To treat others how we want to be treated, to love one another – they are ideas that look easy on paper. If we take a hard look at ourselves, though, we may find we aren’t so good at these simple concepts. God sets out expectations of how we are supposed to live and treat each other. He sets an example of love, and our challenge is to follow that example, to demonstrate the love of God in our lives.

In our character, God is the pivot point. When we know how to interact and how to react to God, we learn to better interact with those around us. We learn from an early age that God made us and God loves us. We study His power, His mercy, and the many ways He loves us. We demonstrate our love for Him, in turn, when we love others. Without loving others, we do not love God.

Foundations of Love

According to Genesis 1, we are God’s Creation, and He made us in His spiritual image. We understand that authority is a part of Creation. We are His. However, man likes to live by his own authority. In Daniel, for example, both kings Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar need to be reminded of their places. In contrast, Psalm 19 describes the glory of God’s word as portrayed by nature. The psalm speaks of a power before which we must humble ourselves. It is the testimony of I AM as God calls Himself in Exodus 3:14. We are created for the purpose of good works under this authority according to Ephesians 2:10.

John 3:16 describes the love God has for us in the sacrifice He provided and made on our behalves. Paul elaborates on this point in Romans 5:6, describing how undeserving we are of such a sacrifice. He describes our relationship with God as adversarial, but the cleansing power of Christ’s blood bridges the gulf separating us from our Father. He loves us despite the fact that we are unlovable. This love is a model for the love we are to have for one another according to I John 4:19. It is unmeasurable by our standards, but it is also a love that is unconditional. THis is the foundation upon which our love is built.

God Doesn’t Want Us to Hit

Ephesians 5:1 encourages us to be imitators of God in all things, and I John 4:7 equates loving others with loving God. God is characterized by love, and demonstrating unloving qualities separates us from our God. Without love, according to John, it is impossible for us to even know Him. Verse 20 goes as far as to say that we are liars if we claim to love God while harboring animosity and resentment in our hearts. Just as we don’t want our children to hit their friends and classmates, God does not want us striking out at each other. Doing so is contrary to His nature.

God’s will is accomplished through love. Galatians 5:14 calls love the summation of God’s law. Loving one another takes care of the details. Once love is in place, all other aspects of obedience become easier to follow. Many of us are familiar with I Corinthians 13, describing the qualities of love. We often recite these verses at weddings, but Paul is describing more than the love between husband and wife with these words. He is expounding upon the type of love all Christians should have for their fellow man, and Paul even has the audacity to say that anything we achieve ultimately amounts to nothing if we do not have love.

Where then is our love for those around us? God created us. He loves us – completely and unconditionally. In turn, He wants us to demonstrate His love in our lives.

By Kevin Heaton

Tags: attitude, godly qualities, love, one another

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Our world is not always a nice place. We see evidence of violence, sorrow, and hatred everywhere we look. Much of our common history is driven through conflict motivated by religious intolerance, ideological differences, oppression, or wonton cruelty. We are told by many political and even religious leaders to fear the world around us, to distrust those who are different from us, and to suspect anything we don’t understand. We are taught and reinforced to dwell on pain, hatred, and misery.

We live in a world that marginalizes the notion of peace, that chides a loving attitude as naïvety, and that demands conformity rather than embraces understanding. Too often, we laugh at those who would reflect these attitudes. So I want us to consider: what’s so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding?

Inspiration from a Song

In 1974, singer-songwriter Nick Lowe released a song called “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” on the album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz. In 1979, Elvis Costello & The Attractions released a cover of the song on the American version of their album Armed Forces, and his version is probably the most famous.

The lyrics of the song are simple, asking where is the hope in this wicked world? Who can be trusted? Is there only pain, hatred, and misery? Where is our harmony, and what’s so funny ‘bout peace, love, and understanding? We might say the answers to these question are easy. We would say our hope is in God, like David in Psalm 39:7. We might be like Solomon in Proverbs 3:5 who says he trusts in God with all his heart. What do our lives say, however? Do we live like we trust God, or do we pay Him lip-service while we allow secular concerns to stir up conflict, animosity, and distrust in our lives?

The Bible on Peace, Love, and Understanding

Jesus and the New Testament writers have a few things to say regarding peace, love, and understanding.

On Peace. We often make a big deal of Jesus saying in Matthew 10:34 that He does not bring peace but a sword. We use that passage to occasionally defend ugly behavior, and we overlook the fact that the image of a sword is consistently applied to His message in the New Testament – not His people. His word is divisive, but we are to be peaceful. James 3:17 tells us that wisdom from above is peaceable and full of mercy. Jesus, in Matthew 5:9, calls peacemakers sons of God. Peace is listed as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 along with gentleness in verse 23, and Romans 12:18 calls on us to live peaceably with all men. We are a peaceful people.

On Love. In Mark 12:28-31, a scribe asks Jesus what the greatest command is, and Jesus answers with two – love God and love our fellow man. I Corinthians 13 goes into a long description of what Christian love mean – being humble, hoping for the best, being gentle, patient, etc. – and verse 8 concludes that Christian love is unfailing. Jesus, in John 13:35, calls our love our identifying trait, and I John 4:7 calls those who demonstrate love born of God. Our lives should be defined by the love we show others.

On Understanding. This understanding is more than academic knowledge. It implies empathy, caring, and concern. Galatians 6:2 simply calls on us to bear each other’s burdens. To do this, we must be understanding toward each other. In Matthew 6:14, Jesus calls on us to be as forgiving toward others as we expect God to be of us. Ephesians 4:2 calls us to be gentle and long-suffering in our walk of unity, and Philippians 4:5 says our gentleness should be evident before all. We must be understanding if we are going to be a patient and forgiving people.

What’s So Funny Then?

What, then, is so funny about peace, love, and understanding? The answer is nothing, and when we criticize or mock these qualities in others, we make a mockery of the name we wear. In Matthew 23, Jesus decries the Pharisses’ habits of making mountains of molehills while neglecting the weightier matters. I fear we too often let personal agendas, political affiliations, and societal biases inform or be reflected in our lives more than the qualities demonstrated by our Savior. We cannot be more concerned with being good fiscal conservatives than good Christians; more concerned with following in the footsteps of the GOP that the footsteps of Christ; nor should we make more of our citizenship in this nation than we do our citizenship in Heaven. Jesus was peaceful. He was loving. He was understanding. We should be also.

We have a God who understands our troubles and cares for us according to I Peter 5:6-7. John 3:16 tells us that God’s love for us is so complete He sent His Son to die, and Philippianns 4:7 tells us that we find peace that surpasses understanding in Him. Our God is one of peace, love, and understanding. There is nothing funny about these qualities, and He asks us to live likewise in His image. Our daily lives should demonstrate that we see value in peace, love, and understanding.

By Robert Smelser

Tags: attitude, love, one another, character, my thoughts

We are familiar with the first several verses of I Corinthians 10 where Paul draws parallels between the events of the Old Testament and the kingdom of the New. He states that the events of the Old Testament serve as examples to us, teaching us to avoid the same temptations into which those forerunners fell. He concludes this admonition by calling those who feel confidant in themselves to beware lest they fall.

We can certainly say that we would want to avoid these temptations, and, among the sins of idolatry and lust, Paul cites grumbling as a shortcoming of physical Israel. He’s not talking about constructive criticism. In Acts 20:31, Paul cites the admonishments he provided this congregation in the past. Romans 15:14 praises the Romans’ ability to admonish one another – instructing one another with the end of improvement. What Paul is talking about is complaining, often exaggerated, and often indicative of a lack of faith.

The Grumbling of Israel

In Exodus 5, in the process of Moses working on the release of Israel from Egyptian captivity, the people complain that God’s leaders make life more difficult for them after Pharaoh’s unreasonable production demands. They go so far as to say God will judge Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 14 records Israel approaching the Red Sea after being released from Pharaoh’s bondage. However, when the Egyptian forces were drawing close in pursuit, the people turn on Moses asking him if they brought them out to their graves. They claim it better to live in slavery. Exodus 15 records the people complaining for a lack of water. The next chapter, the theme is a lack of food, and the complainers offer not solutions. They merely exaggerate their woes, and this continues throughout their journeys.

Numbers 11:1 records God consuming many of the complainers in fire, but verse 4 shows that same grumbling returning, looking backward to their days of slavery with nostalgia. Numbers 14, 16, 20, 21, chapter after chapter, the people murmur and complain. In Numbers 14:27-29, God asks how long they will continue to grumble, and this specific case leads to the forty years of wilderness wanderings.

The bottom line is that this generation demonstrates its unworthiness to inherit God’s promises to to their conduct, and grumbling, murmuring, and complaining is at the core of these behaviors.

Our Application

Remembering those verses from I Corinthians, we have to ask what this means to us today as God’s people. Philippians 2:14 calls upon us to do God’s will without complaint – this in the midst of verses regarding Christ’s servitude, His mindset, and our mission to accomplish God’s will. Paul calls us to be blameless lights to the world in the example we set, and doing God’s work without grumbling is part of that example.

Romans 14:19-20 asks us to follow after things that edify and make for peace, rather than tearing down God’s work over petty matters. Do I grumble over congregational matters, over teachers, over service structure? What does it say about my heart if I am tearing down rather than building up? What example am I setting if my interactions with others consist mainly of complaints, arguments, and gripes?

