Family
Are there are different levels of responsibility?
Is our first responsibility to our own family, beginning with our household, and then our other relatives?
1Tim.5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
This principle applies to both our giving and our service. For example, it’s a mistake to give everything to charity without first seeing to your own family’s needs.
One another
The phrase "one another" is derived from the Greek word allelon which means "one another, each other; mutually, reciprocally." It occurs 100 times in the New Testament. Approximately 59 of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how (and how not) to relate to one another. Obedience to those commands is imperative. It forms the basis for all true Christian community, and has a direct impact on our witness to the world (John 13:35).
POSITIVE COMMANDS
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
NEGATIVE COMMANDS (how not to treat one another)
Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)
If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you'll be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:15)
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)
Do not slander one another (James 4:11)
Don't grumble against each other (James 5:9)
We do all this because we are in a real sense “members of one another” (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:25).
Outsiders
In addition to allelon, the Bible uses other words and phrases to instruct us how to relate to others.
Mt.5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Is this easy?
What is the natural way to respond to enemies?
What is the natural way to respond to persecution?
In every day life, our natural response isn’t always wrong. Can you think of any natural responses that are good? a smile, natural affection, joyfulness
Luke’s parable of the good Samaritan is an example of how to treat an outsider. The Jewish people and the Samaritans were definitely “outsiders” to each other.
In the matter of witnessing to outsiders, what about those of us who do not have the gift of evangelism?
I used to be in sales. First insurance, and then real estate. I went to quite a few seminars on sale techniques. In real estate, I had a listing farm. That was an area of several blocks of residential houses. I went door-to-door, cold canvassing, asking people if they were thinking of selling their house. It wasn’t easy, because I got lots of rejections. But it trained me not to be afraid to knock on doors, because every once in a while, someone would say “Yes”. But obviously, not everyone is comfortable approaching strangers. Some are naturally very shy, some are introverted.
Is it easy or hard for you to approach a complete stranger and present the gospel to them?
If it’s hard for you, so that you would prefer to avoid it, do you feel guilty?
Why should you feel guilty if that’s not your gift?
Witnessing
This raises the question – Can you name any command in the New Testament epistles, given specifically to you as an individual, to go out and witness?*
I used to teach about witnessing and sharing the gospel. I taught from the few commands on the subject.
Col.4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
“Outsiders” in this context are non-Christians.
Is this a command to go out witnessing? Or is it a command to be ready to respond?
1Pet.3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
Again, is this a command to go out witnessing? Or a command to be prepared?
Jude 3-4 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Is this strong encouragement to contend for the faith asking us to go on offense or defense?
The context is talking about defending the faith from ungodly people who “slipped in” among us (the church).
Are there situations where we shouldn’t worry about or prepare ahead about what to say?
Luke 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Here again, we are talking about defense, not offense. It is a wonderful comfort to know that the Holy Spirit will help us.
*The “Great Commission”, Mt. 28:19 and Mark 16:15, to teach (make disciples), baptize, and teach, was given by Jesus to the eleven (this was after Judas had departed) who founded the church. They were given miraculous gifts to equip them for this commission. It continues today as the church’s mission. But not every individual teaches outsiders and not every individual baptizes new believers. This is accomplished as a group effort of every individual contributing their own special gifts, working together in a united way to see that the gospel is proclaimed.
The distribution of gifts in the church at large is different for individual members, equipping the body of Christ as a whole.
1Cor.12:27-30 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
2Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
There are many devout Christians in the church, the body of Christ, who nevertheless are not qualified to teach - they have other gifts.
Eph.4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers
Rom.12:4-8 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Note: On the home site, alchristie.substack.com, if you click on “Faith” in the header menu, you will find links to other writings on faith and Christianity.
There was much to think a bout in this one. I remember having read most of the scriptures, some time in the past years.