Minister One to Another
Romans 12:3-5
Ecc. 4:9-10
I Thess 5:11
The Apostle Paul in his writings teaches that we are to “minister to one another.” One of the hardest times in my life was when I started high school in a new city, Sterling, Kansas. I moved from Gypsum to Sterling a city four times as large as Gypsum. Sterling had a population of 2,000. My parents separated and I felt disconnected. I only felt somewhat connected when we started attending a small Missionary Church. In the church I found loving and caring people. My Sunday school teacher, a college student, became my mentor, friend and encourager. During my high school years we had no car and my Sunday school teacher would often pick me up to take me to various events. I saw in him the reality of the Christian faith. He was an authentic Christ follower. He demonstrated what PAUL said, “minister to one another.”
Paul praised the Christian in Thessalonica, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thess. 5:11
To the Christians in Rome Paul had similar words of encouragement – one translation gives this statement of Romans 12:5 “We are ministers to one another.”
There are many ways we can minister to one another.
I. Minister to one another in love.
The Apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in Galatia when he wrote: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13
Ephesians 4:2 Paul admonishes us to “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love.”
Given the fact that we by nature are selfish and tend to serve the unholy trinity, “me, myself and I” – how do we serve one another in love?
Biblical love is all about ministering and serving others with no strings attached. You know your quality of love when you do something for someone and they forget to thank you. You get bent out of shape and say in your heart that you’ll never do a good deed for that person again.
Biblical love serves and ministers in the light of eternity and not for public recognition. Biblical love is the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart and life.
While Jesus walked with His disciples they were quite a disjointed group. They were each one looking out for number one. They demonstrated jealousy, pride and a competitive spirit.
It took the work of the Holy Spirit to mold the disciples into a unified spirit with boldness and courage to take on the unbelieving world. When the Holy Spirit came into their hearts they were cleansed of all self seeking desires and their motives were transformed into Kingdom seeking motives. The only thing that mattered to them was living for Jesus, honoring Him, and pleasing Him.
The work of the Holy Spirit transforms selfish, conditional love into selfless, unconditional love. Paul said in Romans 5:5, “…God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Self-forgetting love is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical love is characterized by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
As we begin our “40 days of Community” let’s ask the Lord to help us minister to one another in love.
II. Minister to one another by bearing one another’s burdens.
Paul encouraged the Galatians, “Bear/Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
One of the best ways to help others bear burdens is to get involved in a small group. One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a listening ear. There is awesome power in a listening ear.
Have you had the experience of having someone share with you a problem they were having. You listened to their concerns and made a few comments, but never really said anything profound. When you finished the conversation the person says, “My you have really helped me. Thanks so much for your help.” You gave that person the gift of your listening ear.
It’s a sad commentary that the neighborhood bar is often the best place a person can find authentic concern and non-judgmental listening ears. The bar is a counterfeit for what the church should be all about. Conversation in a bar is nonjudgmental, permissive, accepting and inclusive fellowship. Those in the bar are not shocked by anything a person says. You and tell your secrets and they are safe. Bars flourish because they provide a caring community for the price of a few beers and liquor.
A television program that still has reruns going is called “Cheers” with a bar as the setting. The theme song of the program says, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see, our troubles are all the same. You want to be where everybody knows your name!”
King Solomon knew the value of having friends. He wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work: For if they fall, one will lift up his companion; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”
As Christians we value the friendship of Jesus. We prayerfully sing:
What a Friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs
to bear,
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain
we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God
in prayer.
It’s also great to have earthly friends to help us carry our burdens. It is often our earthly friends that give us the greatest invitation to get to know our Creator. You can think of friends, and I personally know, that friends made a difference in my life by encouraging me to live for Jesus.
People who shut out friendships are the losers. Paul Simon put words to music expressing the view for people who say they don’t need friends. The song is called “I am a Rock.”
I’ve built walls, A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate, I have no need of friendship,
Friendship causes pain.
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain, I am a rock. I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain. And an island never cries.
A rock has no feeling and never rejoices either. It never feels happiness or experiences contentment or love.
Friendships are made in small groups. In small group fellowships we find people who care for us and help carry our burdens. People in small groups strengthen and give support to one another..
#Testimony – “Value of small group to me.”
Two weeks ago the funeral service of Robin Harris was held. Robin was the mother of Derek, one of our extended care students. At the funeral service the officiating pastor asked the congregation if there were those who would like to pay tribute to Robin. One after another stood up and shared how Robin had been a true friend over the years. During her bout with cancer Robin was surrounded by loving and caring friends.