Ephesians 4:11-16 speaks to the different roles people can fulfill in a congregation, and the purpose of these roles is for the perfecting and the building up of Christ’s church. Time and again, we are reinforced to edify one another. Not only was Moses, Aaron, and other Israelites discouraged by the grumbling pervasive around them; Gad was too. God brought them out of bondage to free them to serve Him, and He gives His Son in sacrifice for this same reason. Let us serve Him unselfishly, without grumbling, spiritually fit to receive His promises.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: attitude, one another, examples, behaviors

In the Middle East, “tells” are large mounds of hill-sized dirt across the landscape that are the remains of ancient cities built upon each other. One of these mounds is identified as Abel Beth-maacah, and this city is going to figure into our study.

David, Absalom, and Sheba

In II Samuel 15 we read of Absalom planning a rebellion to usurp the throne from his father David, who flees for a time. However, in chapter 17, David’s forces combat Absalom’s, and Absalom dies in this battle. However, all is not yet well, and a man named Sheba leads a rebellion in chapter 20. David’s men pursue Sheba to Abel Beth-maacah – the town from which Absalom’s mother came. This results in Abel Beth-maacah being besieged by Joab and his men, but chapter 20:16 records a wise woman appeals to Joab regarding the heritage of her city.

In her description, the wise woman describes Abel Beth-maacah as a place of counsel and settlings. It is a place that acts a mother to Israel, a city interested in peace. This appeal takes Joab aback, and he explains the situation to the wise woman, resulting in Sheba’s head being delivered to David’s troops.

Brethren Fighting Brethren

The wise woman describes the travesty of brethren infighting. There is shame implicit in such troubles. In the New Testament, Galatians 5:14-15 warns us against biting and devouring one another, instead loving each other as ourselves. This spiritual cannibalism can lead to our own destruction, as Joab nearly destroyed Abel Beth-maacah.

If this state of turmoil exists, we fail in our role as a place of reconciliation and peace. We will no longer be place people will seek out for solace and comfort. We cannot offer a spiritual inheritance to the lost if we are consumed in infighting. Just as the wise woman points out the shame of brother fighting against brother, the same is true today if we hold enmity and grudges against our spiritual family.

Far be it from us to fail in being what God would have us to be. We need to be gracious and merciful toward each other, forgiving before judgmental. We should maintain that second-mile mentality Jesus speaks about in the sermon on the mount. Our lives should be characterized by peace and kindness, and, as Joab was unwilling to tear down and devour his brothers, we should likewise seek peace among our brethren.

By Tim Smelser.

Tags: examples, one another, parallels

We are usually willing to help others, but we are seldom willing to inconvenience one’s self or give something important up in doing so. Jesus talks about this principle in Matthew 5:38-48, calling on us, as children of God (verse 45), to go an extra mile and giving of ourselves in helping others. We should go as far as we are willing and then some. This demonstrates our efforts in emulating our Lord.

Our God and the Second Mile

What if God had been unwilling to go “the second mile?” In Genesis 1 and 2, God prepares a paradise for man to live in. What if, after man sins, God had said He had already given enough? What if He was willing to do no more for His creation?

Romans 5:8-11 records God’s mindset in His sacrifice of Christ despite of and for the forgiveness of our sins. He does not wait for us to be perfect in His eyes to save us. He reconciles us in our enmity. II Peter 3:9 recounts God’s patience and His desire that all would repent. He continues to give us time and opportunity to turn from our rebellion, and I John 1:9 speaks to God’s willingness to forgive us. He is willing to go another mile on our behalf.

Emulating Our God

Luke 6:36, I Peter 5:10, and I Peter 2:3 all speak about God’s mercy and graciousness. James 2:13 and Jude 22 encourages us to emulate that mercy. Luke 6:36 Calls us to be merciful as God is merciful. Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13 records that we are to be kind, patient, and forgiving toward each other – again emulating God’s forgiveness of us.

Colossians 3:12, II Timothy 2:24, and Ephesians 4:1-2 name even more qualities exemplifying God in our lives. The overriding principle in all of these these things is unselfishness. Putting others first, being willing to give of ourselves for the benefit of others, inconveniencing ourselves for another’s sake. This is second-mile thinking.

Conclusion

Matthew 5:45-48 reminds us that this mindset is part of our spiritual heritage. As children of God, spiritually born again, we should inherit the qualities demonstrated by our Heavenly Father. He gives of Himself without end. He want us to reflect Him among men, so we should also develop second-mile thinking and engage in second-mile work.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: godly qualities, character, one another

This morning’s lesson focused on the grace God has shown us and the hope we have in that. Building upon this, Peter, in I Peter 2, asks his audience to put away all carnal qualities and form themselves as living stones built upon the foundation of Christ. He calls them and us a royal priesthood, a people of God’s possession who have obtained mercy.

A Spiritual Priesthood

Back in Exodus 19, as the people congregate at the base of Sinai after escaping slavery in Egypt, God uses these same descriptors regarding the children of Israel. He calls them a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. He sets them apart and sanctifies them as His own before leading them to the Promised Land. Back in I Peter 2, He asks the same of us for the same reasons. Just as Israel was to remain righteous, we are to do so today.

Galatians 6:16 refers to the Israel of God in describing Christians, and Galatians 3:28-29 as well as Romans 9:6-8 bear this same concept out. God’s children are His spiritual Israel, and I Peter 2:5 refers to us as a spiritual house. All who follow God are priests of God, and that obligates us to offer up proper spiritual sacrifices in that role.

A Priestly Service

We have to maintain our personal holiness. I Peter 1:14-16 calls us to be holy as God is holy, quoting God’s levitical mandate. His priests were to be separate and sanctified in His service, and we are to be likewise separated. Leviticus 10:1-3 records the tragedy of Nadab and Abihu, and God tells Aaron (through Moses) that He will be sanctified by all who come near Him. I Corinthians 6:11 refers to Christians as sanctified. We are to view God and ourselves differently due to His difference that we are to emulate. Only by changing our view of ourselves, then we will not behave separately from the world. Too many examples exist in the Old Testament of priests who do not act like priests. What of us today?

We should be able to discern godliness from ungodliness. Leviticus 10:10 describes a function of the priest as creating a distinction between the clean and unclean, the holy and the unholy. Ezekiel 22:26 as well as Micah 6:8 both call on God’s people to discern good from evil and live justly before God. James 4:17 warns us to choose our action carefully when we know the right thing to do, and I John 2:6 admonishes us to walk as He walked. We know we are His if we follow His commands. Finally, Hebrews 5:14 describes a mature Christian as one who has practiced discernment in differentiating good from evil.

We have to serve each other in our service to God. In Exodus 7:16, God reveals that the people of Israel are to be freed for the purpose of serving Him, and Romans 6:15-16 states that we either present ourselves as servant to God or to sin. In their service, the priests of the Old Testament served the people and each other, and our spiritual service reflects this. Philippians 2:1-8 reflects upon the service Christ yielded to us and to God in the sacrifice He provided. In this, Paul asks us to emulate His mindset – humbling ourselves in service of God and one another.

Conclusion

God has set us apart to His service, and our life should reflect that sanctification. We are no longer of the world. Rather, we reflect the God we serve in all areas of our life. We are His priests. We strive for holiness, for God is holy.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: godly qualities, one another, morality

Another preacher once observed that there is an epidemic among churches in a desire for generic preaching – preaching that will not upset or challenge anyone in attendance. Unfortunately, this kind of preaching is little more than a continual meal of desserts. Also, in this context, many preachers are viewed as disposable congregation employees as opposed to a fellow brother in Christ. In many cases, the preacher and his family can feel isolated among the congregation, held at arms distance from being welcomed as a member of the congregation. When things in a congregation begin to turn sour, it is almost always the preachers fault. He is more than a member but less than a brother.

The Life of a Preacher

We must educate one another and ourselves regarding the relationship between a congregation and the preacher it employs. In II Corinthians 6, Paul is continuing to defend his role as a minister of Christ, and, beginning in verses 4-10, he talkins about things he has gone through in his ministry, and he starts with an admission that the life of a minister requires patience and endurance.

In verse 4, he claims to have had troubles or inflections related to his work. He speaks of hardships and distresses. A preacher has unique challenges, demands, and stresses that may not set upon other members. The evangelist is drawn into many congregational problems. Verse 5 speaks of outward trials that many of us may not have to go through but are still threats in some other locations. Also, the latter portion of verse 5, Paul speaks of the pressure a minister put on himself.

Verses 6-7 shifts to what a minister should be – patient, kind, knowledgeable, godly, truthful, and loving. Yet, in verses 8-10 speaks to the contrasts that can fill a preachers life. Not all will agree on the job he is doing, the kind of man he is. Even Paul felt the joys and the pains of a preacher’s life, but are we willing to perpetuate mistakes made by Christians for two thousand years?

The Preacher, Our Brother

In Ephesians 4:11-16, we often use these verse to discuss the unity of a local body, and, back in verse 11, the role of the evangelist is put in the context of this unified body. I Corinthians 12 is another chapter that speaks of unity, and it uses a body as parallel. We would not tell a part of our body to spend the next three months looking for a new body to join, but we may casually do this to a preacher, quickly amputating a part of the local body. However, nowhere in the New Testament is a minister treated as a mere employee. He is never referred to as disposable or dispensable. Rather, he, like every other member of a congregation, is a valuable part of Christ’s church who we should view as a friend and a brother. We should relate to our local preacher the way we would with any other brother or sister. If we have problems with him, we should approach him as we would any other brother or sister.

Preachers are Christians too. They have assumed a great responsibility in the choice of their profession, and they need all the more encouragement as a result. Yes, the preacher should be helping us all be better Christians, but we should be doing the same toward him. We should be always willing to help our evangelist be a better teacher and be a better Christian as we work together in this life.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: one another, preachers

Today marks the third anniversary of our preacher with this congregation, and those of us who were together back then had come to a crossroads in our spiritual lives. At that time, we studied about how to move forward from where we were, and we have indeed come far since then – achieving yet another crossroads in the step we are reaching in adding on to our building. Whenever we come to a crossroads, we should stop. look, and listen.

