February 5-6, 2005, 1 Thes. 5:11 & Selected

BETTER TOGETHER - 40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY
GROWING BETTER TOGETHER!

*** Romans 8:29 “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son….” [Living Bible]
*** 1 Thes. 5:11 “Encourage one another and build each other up….” [New International Version]
*** Phil. 4:8-9 “Now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing…. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” [Contemporary English Version]

WE HELP EACH OTHER GROW BY:

1. BY AFFIRMING EACH OTHER’S WORTH!
*** Phil. 3:9 “God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ.” [CEV]

A. WE AFFIRM EACH OTHER WITH ACCEPTANCE!
*** Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you….” [NIV]
WE LONG TO BE LOVED!

B. WE AFFIRM EACH OTHER WITH ATTENTION!
*** Gal. 6:10 “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” [NCV]
TIME- STARVED RELATIONSHIPS!

C. WE AFFIRM EACH OTHER WITH AFFECTION!
*** Romans 12:10 “Love each other with genuine affection….” [NLT]
*** 2 Cor. 13:12 “Greet one another with a holy embrace.” [Message Bible]

D. WE AFFIRM EACH OTHER WITH APPRECIATION!
*** Phil. 2:29 “Welcome Epaphroditus…show your appreciation….” [LB]
*** 1 Thes. 5:12 “Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.” [NCV]

YOUR HEAD FOLLOWS YOUR HEART!

2. BY PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER’S GROWTH!
*** Col. 4:12 “Epaphras…always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature….” [New Century Version]
*** Eph. 1:16-17 “I pray for you constantly, asking God… to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you.” [LB]
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*** Eph. 3:18 “I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him.” [LB]
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***Eph. 3:19 “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him…so…you will be filled up with God himself.” [LB]
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*** Phil. 1:2 “I pray that God…will give each of you his fullest blessings and his peace in your hearts and your lives.” [LB]
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*** Phil. 1:9 “I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight.” [God’s Word]
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*** Hebrews 13:21 “I pray that God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right.” [CEV]
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*** Romans 15:13 “I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace ….” [NCV]
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*** 2 Thes. 3:5 “I pray that the Lord will guide you to be as loving as God and as patient as Christ.” [CEV]
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3. BY ADMITTING OUR WEAKNESSES TO EACH OTHER!
*** Eph. 4:25b“Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body.” [NCV]

FOUR BENEFITS OF ADMITTING OUR WEAKNESSES:

A. EMOTIONAL HEALING!
*** James 5:16a “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” [LB]
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND EMOTIONAL RELEASE!

B. A FRESH START!
*** Proverbs 28:13 “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” [LB]

C. PLUGGING INTO GOD’S POWER TO CHANGE!
*** James 4:10 “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” [New Living Translation]

D. A DEEPER AND RICHER FELLOWSHIP!
*** 1 John 1:7a “But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.” [NCV]

“IF PEOPLE KNOW THE REAL ME…THEY’LL THINK LESS OF ME!” – WRONG!!!

4. BY ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER’S COMMITMENT!
*** 1 Tim. 4:7b “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.” [NLT]
*** Romans 1:12 “I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.” [NCV]

“My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God's people.”
Philemon 1:7 [CEV]