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WEEK 14: BROTHERLY LOVE 

         2 Peter 1: 7 then tells us that to godliness, we are to add brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity.  This week we will look at how we are to love and care for our brothers and sisters in the church. 

The Church

Read Ephesians 5: 25.  What did Christ do for the church? 

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   What is the church? The church is made up of the children of God.  The Greek word for church is ekklesia, meaning called out ones. Church was a common term for a congregation of the ekklesia, the called people, ^[1]  The word church is ekklesia, meaning called out ones.  The “church building” is merely a place where the actual church, the called out ones, meet.  We are the church, the family of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.  

Read Acts 2: 46-47. These verses are a picture of the early church.  What kind of fellowship did they have? _________________________________________________________________________

How did they spend their time? _________________________________________________________________________

Colossians 1:18 describes the church as a “body” with Christ as the head.  Romans 12: 4-5 describes the church further.  What are the members compared to? ___________________________________________________________ 

    This gives us an idea of how we’re to work together, as one, with one purpose…as smoothly as our heart works with our lungs, as our stomach fuels our muscles, that’s how we’re supposed to work together.  And if we’re all listening to our head—Christ—then we’ll work that way.  He is the One with the purpose…it is the job of the church to carry out His plan!

Love One Another 

Read John 13:34-35.  How Jesus tell us to love one another? ________________________________________________________________________ 

Read John 15: 12-13.  How did Jesus show His love for His friends? ________________________________________________________________________

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      He laid down His life for His friends.  Can we give of ourselves like He did?  True love is this, that a man lay down his life for a friend.  Jesus gave of Himself, of His essence.  Jesus gave Himself up.  He poured Himself out!  And so must we learn to pour out our lives for others, as living sacrifices! 

How does 1 John 3: 18 say we are to love one another? _______________________________________________________________________

     We are to love one another in deed and in truth.  We know what in deed means, but what does it mean to love one another in truth?  It means in reality.  It means that we do not merely pretend to love one another, but mean it from the heart.  If we perform loving actions grudgingly instead of freely from the heart, we are not loving in truth.

According to 1 John 2:5, what happens when we obey God’s Word?  _______________________________________________________________________

    As we obey His Word, truly the love of God is completed, matured, made perfect, comes to fullness, completely carried out.  As we obey Him, we learn to love like He loves…with kindness, compassion, pouring our lives out for others even if they don’t deserve it, being slow to anger and willing to forgive. 

In John 17:23, what did Jesus pray for us? ________________________________________________________________________

Why did Jesus pray that we would have as much unity among the believers in the church as Jesus has with the Father? 

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     Brothers and sisters, when we love one another as Jesus loved us, with kindness and compassion, sacrificially, pouring out our lives for the good of others, all men will know that Jesus is indeed the Son of the Living God and that we indeed belong to Him!                                                                                       Giving 

 Read I Corin. 16: 1-2.  Are we to give materially to the churches?

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 Read 2 Corin. 9:6-7.  Do we reap what we sow abundantly?___________

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     God’s economy is different from ours.  We’re used to things working as usual—spend it and it’s gone.  God economy works like this:  Give when He tells you to and it grows!  And the more you give, the more it grows!  Now, I know that’s foreign to us—it’s just not the way we’re used to things operating.  But that’s God’s way!  God is always the One that gives the increase, no matter what the project is!   But what God is after is our heart condition. 

 Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. God wants us to give from a right heart condition.   Not grudgingly, or because the preacher says we have to, but cheerfully.  That is when He gives the increase!  If you don’t give cheerfully, you might as well not give at all

     The main reason we are to give cheerfully, not begrudgingly, is because it helps to cure our selfishness.  If we give grudgingly, it does our hearts no good!  It also does no good, no matter how much you give, if your motive is so people will think you’re generous.  Our motive has to be right, our heart has to be right!  That is why God says giving is to be done in secret, as Matthew 6:1-2 instructs us.

    Another reason we need to give is that it teaches us to really trust that God will provide for us. Matthew 6:3 tells us, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:”

Give spontaneously, when God calls you to give. Don’t stop and ask your self if you have enough, or if you can afford to give.  Don’t stop and try to figure out if you can give, or how you can finagle a way to give, Just Do It, and trust God to take care of you.  

Read 2 Corinthians 9: 8.  What does God promise to do when you give?______________________________________________________________________

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Spiritual Gifts 

    The Holy Spirit gives each believer one or more spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts are not talents—you are born with talents, such as singing, drawing, etc.  A spiritual gift is a special ability the Holy Spirit gives you.   

    Romans 12: 6-8 tells us that prophesy, ministry (serving), teaching, exhortation (encouragement and admonishment in the Lord); giving, ruling and mercy are gifts.  In 1 Corin. 12: 8-12, the gifts listed are: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gift of healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues.  In Ephesians 4:11, the gifts listed are: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  

Read Ephesians 4:12-16.  What purpose are these gifts to be used for? _____________________________________________________________________

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    The Bible tells us that first we are to take care of our own, our brothers and sisters.  

    Galatians 6:10 says:  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”   

    AW Tozer said, “The popular notion that the first obligation of the church is to spread the gospel to the uttermost portion of the earth is false.  Her first obligation is to be spiritually worthy to spread it.”   

    The purpose of the spiritual gifts are to equip, encourage, train, build up, strengthen and serve, the Body of Believers.  The gifts are to be the means by which we love and care for one another in the church.       

Reasons God Gathers His People Together 

In Hebrews 10: 25 we are told not to forsake the  assembling of ourselves together.  Why? _________________________________________________________ 

1)  For instruction and building up of the body.

      Read Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16.  God brings His

          people together for edification and instruction, to equip and

          make us mature; to bring us into full growth in Christian

          faith and virtue; to encourage and admonish one another. 

2)  To be united by the Spirit; one in heart and mind.

          Read John 17:20-23 and Romans 15:5-6.  God brings His

          body of believers together to bring them to unity of mind and

         purpose, and that they with one mind and one voice glorify

         God. 

3).  For prayer and petition.

         Read Acts 4: 24, James 5: 16 and 1 Timothy 2: 1. God

         Brings us together to pray together in one accord, as the

         Spirit brings us to unity in our prayers.  Supplications,

         prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks are to be made

         for all.  We are to continue in prayer.

 4)  To praise, worship and adore God.

         We exist to praise God.  We were created to give praise and

honor and glory to His name (Revelation 4:11).  We are to

gather together to worship Him.  Hebrews 2: 12 says,

“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the

midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Psalm

111:1 and Psalm 22:22 declare we are to praise God with

our whole hearts in the assembly of the congregation! 

Write Romans 12: 5 from memory.

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Have you discovered during the course of your study this week new ways to love your brothers and sisters in Christ? 

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