Things We Should Stop

We should stop arguments. In John 6, after the feeding of the multitudes, after Jesus walks on water, the people come to Jesus again, and He chastises them for seeking Him for the wrong reason. In John 6:43, Jesus tells those followers to stop grumbling and arguing among themselves, such discouragement which leads to many turning from Jesus in verse 66. In Luke 22:24 and Mark 9:34, the apostles are recorded as arguing with each other, and our own disputes discourages ourselves, those around us, and our Lord.

Additionally, we should stop being judgmental. In Romans 14, a congregation is divided over the non-scriptural issue of eating certain meats, and, in verses 12-13, Paul concludes that we will all be judged by God, so we should stop trying to find fault in one another. Yes, we are to judge righteous judgment and keep each other from sin. However, our standards should be based on God’s will and not our own. In I Corinthians 14:20, Paul reminds us to not be as children in our knowledge and understanding. (However, we should be forgiving and pure as children.) Verse 1 simply states to follow after love, and, if we do that, we can avoid the problems of being argumentative and judgmental as well.

Things to Look Out For

In John 4:35, Jesus tells His followers to look around and see the opportunities that are open to them. Philippians 2:4 admonishes to look after the needs of others. Christ did not sacrifice Himself because He was looking out for Himself. He did that because of His interest in our souls, and we should be emulating that attitude. We should be looking around, caring for the interests of others. In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul reminds us to look up, and seek those things that are above. We have to look outside the walls of our congregation. We have to look out for others, and we should be focusing upward on the goal set before us.

Listening As We Should

James 1:19 reminds us to listen to one another. Instead of focusing on having our own say, we should be eager to listen to the needs, troubles, and celebrations of others. How many of us begin to form a response while we are supposed to be listening to someone. Also, this listening is to come with understanding. Think about Corinth and all of the backgrounds those people were bringing with them to the congregation, and Paul continually beseeches them to be understanding toward each other. We are to forbear with each other, and this assumes we may not always agree.

We should additionally be listening to our shepherd as in John 10:27, and this hearing leads to obedience and action as illustrated in James 1:21-25. We should be active listeners, eager to absorb God’s word and subsequently implement it in our lives.

Conclusion

Once we stop, look, and listen, then we are ready to move forward as a group of believers with our Lord. We will face many crossroads in our physical and spiritual lives, and we can face these challenges if we do so with a heart that is willing to love our brothers and sisters, look to our God, and listen to His word.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: attitude, one another

As we study the writings of the New Testament, we have to remember that Paul, Peter, and others are writing generically to an abstract mass of people. They are writing to specific congregation with specific strengths and needs, trying to build up and encourage these brothers and sisters as best they can. In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus singles Peter out, requesting him to make it a point of his life to strengthen other Christians, and, in Ephesians 4:12, Paul states that the purpose of working in the church is to the purpose of building up and strengthening its members.

How Can We Strengthen and Equip Each Other?

We grow through study. In Acts 18:24-26, we are introduced to an individual named Apollos who is described as eloquent and knowledgeable in God’s word, but he needs more. He is still missing some information, and Aquila and Priscilla provide him with more instruction. When discussing the Bible, both teacher and student are encouraged and built up. This is not an activity limited to designated preachers during designated times of worship. Anyone can participate in this anywhere and anyplace.

Hebrews 5:12-14 serves as a warning against spiritual immaturity, but it also speaks of a need for those willing to teach. He encourages them to build each other up and to grow more mature through study. Each day we fail to grow stronger, we weaken, and we should be concerned for each other’s and our own spiritual well being. If God’s word is not in our hearts, His spirit cannot guide our lives.

We Strengthen Through Our Example. In I Timothy 4:12, Paul encourages Timothy to be an example to others around him. When we see someone we respect or who may be having difficulties provide an example of faith, we are strengthened. We are all in a position to be a role model to someone. Younger Christians and older Christians alike can be examples for each other, and we should be humble and patient enough to receive the instruction implicit in another’s example.

We should respect what experiences others can provide. In I Kings 12, Rehoboam rejects the advice of his elders and ends up splitting the kingdom. In Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to check ourselves, trying to see ourselves as others and God does. Do I portray someone concerned with spiritually matters, or am I still an example of worldliness?

We should help each other get equipped. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul begins to describe an armor we are to wear as Christians that allows us to stand against those temptations and trials that may cause us to fall. Full preparation brings courage and hope, and we need help to fully equip ourselves. In Hebrews 6:17-20, the author writes of our anchor, hour hope, and our encouragement in God’s promises. In this, we push each other towards the goal, looking out for one another. Sometimes we simply need to remind ourselves that our hope comes from the goodness of God, and we are strongest when we are not alone.

Conclusion

We are strongest when we are helping each other, when we are being the example we should be, and when we study God’s word and let it guide us. As Christians, we should be committed to strengthening and helping each other reach our goal, maintain our hope, and stay on the path guiding us to Heaven. We cannot make it alone. Alone we are unanchored, tossed about by the troubles of this world, but we can help each other and rely on our Lord as we continue on that road.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: growth, study, our example, one another

In Isaiah 2:2-4, the prophet describes many nations coming to the mount of the Lord to worship Jehovah. They joyously come to the house of the Lord with their focus on God, and, when we come together to worship, we should be as eager and as willing as those people described by Isaiah. When we are coming together, it might be easy to lose sight of the significance of our assembling. We might be looking forward to seeing one another. Perhaps assembly is just a tradition to some of, but we should be striving to be the house of Jehovah as described in Isaiah 2.

Going Up to God’s House

We Must Truly Worship Together. The word “assemble” carries with it a meaning of togetherness. In Hebrews 10:22-25, the Hebrew author warns us against forsaking the assembling of the church. However, it is possible to assemble without truly being together. If our attitudes and our mindsets are improper, if we treat each other coldly, if we are bearing grudges or hostilities, then we are not really together in our worship. In Psalms 122:1, the psalmist records that he is glad to go up to Jehovah’s house, and chapters 120-123 are psalms that reflect the journey to go and worship God. Acts 2:42-46 picture the early Christians as being very close-knit, and this theme remains throughout the book. When we worship, we should truly do so together.

We Should Be Inviting Others. Isaiah 2:3 records worshippers calling for others to come with them. God’s message is not only for those who are already coming. We should be inviting others. In John 1:29-45 and in chapter 4:28-29 as well as other passages, we can read about people inviting friends and relatives to come and see Jesus. Others will not come on their own accord. We must be actively encouraging others to come and join us in worship.

We Should Be Learning God’s Word. In Isaiah 2:3, God’s word is taught on the mount. We should have a reputation as a congregation of learners. The Bereans of Acts 17:11 are noted because of their eagerness to receive the word and examine the scriptures. Like them, we should be willing accept the truth of God and we should be willing to confirm what we are hearing is truth. We should be Bible students. In Acts 7:51-52 demonstrates the opposite mindset when Stephen rebukes his accusers of consistently rejecting God due to their stubborn pride. Our hearts should be open and receptive to God’s word.

His Paths Must be Ours. We should be ready to obey once we receive God’s word. It’s one thing to hear. It is another to put what we hear into practice. In James 1:23-25, we are encouraged to do the word that we hear – to apply what we are learning. THe house of the Lord should consist of people who are willing to be taught and willing to follow that word. Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer recognizes his need for change, and he asks, “What must I do to be saved?”

We Should Be a Peaceful People. In Isaiah 2:4, the worshippers are described as fashioning their weapons into tools of agriculture. There may always be conflict in the world, and the struggle between man and Satan is unending. In Isaiah 9:6, our Christ is described as a prince of peace. He reconciles us to God. He comforts and consoles us, and we should reflect those same qualities toward one another. In I Peter 3:11, we are encouraged to seek and pursue peace. Philippians 4:9 describes our God as one of peace, and James 3:17-18 reminds us that peace begets peace. We are united in brotherly love.

Conclusion

God’s people should be eager to assemble in peace and unity. We should be willing to learn God’s word and apply it, and we should be trying to bring others with us. This is what it means to be the house of the Lord, and this is the ideal we should strive for continually.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: attitude, worship, obedience, study, one another

Early in their history, Israel wanted a king, a decision that eventually left to a divided kingdom and a great deal of unfaithfulness. During the reign of the final king if Judah, in Jeremiah 4:14 and 24 the people are described as lacking understanding, as foolish children, Also, in chapter 5:1-5, God gives Jeremiah a mission to look for anyone who is living justly, and Jeremiah is disappointed in his search time and again. Additionally, in Ezekiel 22:26-28 (after the captivity has begun), the problem has not improved. Rulers and spiritual leaders are leading the people into lies. Again, God recaps Jeremiah’s unsuccessful search. No one was willing to stand in the spiritual gap in Jerusalem’s wall.

In a city’s physical defenses, a gap in the wall was a serious gap in security. It was a place easily penetrated by enemies, and God uses is as an analogy for the spiritual defenses of His people. None were willing to spiritually defend God’s word. Today, we are under assault by temptations and worldly influences, and now God relies on us to bolster our spiritual defenses – to stand in the gap and create a barrier between ourselves and our foe.

Who Will Fill the Gap?

God is looking for the willing in Titus 2:1-8, those who are willing to exercise self-control and teach others likewise. Age is irrelevant. Both the young and the elderly can serve God and defend the spirituality of His church. Both the young and the old can demonstrate wisdom, and both can be learned from, whether the focus and clarity of youth or the experience and perspective of age.

