture. It stems from the fact that before Communism, most Albanians were Moslems. A guest, even if he is a total stranger, is offered some tobacco to smoke and given a seat next to the hearth--a place of honor. If he has traveled far, the woman of the house will wash his feet. He is served coffee and after that invited to the table to eat. Every house is supposed to keep special food ready in case there are guests. The key to it all is an old Albanian saying--"an Albanian’’s house belongs to God and His guests."
If we are only taking care of God’’s house and God’’s food for Him, we need to be ready to share hospitality with His people.
20. Clothe yourself with humility toward one another
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
George Washington was walking with a friend when a slave of his bowed to him, and Washington bowed back in return. When the slave had passed the man asked, “Why did you bow to a Slave?” George Washington responded, “I’m not going to let him be more of a gentleman than me.”
21. Confess your sins to one another James 5:
Conclusion: I read of a church where two new people began to attend. They attended for three weeks, but no one spoke to them at all. The one man said, "I’m going to go one more Sunday, and if no one speaks to me- I’m never going back again. The other man said to himself, "I’m going to go one more Sunday and if no one speaks to me, I’m going to speak to somebody myself." The next Sunday came and no one spoke to either, but as they rose to leave the second spoke to the first and shook his hand. They became friends and both continued to attend the church. You see we have to be the one to take the inititive. Don’t wait for someone else to do it.
22. Pursue the building up of one another Romans 14:19
23. Wait for one another 1 Cor. 11:33
24. Care for one another 1 Cor. 12:25
25. Bear one Another’s Burdens Gal. 6:2
26. Regard one another as more important Phil. 2:3
27. Do not Lie to one another Col. 3:9
write
28. Comfort One Another 1 Thess. 4:18
29. Pursue Good to one another 1 Thess. 5:15
30. Consider one Another Heb. 10:25
31. Do not speak against one another James 4:11 “Slander”
32. Do not complain against one another James5:9 “Do not grumble against each other”
33. Pray for one another James 5:16
34. Assemble together with one another Heb. 10:25
-church life involves people getting together, contact with other people