No one should have to face a crisis alone. It’s ironic that when a person gets depressed the tendency is to hide away in a dark room or become catatonic in front of a television set. What the person needs is to get involved in serving others and helping to bear the burdens of others. In caring and serving others the person regains a wholesome perspective on life.
In a small loving caring group you are able to serve and be served. “Carry each others’ burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
As a church we can work together and make an impact on our community. Just like snowflakes that alone are fragile, but if enough of them stick together they can stop traffic.”
Galatians 6:10 says, “Every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” (Message)
Begin this week to make a special effort to look for ways to show love to others by doing acts of kindness for others with no strings attached, showing God’s love.
III. Minister to one another by encouraging one another.
I Thess 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”
Lee Strobel, author of “The Case for Christ” tells the story about a newpaper columnist Maria Paul. Maria published a story revealing her frustration over her lack of friendships. “The loneliness saddens me,” she wrote. “How did it happen that I could be forty-two years old and not have enough friends?” “I think there are women out here who don’t know how lonely they are. It’s easy enough to fill up the day with work and family. But no matter how much I enjoy my job and love my husband and child, they are not enough.”
After her column was published letters poured in from housewives, executives and university professors saying, “I’ve had the exact same experience.” One person said, “I’ve often felt that I’m standing outside looking through the window of a party to which I was not invited.” Many wrote to say they were glad to discover they weren’t the only ones with feelings of loneliness.
You may have heard the story told about Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball. While breaking baseball’s “color barrier,” he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error, and his own fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then shortstop “Pee Wee” Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
You may never know what a smile or a hug will do in encouraging another person.
In the ministry of encouragement there are several things you can do to facilitate your ministry.
First. Seek to serve rather than to be served. To encourage someone you need to first find a need the person has and try to meet their need.
Second. In building friendships be generous with encouragement and praise, and be extremely stingy with criticism. It’s not our job to take the place of the Holy Spirit and tell a person all their faults we see in them. Proverbs 11:12 (NLT) has a good word here: “It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.” Also Proverbs 17:9 (NLT) “disregarding another person’s faults preserves love telling about them separates close friends.”
Third. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Assume the best motives that you can in another person. Our tendency is to think the worst. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT) says, “A friends is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
A practical truth of the Christian life is that we need others to walk with us. God never intended for us to walk alone. Jesus chose 12 to walk with him. He developed a close relationship with three, Peter, James and John. The Apostle Paul served with a team.
We all need a community where we feel accepted just as we are and loved just as we are. Pastor Rick Warren in his "40 Days of Community" message describes several things that are helpful in a community of believers.
1. It is safer. If you have ever had to walk alone in a dark alley in the downtown part of any metropolitan city you know it is safer to walk with a group. It’s safer when you walk with others.
2. It’s supportive. When you’re walking all alone it is easier to give up. When walking or running with someone else you cheer each other on. With people around you it is harder to give up. There’s an old Zambian proverb that states: “When you run alone, you run fast, but when you run together, you run far.” Our life is not a 50 yard dash, it is a marathon and we want to run far.
3. It smarter. You learn a lot more when you go through life with other people close to you. The Proverb writer said, “Just as iron sharpen iron, so one man sharpens another.”
There is a big difference between a crowd and a community. You can get lost in a crowd, but in a community you have value and find strength. When you walk through life, you need a group of believers walking with you.
Why are we emphasizing the importance of “40 Days of Community?” Because, in a small group, a community, you find love and care to encourage and give you support. Also in our 40 Days of Purpose Groups you will have the opportunity to get involved in service projects.
One of the projects we have in mind is to have our home groups serve refreshments and give encouragement to the four community recovery groups that meet at our church every week. We will be doing acts of kindness with no strings attached showing God’s love. The recovery groups meet at our church Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Over 200 people are involved in the four groups. Each 40 Days of Community group will also look for other creative ways to serve our community.
Galatians 6:10 says, “Every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with people closest to us in the community of faith.” Philippians 2:4 says “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.” (TEV)
Last Sunday Paul Lysander reported ways churches got involved in the Katrina Hurricane relief. Paul is going to come and tell us about his experience.
This week our “40 Days of Community” groups will be meeting in various host homes and on Wednesday night here at the church.
In a small group you minister to one another in love.
In a small group you minister to one another by bearing one anothers burdens.
In a small group you minister to one another by encouraging one another and working together to serve and meet needs in our community.
Closing Prayer of Commitment