He is also looking for husbands and wives to stand in the gap in Ephesians 5:23-33. He is looking for this relationship to be as it should be, and he reminds husbands in particular to take care of their wives as carefully as they take care of themselves. I Peter 3:1-5 describes spiritually strong women who serve as an example to their husbands, and verse seven describes both husband and wife as joint-heirs of God’s promises. Husbands and wives should honor one another – spiritually strengthening one another.

Parents are additional spiritual defenders. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 describes the familiarity God wants families to have with His word. Parents should be continually looking for teachable moments with their children. Ephesians 6:4 describes the nurture and admonition Christian children should be raised in, and this is a lifelong responsibility. Our home life should be as focused on the Lord as when we are at church. Spiritual instruction is not the sole responsibility of pastors, preachers, or Bible class teachers. Knowledge of God begins at home.

In this vein, God is looking for teachers. In Acts 18:24-26, a couple examples are present of willing teachers. Apollos is an eager and enthusiastic teacher whose knowledge is imperfect, and Aquila and Priscella were willing to help him understand better. We should all be as willing to help each other out and to receive such knowledge as gladly as Apollo. Both parties involved demonstrate attitudes we should be willing to emulate in our lives as teachers and as learners of God’s word. II Timothy 2:2 describes a process of teaching and re-teaching, spreading the word from person to person.

In our willingness, we should we willing to serve Him and serve each other. Galatians 6:1-2 describes an attitude of willingness to help each other, of bearing each other’s burdens. For a congregation to be successful, everyone needs to help everyone. James 5:16 encourages us to also help each other out with our temptations and our faults. We need to share with each other in order to be able to help each other, but this requires an attitude of openness and acceptance among ourselves so none of our brothers and sisters feel impeded from this relationship.

Conclusion

We need to examine our own lives before God, and we need to help each other defend from the outward influences dragging us away from God. We cannot reach Heaven on our won. However, we can make it if we work together, if we are the people we should be, and if we help each other out. We can stand in those gaps our brothers and sisters have, helping each other reach the goal.

By Kris Casebolt

Tags: church, parenthood, growth, one another

Paul worked with congregations like Philippi and congregations like Corinth, some he could work with easily and draw as much encouragement from as he could offer. Others had serious difficulties, both between members of the congregation and scripturally. More often than not, we may find ourselves relating more to Corinth than to Philippi, and, in I Corinthians 12:14, Paul speaks to the need for members to edify, exhort, and comfort each other. Even though he is speaking specifically to members who prophesied at the time, we can all learn from these instructions in how we interact with one another. Our treatment of one another directly influences our spiritual health and how God perceives us.

Prioritizing Edification

I Corinthians 12:26, Paul concludes that all things done within a congregation should be done for the purpose of edifying the entire group. This should be one of our primary goals as a group of brothers and sisters in Christ. Am I looking to merely edify myself when we gather, or do I remember to prioritize my brothers and sisters?

In Romans 14:19, Romans 15:2, and Ephesians 4:29 – all these speak to edifying one another, in our actions and in our speech. Our conversation with one another, even in private, should avoid tearing ourselves down. We should not use our time together to create divisions or to push personal agendas. This includes speaking about one another, and this falls into the corrupt speech of Ephesians 4:29.

Emphasizing One Another

In I Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul chastises those in Corinth for their immaturity, for acting worldly when they should be spiritual. Selfish behavior does not build us up spiritually, but we may not always recognize when we are behaving carnally because we define ourselves by our doctrine – sometimes separate from our behaviors.

Our devotion to God and our devotion to one another are both necessary to our spiritual maturity. In John 4:24, Jesus emphasizes the necessity for truly spiritual worship in coming to God. This is in worship that is devoid of worldliness – both in the formal worship setting and in our lives. Both I Peter 2:5 and Hebrews 13:15-16 speak to the quality of our spiritual sacrifices to Him, and Hebrews 6:9-10 tells of the love we show to God when we demonstrate love toward one another. THere is a direct connection between our relationships with one another and our relationship with God.

Corinth is a congregation on the brink of dissolving, and Paul encourages unity among them, emphasizing the role of love in creating unity. Self-justification and arguments lead to a fractured environment, and Paul’s great chapter on love comes right after a chapter discussing the unity we should have in the church. If we are to be spiritual and united, we must love one another.

Conclusion

This edifying love for one another is not always easy. Ephesians 4:1-6 calls us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. In this, humility, meekness, and patience play a role in leading to unity. Colossians 3:12-14 also encourages to wear compassion, patience, forgiveness, and love – the perfect bond of unity. In Philippians 2:1-5, Paul encourages us to be intent on loving unity, building one another up in this goal, and John 13:24 records Jesus telling His disciples to demonstrate love for each other that mirrors the love He demonstrates for them. Finally, Psalm 133 speaks to the beauty of unity among God’s followers.

We can strengthen and edify each other to spiritual maturity, but we must love one another to do so. Our love for one another reflects the love we hold for God, and we cannot hate a brother or sister while claiming to love God. As a congregation, we will have problems and disagreements, but we can emerge from difficulties stronger and more unified if we prioritize our love for each other in dealing with issues.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: attitude, love, unity, one another

Remember the Pharisees in Matthew 9:10-11 when Jesus was eating with those scorned by the (self-proclaimed) righteous of the day?
"... they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax gatherers and sinners?"

What if we modernized the words a little?
• "... they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with gays and feminists?"

• "... they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with activists and Democrats?"

I sometimes wonder if we could then change the word "Pharisees" to "Christians." We claim the gospel is for all, that God wants all to go to Heaven, but do we live that doctrine?

Jesus shared His table with those the religiously strict held in disdain as "lost causes." Some were social pariahs unfit to belong to God's kingdom in their opinion. Jesus demonstrated the polar opposite attitude toward these individuals, and he chastised them for the hardness of their hearts.

Ask yourself: am I willing to share Heaven with Michael Moore? Hillary Clinton? Al Gore? Barack Obama? Anyone from PETA or Greenpeace? If the answer is no, I have to wonder if Jesus will share Heaven with me.

By Robert Smelser

Tags: attitude, one another, my thoughts

The speaker shared his experiences with his recent hike down and up the Grand Canyon in one day, a challenge that was both extremely difficult and extremely rewarding. Great effort was involved, but the journey was a completely unique experience. This journey contains parallels with our Christian journey.

Our Christian Journey

Very few attempt this journey. Only 5% of visitors to the Grand Canyon venture below the rim of the canyon, and only 1% hike down to the Colorado River. Often, we barely scratch the surface of what it means to be a Christian, and it can be difficult to go deeper. James 1:22-25 challenges us to go beyond superficially hearing the word and to work on applying it. Matthew 7:13-14 tells us only a few will be willing to endure the journey.

The journey is long and requires preparation. The journey begins with enthusiasm and confidence, but, when difficulties set in, feelings of exhaustion and despair can become overwhelming. However, quitting is not an option (Hebrews 10:39). We have a lifetime to continue our walk, and we may question our own ability and resolve. This is part of the journey. In Luke 14:28-33, Jesus uses a couple of parables to illustrate the preparation required to continually follow God. The author of Hebrews 12:1-2 likens our life to a marathon race – maintaining endurance, keeping our goal in view.

There was great benefit in rest and refreshing. Along this hike, rest was mandatory to reaching the goal. As the church is being established in Acts 2, we read that they continued to spend time with each other in the final few verses. Throughout Acts, Christians spend time with each other – building each other up and refreshing each other. Hebrews 10:24 encourages us to keep motivating and encouraging each other. We should value our chances to worship together and to socialize with each other because those are times we can refresh and rest with one another.

We need the help of one another. During the trip, members of the group shared supplies with each other and helped each other out, sometimes even to the point of carrying others’ loads. Hebrews 12:12-13 reinforces this point in Christian living. We need each other to reach our goal, and we should be looking out for each other.

The completion will be worth the journey. Through the pain and effort of the journey, the end brings joy and fulfillment. I Peter 4:12-13 and 5:10 both speak of temporary suffering leading to ultimate joy. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul speaks of the constant effort he puts into his Christian walk – forsaking the past and pressing toward his goal. For better or worse, our past has brought us to where we are, but we put that behind us in order to push forward.

Conclusion

Are we willing to press on in our own journeys toward the goal of Heaven? Can we finish what we have started? The journey may not be easy, but with endurance and the help of each other, we can obtain the promise of rest and salvation in Jesus Christ.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: one another, growth, endurance

Considering the context of this day, it is appropriate to consider the gift God has given us in the mothers He gave us. I Peter 3:6 calls Christian women daughters of Sara, and godly women, like Sara, have lessons to teach us regardless of our gender. In fact, many people can attribute their obedience to the gospel to the influence of their mothers in studying the Bible with them when young.

Learning from Godly Women

Sharing the Word. Sharing God’s word is a great contribution women can make to God’s kingdom. In Titus 2:4 instructs women to pass their wisdom on to subsequent generations. An examples of this are in Lois and Eunice. II Timothy 1:5 and II Timothy 3:14-15 speak to the influence these women had on Timothy despite the fact that his father was an unbeliever. Furthermore, In Acts 18, we meet Priscilla and Aquila, a husband and wife who – in verses 24-26 – together help a preacher named Apollos better understand baptism.

Hospitality. How often do we associate hospitality with males? Romans 12:13 instructs us to pursue opportunities for hospitality. I Timothy 3:2 and I Peter 4:9 both list hospitality along with other Christian qualities we value. Take Mary and Martha in Luke 10, John 11, John 12, and other scriptures who open their home to Jesus and His apostles. In Acts 12:12, Mary (mother of John Mark) is hosting many individuals who are praying for Peter, and Acts 16:15 tells of the conversion of Lydia and the hospitality she shows to Paul.

