OceanSide church of Christ

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LOVE PROMOTED AMONG BRETHREN (OS)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   As a minister, I sometimes read statements in the Bible and think:  “Wouldn’t that be great if that could be said of the church where I worship?”

 

B.   I Thessalonians 4:9 is one of those statements.

 

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

 

1.     Ministers often plan sermons in advance.  Some plan as far as a year in advance.

2.    Can you imagine a minister planning his sermons, and, saying:  “Is it not needful for me to preach on brotherly love in this church this year”?

 

C.   This could only be said of a few churches.

1.     On the other hand, some need a good dose of brotherly love.  Once a month might not be too much.

2.    Most, however, just need to be reminded from time to time.

 

D.   There are so many ways to approach this lesson.

1.     We could talk about “why” we need to love one another (Ex., to prove we are the Lord’s disciples, John 13:35).

 

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

2.    We could discuss the many examples of brotherly love shown to us in Scripture.

a.    Abraham with Lot

b.    Joseph with his brothers

c.    Jonathan with David

d.    David with Mephibosheth

e.    Jesus with the disciples

f.    Paul with the churches

3.     We could also talk about “when” love is needed:  daily interactions, time of need, when problems arise, and when one is in sin.

 

E.   In this lesson, we want to discuss:  “What Brotherly Love Looks Like.”  We want to encourage you to promote this type of love among yourselves.

 

I.          BROTHERLY LOVE IS A DIVINE LOVE

 

A.   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.

 

1.     The key words:  “…as I have love you…”

2.    We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ in the same manner Jesus has loved us.

 

B.   We could spend the rest of the lesson right here.  If we could all learn to love like deity, there would be no more discussion needed.

 

C.   We could focus upon I Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter.”

1.     Paul describes agape love with 16 statements.

2.    Again, practicing that description of love would solve most of our struggles in the love department.

 

D.   One word that could be used to describe divine love is “sacrificial.”

1.     True love will offer itself upon the altar for another.

2.    John 15:12-13

 

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

a.    Most will never be called upon to give up their life for another.

b.    It may be that we have to sacrifice something less than that (Ex., two men, if you had two pigs, would you give me one?).

c.    Examples:  A night of the week, a Sunday afternoon, money for a meal or a movie

 

II.        BROTHERLY LOVE IS A SERVING LOVE

 

A.   Galatians 5:13-14

 

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law if fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

 

B.   The word “serve” means “to make oneself a slave to another.”

1.     What would you answer if asked:  “In what ways are you serving your brethren at East Wood?”

2.    What would your brethren say, is asked:  “In what way are you a slave to them?”

3.     If there is no service, your love is suspect.

 

C.   We could delve into the lives of many Bible characters.

1.     Jesus as He washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:5)

2.    Paul who was willing to spend and be spent for his brethren (II Cor. 12:15)

3.     Phoebe (Rom. 16:1), Timothy (Phil. 2:22), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), and Tychicus (Col. 4:7), who are all called fellowservants.

 

 

 

III.      BROTHERLY LOVE IS KIND

 

A.   Three verses:

1.     I Corinthians 13:4

 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind…

 

2.    Romans 12:10

 

Be ye kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

 

3.     Ephesians 4:32

 

And be kind one to another…

 

B.   The word kind means:

1.     Strong (5543):  employed in manners

2.    Thayer:  mild, pleasant (as opposed to harsh, hard, sharp, bitter)

 

C.   Am I kind when…

1.     I always speak gruff to others?

2.    I talk about another behind their back to others?

3.     I accuse someone of something that is not true?

4.    I intentionally slight another person?

5.    I treat you one way to your face and another behind your back?

 

IV.       BROTHERLY LOVE IS IMPARTIAL LOVE

 

A.   God is impartial in His dealings with man (Rom. 2:11).  His love, therefore, is the same for all.  If we reflect divine love, then our love will be impartial toward others.

 

B.   Verses:

1.     James 2:9

 

But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as trans-gressors.

 

2.    I Timothy 5:21

 

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 

C.   Application:

1.     Helping one person, but not another

2.    Holding one person in sin accountable, but not another

3.     Promoting one person to a position of honor, but not another

4.    Supporting one in affliction, but not another

 

D.   Two verses:

 

1.     Romans 12:16

 

Be of the same mind one toward another…

 

2.    I Corinthians 12:25

 

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

 

V.        SEVERAL OTHER ASPECTS OF BROTHERLY LOVE

 

A.   Brotherly love is a forbearing love (Eph. 4:2).

 

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

 

B.   Brotherly love is a provoking love (Heb. 10:24).

 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.

 

C.   Brotherly love is a rebuking love (Prov. 27:5).

 

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

 

D.   Brotherly love is confidential love (Prov. 17:9).

 

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

 

E.   Brotherly love is a fervent love (I Pet. 1:22).

 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeign love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Jesus has commanded us to love one another (John 15:17).

 

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

B.   May God help us to abound in our love toward each other (I Thess. 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.