God’s Recurring Call For Community

Sam Hamstra | Apr 17, 2008

It has been observed that Jesus talks about money more than any other subject. I wonder if the apostles write about the communal life of believers more than any other subject. They get at that subject in many ways, such as comparing the human body to the church (I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). They also seldom miss an opportunity to call believers to improve their relationships with "one another." In fact, a fun and illuminating study is the "one another" passages in the New Testament letters. Check out the following compilaton and SOAP it! What's that, you ask? SOAP is a practical meditation tool: Scripture - Observation - Application - Prayer. So, I invite you to read the Scripture, make an Observation by highlighting a truth from the reading that seems to speak right to you, think about ways that the truth might be Applied in your life, and Pray that God will allow that truth to shape your relationships.

  • Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above ourselves.
  • Romans 12:16 - Live in harmony with one another.
  • Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
  • Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
  • Romans 15:7 - Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you...
  • Romans 15:14 - You yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
  • Romans 16:16 - Greet one another with a holy kiss.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
  • 1 Corinthians 16:20 - Greet one another with a holy kiss.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:12 - Greet one another with a holy kiss.
  • Galatians 5:13 - Serve one another in love.
  • Ephesians 4:2 - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
  • Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
  • Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
  • Colossians 3:13 - Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
  • Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom....
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
  • Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another daily....
  • Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
  • Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
  • James 4:11 - Brothers, do not slander one another.
  • 1 Peter 1:22 - Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
  • 1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
  • 1 Peter 4:9 - Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
  • 1 Peter 5:5 - Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
  • 1 Peter 5:14 - Greet one another with a kiss of love.
  • 1 John 3:11 - This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
  • 1 John 3:23 - And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
  • 1 John 4:7 - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
  • 1 John 4:11 - Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
  • 2 John 1:5 - I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

Comments

Curtis said:

I have nothing deep to say. well, really nothing to say at all, i just wanted to be the first one to comment and make it known that the blog is actually being read. - - Curt DeVries

Sam Hamstra said:

Praise the Lord!

SH

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