Compassion. Acts 9 tells us of Tabitha who showed kindness and charity to many who came in contact with her. In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is referred to as a helper of many. Also, think of the women who tended to Jesus and even continued to visit His tomb. These individuals lived compassionately, a quality we could all learn more about.

Conclusion

Many of these are examples of “women professing godliness,” and they are recorded as examples to all of us. Mother’s Day is a time allowing us to reflect on the women who may have helped raise us, but let’s also remember the lessons we have learned from them and all the godly women with whom we’ve had contact.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: behaviors, examples, one another, godly qualities

Ephesians 4:11 begins by talking about some gifts given to us through the types of people we are around or are influenced by – the apostles and prophets, evangelists, spiritual leaders, and teachers. Paul goes on to explain in verse 12 that these gifts are given for the “equipping of the saints,” making us ready for our work of service. This creates an environment on building and encouragement, and verse 13 tells us this building up is to the goal of spiritual maturity and unity as measured against the standard of Christ.

In verses 14-15, maturity helps us withstand impure influences and false doctrines. We should be spiritually growing towards the ideal of Christ, and Paul wraps up by saying that every member must do its part for the body (the church) to function properly. Every member is to serve in building our spiritual body, edified and assisted by the teachers and leaders we are blessed with.

Edifying the Body

Romans 12:3-8 speaks to various roles we can assume in the building up of the body. Paul encourages us to serve when service is needed – helping the congregation and members in whatever ways we can. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says that He did not come to be serve but to serve others. Our focus should not be on how the congregation serves us. Rather, we should be asking ourselves how we can serve our congregations.

Teaching is also mentioned in Romans 12, and there are many ways we can teach. Teachable moments present themselves on a daily basis. We don’t have to be in a formal setting to show someone the Lord. Philip, in John 1, merely invites his brother when he encounters Jesus. Think about some of the situations Jesus taught in. Teachab.e moments happen, and we should be looking for them.

Romans 12:8 speaks to encouraging one another. How can we build one another up? What do we talk about when Christians are together? Hebrews 3:13 tells us to encourage each other daily, and conversation is a good place for this to start. We need to be involved with each other, helping each other grow, whether we consider ourselves strong or weak Christians.

Romans 12:8 also mentions giving. We live in a world that values greed and selfishness, but Christians are supposed to be giving – especially toward each other. First century Christians sold of their own possessions and shared their resources with those in need and with those who spread the gospel. Leadership is also a topic here. We need people of conviction, prayer, and patience who work and serve and are consumed with helping other grow. Paul, in his journeys, was seldom alone. He always had someone he was mentoring or teaching.

Finally, mercy is present in this passage. I Peter 4:8 pleads for us to be loving toward each other, hospitable and serving in our character. God want us to take our blessings, and he wants us to pass these blessings on.

Conclusion

There is work we can all do, and our goal should be to build up ourselves and the members of our congregation to the standard of Christ, living a life of Christian service and sharing the hope we have in Christ with others.

By Gary Fisher

Tags: church, kingdom, behaviors, growth, one another

Over the last couple of morning lessons, we’ve been considering our ways as a congregation. We’ve looked at the Jerusalem church, the obstacles they faced, and the unity of spirit that existed there despite these challenges and differences. Acts 4 says they were of one mind and soul. Also, we looked at our purpose of good works – both individually and as a congregation. We examined teaching, benevolence, and edification, focusing on how we can emulate those New Testament Christians and better emulate the pattern set for us.

As individuals, we like being associated with something bigger. We feel comfort in identifying with a collective – a group. Those individuals in the first century were no different. They and we want to “fit in,” and that is the focus of our lesson today. How do I fit in to my congregation?

Fitting In

The problem we face is that we look for how we can socially fit in to a congregation. Which best supports my peer group? Which best fits my socioeconomic standing? The problem is, in any given congregation, you can break the membership down into several demographics, and, most of the time, no one peer group will be the majority.

This is also true of the twelve apostles. For example, one Zealot and one tax collector belonged to this group. Do you think these two ever felt any contentions toward each other? Luke 9:46 records an argument between the apostles over who is the most important? Who is the most valuable apostle? In Matthew 20:20-21, the mother of a couple of the apostles asked for importance to be granted to her sons. We do the same, referring to Peter, James, and John as the “inner circle,” three Jesus seemed to lean on more than the others.

Despite any physical differences, these apostles as well as the Jerusalem church accomplished great things when they focused on fitting in spiritually. We are capable of accomplishing the same things if we lay those physical differences and annoyances aside and concentrate on the greater bond we share as spiritual brothers and sisters. We can choose to dwell on negatives, or we can make the choice to stick together.

Our Application

How do you fit in to your congregation? Do you appreciate your fellow Christians? Do you look for ways you have been impacted positively by others. Do you look for ways to encourage others. We will always have room for improvements, and we will always need to work on relationships regardless of the congregation we decide to join. Ephesians 4:11-16 reminds us that we all have different ways we can contribute and that we should not act like children toward each other in those differences. Patience and love is necessary for this kind of growth, and it comes down to our focus. A spiritual focus and a positive outlook will help us fit in together and create a congregation capable of doing the work of our Lord.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: church, priorities, one another, attitude

Introduction
In a recent lesson, we looked at how we deal with a lack of satisfaction in our spiritual lives and how we can break that pattern and set a new direction. Another way of putting this is, “How do I start again?” We’re going to look at this as a congregation in this lesson. In being a local church, how can we return to square one?

Returning to Our Pattern
In Isaiah 2:2, the prophet speaks of the House of Jehovah towards which many nations will flow, an eternal kingdom built on peace and spirituality. This is how God’s church is to be typified, and, in Acts 2 we have the establishment of the church recorded. We see people in Jerusalem who are excited about God’s word and steadfastly continuing in His worship. This church can be considered our template.

The church at Jerusalem had some very distinguishing characteristics. We have zero to three thousand in one chapter. Imagine the strains this could create just in terms of facilitating these numbers. There were language differences in these numbers, and this could create additional barriers between the members. Coupled with the languages would have been cultural differences. Yet, in all of this, Acts 4:32 records that these many individuals were of one heart and soul. They were a pattern of unity.

A Pattern of Unity

• They had the same purpose. In Acts 2:42-46 (a passage we will return to often), we see them “in one accord.” They had the same heart, the same mind, and the same purpose – Christ and His return. In Acts 3:19-21, Peter speaks of this hope to people gathered as the result of him healing a man.
  
  
• They Prayed Together. In Acts 1:14, we read that the disciples continued in prayer together. Chapters 2:42, 4:24, and 12:12 all contain examples of Christians praying together.
  
  
• They Were of the Same Doctrine. John 14:26 records Jesus promising the Spirit to make sure the apostles know what to teach. Acts 4:12-20 is an example of how the disciples remain faithful to Christ’s word. They did not go beyond, and they did not omit anything.
  
  
• They Worshiped Together. Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7 record the communing of Christians in worship. Worship is the best form of encouragement, and they made sure they participated together in honoring their God.
  
  
• They Spent TIme Together. Acts 2:44-46, Acts 5:42 record Christians spending time in each others homes, discussing spiritual matters, encouraging each other. They could have been separated in so many ways, but they chose to associate with each other.
  
  
• They Were Concerned for One Another. Acts 2:44-45 records Christians sharing possessions with each other, distributing wealth as needed. Acts 4:32 makes it clear that they were not self-centered in terms of material possessions.
  
  

Conclusion

This congregation was successful despite the obstacles around them. They remained enthusiastic and steadfast for God. They prayed for boldness in facing the trials before them. They were generous, and they shared with each other liberally. They immediately took care of internal problems and discipline issues. They demonstrated endurance in their commitment (Acts 8:4), and they continued to endure even when the problems came from internal struggles (Acts 6), addressing the situation with consideration and compassion.

We sing the song “Blest Be the Tie.” Do we consider that tie binding us together as our relationship with God. Our hearts are joined in Christian love. Do we take this relationship seriously, or do we take it for granted as casual acquaintances? We should be trying to emulate the unity and closeness shared by the Jerusalem church. If we do not have this, there are changes we need to make so we can be the church that God wants us to be.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: examples, church, unity, one another, doctrine, worship, priorities

Sometimes we are the cause of our own unhappiness. We might blame exterior reasons like our job or our family, but it often comes down to ourselves, the approach we take to our lives, and the attitudes we carry. Einstein once said that doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results is insanity, but we often live this way. Spiritually, we may want to have better Christian lives, but we follow old patterns that may be ineffective and unsatisfying.

Setting New Patterns

Are we drawing closer to God? Do we find ourselves committing to God at times but reverting back to our old ways? James 1:22-25 encourages us to be active doers of God’s word rather than just listeners, and the author of Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages to approach God’s grace with confidence. Hebrews 10:19-23 reinforces the role of confidence in our drawing closer to God. Furthermore, James 4:7-8 correlates resisting sin with drawing nearer to God.

Are we encouraging others? It can be tough to take the initiative in reaching out to a brother or sister in need. I Thessalonians 5:9-11 builds our confidence in encouraging one another atop our confidence in our relationship with God. Paul, in Romans 1:11-12, speaks of spiritual strength resulting from mutual encouragement, and Colossians 2:1-3 speaks of the relationship with other Christians that results from encouragement. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us that this encouragement begins in our fellowship.

How well do we know God’s word? We are the only one’s to blame if we are not taking the time to know and understand God’s word. II Timothy 2:15 tells us it takes diligence, and Ezra, in Ezra 7:10, is an example of one who was diligent in his mission to know God’s word. Also, I Peter 3:15-16 tells us to always be prepared to answer for the hope and confidence we have in our relationship with God. We must know the word if we are to talk about it.

