Today’s Focus: Get CONNECTED in a LINKED GROUP

Introduction: The First Negative Declaration In The Bible…

Introduction: The First Negative Declaration In The Bible… “It is NOT GOOD that the man should be ALONE.”

Genesis 2 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

The Principle Gleaned…

The Principle Gleaned… Humans were not created by God to do LIFE ALONE.

Ecclesiastes 4 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Why GROUPS?

The THEOLOGICAL Reason…

The THEOLOGICAL Reason… Groups are necessary because it is where our “church” becomes “FAMILY!”

The HISTORICAL Reason…

The HISTORICAL Reason… Groups are necessary because God used the greatest LEADERS in the Bible to EXEMPLIFY their importance!

The GOD–HEAD functions within a “group.” The HISTORICAL Reason… The GOD–HEAD functions within a “group.”

Genesis 1 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

MOSES led ISRAEL to function within groups. The HISTORICAL Reason… MOSES led ISRAEL to function within groups.

Exodus 18 13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

Exodus 18 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Exodus 18 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Exodus 18 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

JESUS functioned on earth within a group. The HISTORICAL Reason… JESUS functioned on earth within a group.

Matthew 10 1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

PAUL functioned in his ministry within a group. (ACTS) The HISTORICAL Reason… PAUL functioned in his ministry within a group. (ACTS)

The BIBLICAL (PERSONAL) Reason…

The BIBLICAL (PERSONAL) Reason… Groups are necessary because LIFE happens…

The BIBLICAL (PERSONAL) Reason… Groups are necessary because LIFE happens… And when it does, you are going to need a GROUP!

The BIBLICAL (PRACTICAL) Reason…

The BIBLICAL (PRACTICAL) Reason… Groups are necessary because it is the only way we can carry out the biblical guidelines for how we are to function with “ONE ANOTHER!”

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 1. LOVE one another.

John 13 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 Peter 1 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

2. INCREASE & ABOUND in love toward another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 2. INCREASE & ABOUND in love toward another.

1 Thessalonians 3 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

1 Thessalonians 4 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

3. By love, SERVE one another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 3. By love, SERVE one another.

Galatians 5 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

4. SALUTE or GREET one another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 4. SALUTE or GREET one another.

Romans 16 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Corinthians 16 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 5. Be KIND one to another.

Ephesians 4 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Romans 12 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

6. Be kindly AFFECTIONED one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 6. Be kindly AFFECTIONED one to another.

Romans 12 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 7. CONSIDER one another.

Hebrews 10 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 8. CARE for one another.

1 Corinthians 12 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

9. In honor, PREFER one another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 9. In honor, PREFER one another.

Romans 12 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

10. Be of the SAME mind/ LIKE-minded one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 10. Be of the SAME mind/ LIKE-minded one to another.

Romans 12 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 15 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

11. SUBMIT yourself one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 11. SUBMIT yourself one to another.

Ephesians 5 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

1 Peter 5 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 12. RECEIVE one another.

Romans 15 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

13. Use HOSPITALITY one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 13. Use HOSPITALITY one to another.

1 Peter 4 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

14. FORBEAR (or PUT UP with) one another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 14. FORBEAR (or PUT UP with) one another.

Ephesians 4 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

15. Be TENDERHEARTED one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 15. Be TENDERHEARTED one to another.

Ephesians 4 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

16. Have COMPASSION one for another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 16. Have COMPASSION one for another.

1 Peter 3 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 17. FORGIVE one another.

Ephesians 4 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 18. PRAY for one another.

James 5 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

19. MINISTER your GIFTS one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 19. MINISTER your GIFTS one to another.

1 Peter 4 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 20. EDIFY one another.

Romans 14 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 21. EXHORT one another.

Hebrews 10 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 3 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 22. ADMONISH one another.

Romans 15 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

23. CONFESS your FAULTS one to another. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 23. CONFESS your FAULTS one to another.

James 5 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

24. BEAR one another’s BURDENS. 25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 24. BEAR one another’s BURDENS.

Galatians 6 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

25 POSITIVES “One Another” Commands 25. COMFORT one another.

1 Thessalonians 4 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

CONCLUSION: What is my “NEXT STEP?”

CONCLUSION: What is my “NEXT STEP?” TRANSITION your life to function within a GROUP!