1. Responsibility in God’s Family Who is my brother? What should that mean to me?

2. Purpose Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4

3. Defining the Family Matthew 12:46-50 Genesis 4 Who is our brother or sister? Answer: any follower of Christ who has received His grace through baptism (Rom 6) – Share in being justified by faith (Rom 8) – Joint heirs of Christ of an eternal inheritance Implies requirements for a functional family

4. Characteristics of the Family Respect for the Father – From a child-like perspective Respect for instruction – Matt 7:21-23 Devotion to the family unit – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [j] give preference to one another in honor;j Rom 12:10

5. Life in the New Testament Acts 2:43-46—shared in all things Acts 8—persecuted together 2 Cor 9—pooled money for needy saints 1 Cor 1—quarreled with each other 1 Cor 6—sued each other Paul makes the appeal to be different!

6. John 17:20-21 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. Perception of discipleship is contingent upon our unity in the faith The appeal to unity is based on the relationship between Christ and the Father

7. Looking to Christ as the Example 14 [g] As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness [h] in deceitful scheming; 15 but [i] speaking the truth in love, [j] we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together [k] by what every joint supplies, according to the [l] proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love…Ephesians 4ghijkl

8. Son of God: Two Sides, One Man Jesus as a man of mercy—John 4 – adulterous Samaritan woman Jesus as a man of conviction—Matt 21-23 – Purging the temple, exposing errors of Sadducees and Pharisees We make a mistake if we think that we cannot live and express conviction while at the same time exuding mercy and compassion

9. Encouragement 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart [c] that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end—Hebrews 3:12-14c Encouragement is a preemptive measure

10. Admonition I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. Rom 15:14 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and [k] patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:12-13k Two critical components: Knowledge and Love

11. Knowledge, Love, Discretion 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Jude 20-23

12. Three Categories 1.Those to show mercy 2.Those to show conviction 3.Those to show a mixture of mercy and conviction In what manner should this be done? Acts 20:31

13. Practical Considerations Method of Effective Encouragement – “We missed you” – “What do you need?” Demands personal involvement!

14. What Does This Require From Each of Us? We need to assemble together (not just here!) Establish relationships Love for each other Knowledge of the Word A sense of personal responsibility toward each one here Our growth is dependent on everyone!

15. How Do We Receive Admonition? 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:7-11