How are our prayer lives? Do we only pray for meals? Do we only pray as a last resort? Are we fully casting our cares on Him, or do we have reservations? Philippians 4:6-7 says that a healthy prayer life leads to inner peace. Furthermore, James 4:2-3 speaks to the attitude we should have in prayer. We should pray, but our intentions should not be selfish, and I Peter 5:6-7 tells us to be humble in our prayers. Colossians 1:9 correlates godly wisdom with a healthy prayer life. In Matthew 6:5-13 Jesus explains and gives an example of how we should pray that ties in with what we have seen so far.

Conclusion

If we want to grow spiritually, we have to be willing to change the patterns we live in. We can’t expect to improve our spirituality if we are willing to do nothing. Do we find our relationship with God and fellow Christians lacking? We can draw closer to God and our brothers and sisters. We can encourage and be encouraged, and we can use prayer and study as avenues to God. If we aim at nothing, it has been said, we will hit it every time. Don’t get settled into old patterns. Make an aim to be more spiritually-minded, and take the steps to improve your relationship with God and other Christians.

By Donn Koonce

Tags: prayer, attitude, one another, growth

In this lesson, we’re going to look at the story of the Good Samaritan. In our Old Testament stories, we’re seeing that lack of concern for others was a huge issue both the northern and southern kingdoms had, and, in Jesus’ time, this was no different.
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Who Is My Neighbor?

In Luke 10, Jesus is questioned, “Who is my neighbor?” Who am I to act neighborly toward? Who is included in my kindness and my caring? In response to this, Jesus tells a story that we are very familiar with regarding a man assaulted on the Jericho road – an often steep, winding path on which it was easy to take others by surprise.
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We know of the priest and Levite who avoid the assaulted individual, but this Samaritan (considered heretical half-breeds by the Jews of the time) took compassion and helped. Jesus asks, “Who proved to be the neighbor?” Then He concludes, “Go and do likewise.”
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Inconveniencing Self

When opportunities to help arise, do we find excuses to avoid involvement? These passers-by may have had similar excuses:
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• “It’s more prudent to avoid helping. He may be faking.”
• “I may end up in the same problem if I stop and help.”
• “I may be accused of the crime while I am trying to help.”

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All three of these excuses are legitimate lines of reasoning. They are probable, but none were the case in this example. The one who had the most reasons to avoid helping, stopped and acted as a neighbor.
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Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us to avoid discouragement in doing good and that all should be recipients of our kindness as we have opportunity, especially other Christians. None should be excluded from our compassion or helpfulness.
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In James 2:8, this concept is called a royal law just as Jesus paired it as the greatest commandment with loving and following God. James says we do well to fulfill this law. However, it can be easy to ignore or even take advantage of others. Do we pass by “on the other side?” Are we full of reasons not to help despite the one big reason to help, or do we just tune out opportunities we might see?
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Application

As Christians, compassion should be a part of our lives, and we should act on that compassion. The Samaritan took the time to stop and help. He shared of his possessions to make sure this individual was helped. He was like those of Matthew 25 who inconvenienced self to make life easier for others.
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We cannot tune out those opportunities to help others. We can always do more than we are specifically asked. We can find opportunities if we open our ears and our eyes to look for them. Additionally, this applies to spiritual needs we see around us. In I Peter 2:9, we are asked to reveal God’s excellence in ourselves. Not only are we to look out for each other’s physical needs, but we are to also be mindful of the spiritual needs of our friends and neighbors.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: examples, one another, character

In our last lesson, we considered the Pharisees in light of Matthew 9:13 – Jesus instructing the Pharisees to learn of God’s desire for mercy and justice. We looked at the roots of the Pharisee movement, where they had good motives, and where they went wrong. We concluded that we must speak where the Bible speaks, remaining silent where it is silent, but we must not become unmerciful and self-righteous in our efforts.

Because Jesus emphasized mercy with the Pharisees, we are going to look at the concept of mercy and how it affects us. Mercy and compassion are not the same thing. Having compassion is not being merciful because mercy requires action while compassion is merely an emotion.

Why Is Mercy Important?

It Is a Characteristic of God. In Exodus 33:18, Moses asks to see God’s glory – God mentions grace and mercy before He shows Himself to Moses. In Exodus 34:5-6, His mercy is mentioned again in context of revealing His glory. In Deuteronomy 4:31, Moses calls Jehovah a merciful God, and Psalm 145:8 describes God as merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. In Joel 2:13 and Jonah 4:2 regard the Lord’s mercy (even though Jonah’s intentions are not exactly right).

We emphasize God’s holiness and the importance of emulating that holiness, but on the same token, God describes Himself as merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. Mercy should be important to us because it is a quality of our Lord.

It is Something We Ask of God. In Luke 18:9-14, we have the familiar story of the publican and the Pharisee. Very simply, the publican asks for mercy, and Jesus describes him as justified in God’s eyes. We recognize that we need God’s mercy, and we know we are unjustified without that mercy. Mercy is asked for around forty times in the book of Psalms. We ask for mercy because we know we need it.

It is Something God Asks of Us. Paul, in Romans 12 speaks of the opportunities and talents we should be using for the Lord. Paul speaks of spiritual gifts and natural gifts, and in this context, mercy is emphasized. Luke 6:31 is commonly referred to as the Golden Rule, and verse 36 brings mercy into this context of how God expects us to treat each other, and James 2:13 warns us that being unmerciful results in judgment without mercy. However, James also says that mercy can triumph over judgment.

Hosea 6:6 states that God desires mercy, and Micah 6:8 asks of kindness. These are qualities God looks for in His people. He takes delight in merciful people (Micah 7:18). I Corinthians 13 emphasizes love heavily, and, in verses 2-3, Paul states that great deeds done without love are no good to us spiritually. As God is merciful, we should be merciful.

Areas We Can Grow

Showing Mercy to the Lost. Do we have concern for the souls of those who do not agree with us, or do we view them as enemies. Remember how the Pharisees treated the healed blind man – casting him from the temple – and the adulteress – seeking her execution. Are we similar? Matthew 9:10-13 provides context to the quote we’ve been looking at on mercy. Sometimes we act as if the gospel is for the righteous – not for all. In that, we may be unmerciful.

Showing Mercy to New Converts. All too often, we treat a new child of Christ as if they are already matured. We expect instant knowledge and resolution on principals and scriptural interpretation. Sometimes, we come down too hard on individuals who are not at the same level of understanding.

Showing Mercy to Fellow Christians. We listen to “reports” about other brethren, within our own congregation and without. We pass judgment, but we don’t look for verification nor speak to the individuals we may be judging. We condemn on the basis appearances, and we have a difficult time giving the benefit of doubt, and we have a difficult time merely listening when differences of opinion arise. In Galatians 5:13-15, Paul warns Christians not to bite and devour each other lest they destroy themselves. This is spiritual cannibalism that can cause congregations to self-destruct. Matthew 12:7 provides a warning: judging without mercy can result in condemning the innocent. While we fight each other, we fail to fight the fight of faith.

Conclusion

Mercy is an incredibly important part of our Christian lives. We need to work hard to demonstrate mercy to others, even those it may be most difficult for. We strive to “be holy as [God] is holy,” and God expects us to be merciful as we hope for His mercy.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: forgiveness, godly qualities, growth, one another, grace and mercy

I can't tell you how many times I heard myself and peers being told to "get some perspective" while I was growing up. Most of the time, the person making this statement wants you to try to see the bigger picture, to obtain a wider view of events and make more informed decisions based on that wider perspective.

However, the best view in the world is meaningless if the perspective is coming from the wrong angle.

A couple of years ago, two men at the congregation I used to worship at requested to speak with me privately. I obliged, and they questioned me about what I was doing on my computer during sermons. The tones of their voices heavily inferred they suspected me playing games or working on something else while the lesson was progressing. I informed them (I'm sure with some tenseness in my voice) that I was taking notes of the sermon, thankyouverymuch.

At the time, I was angry at these individuals for questioning me. You see, I had already been using my laptop to take notes for over a year when they decided to question me. If they were concerned, why on earth had they not spoke with me sooner? Prior to using the laptop, I had used a pen and spiral notebook, but I write very slowly, and I began experiencing cramping in my right hand due to how tightly I hold pens and pencils. Since, being a fairly fast typist, I was already using my laptop to take notes in many of my college classes, expanding that to church was no problem. How dare they question my efforts to study more deeply when most people in churches sit, looking like passive daydreamers, during sermons – making no externally visible effort to retain or record the information being given?

In this story, perspecives needed to change in two places.

• The physical perspective of these individuals in the building usually did not allow them to see my note taking. You know how people mark out territory on church pews. Their normal territory and my normal territory were not in each other's line of sight. Therefore, neither of them had likely ever seen me typing notes prior to this night. I was sitting in a different place from usual because I had come in late.
  
  

• My cognitive perspective needed changing. I was irate with them because I assumed they had been seeing my typing going on for months. Once I realized they were probably seeing my computer out for the first time and that they were approaching me as the result of concern for my spiritual well-being – once I looked at the situation from their perspectives – my anger quickly diminished.

Matthew 18:15-20 lays out how we are to deal with a brother that has wronged us. However, I think we take this to the degree at times that we feel justified making big issues out of hurt feelings. I have never spoken to the brothers involved with the story above, and there is not need to. They meant no harm. In fact, their hearts were very much in the right place. It wasn't lack of perspective that blinded me to this initially. It was that I was not looking at the situation from the correct perspective at all.

When you feel hurt by something someone says or does, don't go to them immediately to try and work it out. First, take a step back and see if there really is an issue at all. See if you can find out where he or she is coming from. If you can see things from their perspective, no confrontation may be needed, and isn't that the best resolution?
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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

• Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

By Robert Smelser

Tags: one another, my thoughts

We are going to be concluding our study on Corinth in the context of love and unity with this lesson. We have examined a congregation that has demonstrated selfishness and arrogance in the attitudes of many of its members; we have examined the topic of love and how Christian love affect our behavior to others; and we have looked at the topic of spiritual gifts and their conclusion with the completion of New Testament revelation.

I Corinthians 14:37 - We are going to make application of these chapters in our efforts to be stronger in our spirituality. This lesson is how all of this directs each one of us.

Questions We Should Ask Ourselves in Our Congregation

Do We Possess Arrogance? Right away, we would want to say “no” to such a question, but what do our actions say. Are we like James 2:1-4 in showing favoritism or partiality toward certain members while disregarding others? Do we practice that attitude with those we are willing to study with, making judgments based on solely external evidence? Remember I Corinthians 4:8-10: Paul points out the arrogance in the attitudes of some at Corinth – they have it figured out. What else would they need.

If our attitude demonstrates these qualities, God is just as displeased with us as with those Christians we have been studying.

Is Edification Our Primary Goal? You will find “edify,” its variations, and synonyms mentioned several times in I Corinthians 12-14. Preachers and Bible class teachers need to lead the flock in understanding the scriptures, and they need to present material in such a way that they can be understood. Romans 14:19 - We are to follow after those things that produce peace and edification. (See also Romans 15:2, Ephesians 4:29.)

To exhort or to edify means to encourage or to build up. Urging each other forward should be a primary goal of our gathering together. In I Corinthians 14, Paul encourages those Christians to direct their worship in such a way that everyone is edified – not just those who are leading the worship. We tend to define edification based on what “I” like, but it is the group that is the focus. We are to be an encouragement to each other at all times.

Have We Missed the Point on What Constitutes Spirituality? We become comfortable with defining spirituality with safe terms we are used to. I am baptized; therefore I am spiritual. I attend church; therefore I am spiritual. I take the Lord’s Supper; therefore I am spiritual. Yes, these are all things we should be doing, but these actions do nat make us spiritual. Rather, doing those things that are right is a result of having a spiritual mind (Hebrews 13:16).

I Corinthians 10:1-5 - God was displeased with those who followed Him as a result of their conduct. Furthermore, Hebrews 6:1-6 speaks of individuals who enter into a relationship with God but fall away. They did the right things initially, but they fell into disobedience, and God disowned them. External appearances do not make a spiritual person.

How Can We Be Spiritual? Devotion to God and to one another is a mark of spirituality. See John 4:24 in the context of what the woman at the well was asking. Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:32-33 - whether in the Old Testament or in the New, carnality should be eliminated, and we should think spiritually. (Remember Paul’s admonition in I Corinthians 3 about carnal minds?) I Peter 2:5 again emphasizes spirituality in our worship, and if I am part of God’s holy priesthood, I am devoted to God on a daily basis. (See also Hebrews 13:15-16 and Hebrews 6:9-10.) Turning back to I Corinthians 13:1-3, without the proper attitude of love, our good works do not amount to anything.

Do We Appreciate the Connection Between Love & Unity? Paul describes love as a more excellent way to gain spirituality, and it is described as the key to church harmony and unity. We use Ephesians 4:1-4 to talk about doctrinal unity, and this is a good point out of these verses. However, look at the role patience and love plays in this unity. Colossians 3:12-14 reminds us that love is the perfect bond of unity. (See also Philippians 2:3-4.)

If we do not work on this relationship of love between our brothers and sisters, we will not have unity. Psalm 133 talks about the beauty of spiritual unity, and David illustrates this beauty in two ways, both depicting blessings from God, and we hope for blessings from God when we dwell in unity with one another.

Conclusion

If we are to be a loving, spiritual, unified congregation, we have to start with ourselves. We each need to become more humble; we need to work on edifying one another; we each need to examine our spirituality; and we need to appreciate and apply the relationship between love and unity. If there was hope for the Christians at Corinth to grow into a spiritual and unified congregation, we all have hope.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: corinth series, one another, love, unity

In the previous lesson, we spoke of love as a more excellent way to spirituality and unity within the church of Christ. Remember, all can posses and share love; love will never pass away, even in Heaven; and love demonstrates true Christianity. In this lesson, we are going to pay close attention to I Corinthians 13:4-7 and how we can apply these qualities to the love we are to have for each other as Christians.

Complete Christian Love

How important is love? In, Matthew 22:35, Jesus is asked about the greatest of the laws, and Jesus points to loving God and loving our neighbors as the focus of the Old Testament. Romans 13:8: “He that loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Again, love is categorized as the focal point of godliness. I Peter 4:8 says that love enables us to help each other take care of sin. Finally, I John 4:7-8: “God is love.”

Now we are going to look at the traits of love in I Corinthians 13, and it is important to note that all of these traits are verbs in the Greek. Love is not conceptual; rather it is an action. This is love that is devoid of self-benefit; it is selfless. It is a love like Christ’s – “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.”

• Love is long-suffering. When it comes to our involvement with each other, there are going to be traits and habits that possibly annoy one another. Beyond this, long-suffering involves restraining one’s self when wronged. It is a love that does not quickly or easily retaliate to offense.
  
  
• Love is kind. Not only can love take anything; it can also give anything. In the Greek, we are useful to one another for good.
  
  
• Love does not envy. Jealousy wishes it has something; envy wants to take it away. Instead we are to rejoice for one another’s blessings, and we need to be thankful for what we do have. Remember, we all have blessings from God no one can deserve, so we should not begrudge the blessings of others.
  
  
• Love is not boastful. We should not have an inflated estimation of ourselves. In Romans 12:3, Paul reinforces this concept, and he reminds us of God’s role in our lives.
  
  
• Love is not rude. We try to teach manners to our children, but we often uncaring toward others as adults because of our self-concern.
  
  
• Love is not self-seeking. It is not “my way or the highway.” Love is considerate toward others and patient, and we may have to get out of our own way to achieve this.
  
  
• Love is not easily provoked. A loving Christian is not waiting to pick a fight. In James 1:19-20: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Conflict is not part of Christian love, but we may have to make a real conscious effort to stay silent.
  
  
• Love is not resentful. Love forgives and forgets. It does not keep an inventory of wrongs committed.
  
  
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity. We sometimes enjoy passing on bad information about others, nor does it take satisfaction in someone getting “what they deserve.” Rather, a loving Christian rejoices in truth.
  
  
• Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. It is always hopeful and protective. We believe the best of our Christian family, and we should always be looking out for each others – dirty laundry, warts, and all. Even in the face of disappointment, love is optimistic for others, and it helps us endure against insurmountable odds.

Conclusion

Think about all the problems the church in Corinth had. If there was hope for their love and unity, there is hope for the church today. “Love never fails” (I Corinthians 13:8). Love completes our spirituality, and it is something we should be continually working on improving and understanding more.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: one another, corinth series, love

This lesson continues our study of the church at Corinth and the topics of unity, love, and spiritual gifts. The previous lesson provided a cultural backdrop the this church and how society shaped the attitudes and values of the Christians in Corinth, and Paul appeals to the knowledge these individuals think they have ten times in chapters twelve through fourteen of this epistle while encouraging them to become more spiritually minded and more united in their conduct.

Disunity & Worship

The attitudes of superiority and class consciousness affected their worship. Paul addresses their “coming together” five times in chapter eleven. He is addressing their problems during services, most notably the abuse of the Lord’s Supper. Furthermore, worshipping together is brought up several times in chapter fourteen. Their carnal minds were affecting their service to God.

Again, it seems that the Corinthians placed a great emphasis on the spiritual gift of tongues – that is, speaking a foreign language with no prior knowledge of that language. He reminds us in verses 4 and 5 that each gift is equally important and that they all come from the same source. The functions are different, but each gift is equal in power and importance. We cannot deny the usefulness of other Christians dependent on a sense of self-importance.

The More Excellent Way

Verse 25 reaffirms the fact that unity within the congregation is important, and he promises to reveal a more excellent way. What is the way? Is it a way to get spiritual gifts? Rather, it is a more excellent way to unity and spirituality: Love. Before looking at chapter 13, here are three immediate reasons love is a more excellent path to spirituality.

• Everyone can posses love. This is in direct contrast to spiritual gifts and various abilities.
  
  
• Love will never go away. Again, this contrasts spiritual gifts, and this contrasts basically everything else we can hold to in this world, for love will be what continues into Heaven. Even faith and hope will no longer be needed in Heaven.
  
  
• Love distinguishes true believers from pretenders. In John 13:34-35: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.”

The first three verses of chapter 13, emphasize the importance of love: praise, generosity, spiritual gifts – all of these are worthless without love. He then goes on to enumerate the qualities of love, and all of these descriptors of love are verbs in the Greek. Love is active, not conceptual, and we will look into these qualities in a subsequent lesson. Paul also speaks of partial gifts – like speaking in tongues – passing away like childhood when the perfect, or the complete/mature, is made known.

Realigning Priorities

In chapter 14, Paul returns his attention to misconceptions the Christians in Corinth had in regards to spiritual gifts. He tells them to pursue love. He goes on to contrast tongues and prophecy.

Paul reminds them that speaking in another language does not benefit the congregation as a whole if an interpreter was not present. (Remember, the person speaking the language did not necessarily understand the language they were speaking.) On the other hand, prophesying would, yet tongues were more highly valued by those in the church at Corinth.

Paul also points out that tongues are a sign to unbelievers (verse 22) while prophecy is most beneficial to believers. Take Acts 2 for example. By the crowd’s assessment, the apostles were ignorant individuals, meaning their knowledge of foreign languages would clearly be a miraculous event. Likewise, such a miracle would be useful in a city that had so many transients from other lands. Furthermore, in verses 23-25, Paul asks them what it would look like to a visitor to the congregation if everyone was speaking in diverse languages. In contrast, a prophecy may personally touch this individual. What is more valuable? Is it more important to look impressive, or is it more important to save souls?

Paul concludes this chapter by explaining the outcome to properly aligned worship: edification. Paul brings up edification multiple times in chapter 14, and he reminds us that God is the author of peace rather than confusion. This is in direct context of the love and unity spoken about in these verses, and the word translated as confusion comes from the Greek for discord or instability. God does not want his church to be split up and unstable. He wants it unified in love. He wants our worship to be orderly and decent (verse 40) in our attitudes toward one another, our behavior in the assembly, and our views of what it means to be spiritual.

Conclusion

A godly church works for love, edification, and unity. However, in order to work toward edification and unity in love, we need to understand what Christian love is, and we will be looking at the love of I Corinthians 13 in our next lesson.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: corinth series, priorities, one another, love

In Acts 2:41, the Jerusalem congregation began with about 3,000 members. It was a daunting undertaking, but they allowed the Lord to direct them. That direction led to further growth (Acts 2:47). Furthermore, several nationalities were represented in this group (Acts 2:9-11). This, of course, meant their were several cultural and social diversities along with linguistic differences. Despite this, Acts 4:32 says they were of “one heart” and of “one soul.”

Six Contributors to Unity

If we are to be this New Testament church, we are to be unified. To gain this same unity, we should emulate these qualities to be the church God wants us to be.

They spent time together. In Acts 2:42-46 and Acts 5:42, the disciples were gathering together. These gatherings were not exclusively religious or social. This seemed to be a combination of the two in some cases. However, spending time together can be inconvenient, and it takes effort to make that time to fellowship with other Christians. It can also be difficult to spend time with certain people because it may take more effort to overcome differences with each other, but, if we do invest that time, we can become close to one another.

They were united in purpose. The Christians in Acts 2 were praising God, and this is the result of their purpose. Acts 3:19-21 reminds us that our end goal is looking forward to Christ’s return. Our world is not perfect, but the world to come is. These New Testament Christians were focused on Christ, and, if we can keep that same focus, many of this world’s cares and problems seem a little less important.

They prayed together. In Acts 1:14, the disciples continued in prayer and thanksgiving. Prayer is a reoccurring theme throughout the book of Acts. In Acts 4:23-24, the disciples pray when they come under persecution, and they prayed together for the strength to endure. In Acts 12:12, when Peter had escaped from prison, he found other Christians praying together when he came to Mary’s house, even at a late hour of the night.

They were united in the same doctrine. In Acts 2:42, the Christians continue in the “apostles’ doctrine,” and in John 14, the apostles are told that they would be told what to say by the Holy Spirit. This was not a promotion of self – the doctrine is Christ.

They worshipped together. Again, there is encouragement in unified actions. The acts of worship and the songs of the Old Testament were factors and contributors of unity. Acts 20:7 & Acts 2:42 focus on the coming together to worship God and participate in Christ’s memorial.

They had the same concern for one another. Still in Acts 2:43-44, it is said that they had “all things in common.” This does not mean they had all of the same qualities. It meant that what is mine is yours, and I need to be concerned for your needs and ready to help out. This is reinforced in Acts 4:34-35.

Conclusion: A Successful Congregation

All of these qualities led to the strength of the Jerusalem church, and these qualities work hand-in-hand with each other. This congregation was successful because they were enthusiastic and generous toward each other and toward the Lord. They were a disciplined church, and discipline is the result of concern for each other and for the sanctity of God’s word. Furthermore, their unity helped them develop endurance, weathering problems from outside the church and from within the church.

Our relationships with one another and with the Lord can bring about a unified congregation, but the final product takes time and effort to achieve.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: unity, prayer, one another, doctrine

Did you know that when you are nice to a sales associate/wait staff/service representative about a problem you are having, chances are you will get a better solution to said problem? It's true: kindness begets kindness! People are more likely to go out of their way to help you if you are nice to them first.

Think about this next time something is wrong with your food order. If you are kind in your encounter with the wait staff, how much more will he or she be willing to help you? On the other hand, you may get a free meal replacement if you throw a fit, but your food might get tampered with on top of the fact that your temperament will ruin your evening along with those with you.

When you walk into a store that you visit often, how do the employees see you? Are you a customer the staff will willingly approach to help, or do they try to avoid you at all costs? (For the record, please don't tell me that store clerks don't remember customers. I used to work retail. We remember you just fine. We merely choose not to approach you and say, "I remember you! You were a complete freakazoid last time you were here! We really wish you would never come back!")

You impact others, believe it or net. You can choose to make a good impression and help improve their day, or you can choose to be a source of discouragement and frustration. Who do you want to be?

By Robert Smelser

Tags: behaviors, one another, our example

It never ceases to amaze me that, within the church, one can so easily be judged based on the congregation he or she belongs to. Now, before you read to much further, it seems to me that this is a problem pretty specific to the church of Christ, so if you are unfamiliar with the phenomenon I am describing, then you may move along. There is nothing to see here.

Let me use myself as an example. In recent months I have chosen to fellowship with the South Boone Church of Christ in central Indiana. This is a church I was excited to join and am still excited to belong to. It's a fresh work with idealism and motivation behind its members. However, it is also a name that can bring a dismissive or even indignant attitude from others when they ask, "Where do you attend?"

Do to various reasons, people tend to have grudges against individuals at particular congregations. Sometimes, the association can grow so strong that people will categorize an entire congregation based on the actions of a few individuals. It doesn't matter if those events happened yesterday or thirty years ago. The stereotype exists.

In I Corinthians 1:12-17, Paul reminds us that we are not defined by the individuals we worship with. Often, we will use this passage to condemn denominationalism, and while that is a valid point, we cannot ignore other implications when it suits us. "Oh, you go to the church where (fill in the blank) is a/an (preacher/elder/attendee/groundskeeper/etc. You guys are nothing but trouble." This is not how we are to identify our brothers and sisters. Regardless of what congregation I belong to of the church, I am Christ's. I rest my salvation on no man.

Consider Revelation 3:1-6. Jesus has some pretty harsh things to say about Sardis here, but the real point for consideration here is that he recognizes a select few who are still acceptable in His sight. This is a dying congregation, but Christ does not judge His people by the congregation. He judges by the person. Individuals are brought before God, and we need to see members of the church in the same way – as individuals.

We must never assume to judge another Christian based on experiences we have had with other individuals from the same congregation. We cannot condemn them for decisions others have made. In I Corinthians 13:7, we are told that Christian love "hopes all things." Christians need to be slow to judge, and we need to be ready to assume the best about our brothers and sisters in the faith. The Lord's church can only gain the unity Christ prayed for in John 17:20-23 when we learn to put away our prejudices and self-righteousness for the common goal of helping each other each reach Heaven.

By Robert Smelser

Tags: one another, worship

I am feeling very long-winded tonight. It must be because I haven't posted in over a week. This post will hopefully be more valuable than the last two...

Anyways, at work a couple of days ago, I noticed a couple of our great third grade teachers trying to control what seemed to be a disproportionally large number of children. (As it turns out, the whole third grade was having one presentation but 2 of the 6 teachers were away at a meeting. The meeting had not concluded before the end of the presentation, so there were two teachers taking on double loads of children.)

I was walking by, and volunteered to help out. This seemed to completely surprise the teacher I was speaking to, but she immediately took me up on my offer. While I was preparing one class for dismissal, another colleague of mine came in to help me out, and that availed me the opportunity to reroute a misdirected communication to a child that had come into my possession.

When I made it to the classroom where the note was supposed to go, the teacher was out because she was monitoring her room, a crisis in another room, and trying to get some materials copied to go home, so not only did I deliver the misdirected (important) note, but I immediately engaged the children in an activity to keep their behaviors under control. The classroom teacher was, as a result, able to cope with the stressful situation and get the copies she needed.

This is not meant to say, "Look how good I am." In fact, the first time I saw the chaos, my instinct was to think, "I'm glad that's not my problem." But for some reason, I let it become my problem, and, subsequently, life became a little easier for some very stressed out colleagues of mine, and the actions of the lady who took the first class off of my hands made it possible for yet another teacher to be helped out in a high-stress situation. Imagine how much could have gone wrong had we both let these situations be "somebody else's problem."

So often in our lives, we see a job that has to be done or help that should be given, but we shrug our shoulders and find excuses to not participate. Imagine how much better a world we would live in if we would just get over ourselves and be nice for a change. So what if it is inconvenient? Jesus got down on his knees and washed the feet of His apostles, yet so many of us who wear His name wouldn't bother to hold the door for someone whose arms are full.

Next time you see someone who could use some help, offer it to them. You will be a better person for it.

By Robert Smelser

Tags: my thoughts, one another, behaviors

So a man approached me at a gas station close to the school I work at the other day. He was pretty-big, African American, wearing baggy clothes, and he mumbled when he talked. He was asking people for a ride to a Lowe's hardware store that was about a mile away. Pretty much reflexively, I found a reason to not give him a ride.

On my way home, I found myself thinking about James 4:17. "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." Of course, this dovetails right into Matthew 25:45."Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [good] to one of the least of these, you did not do [good] to Me.'"

In this case, did I fail to help a fellow man in need as a result of paranoia and prejudice (not so much racial prejudice as much as just him being a man wandering around a gas station alone looking to get into someone else's car)? Did my fear overcome my faith, or am I being too hard on myself?

By Robert Smelser

Tags: my thoughts, behaviors, one another