Love...a thought from a biblical perspective

[kg00ds]

I think the one and only shot I'm going to be able to take at this question comes from an Unspoken Sermon titled "Kingship" --

With reference to Jesus, concerning Pilate's question to him, "Art thou a king, then?" GM says that the most perfect empire would be a thing not to be desired to rule over, just so long as he might be able to "teach one human being to love his neighbour, and be good like his father! To be love-helper to one heart, for its joy, and the glory of his father, was the beginning of true kingship!"

This answer in the GM Trivia thread has inspired this post. I hope ya'll enjoy it.


[red]"ONE-ANOTHERING"[/red]

1. What is the greatest spiritual gift?
• 1 Corinthians 13:13

2. How do people know we are Jesus’ disciples?
• John 13: 34-35

3. How can we love one another as we should?
•By guarding against the following spirits (or attitudes) with which Satan tries to trip us up:

[pink]a.[/pink] Guard against a spirit of independence-
1 Corinthians 12:12-26

-Care for one another—1 Corinthians 12:25
-Remember we are members of one another—Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:25
-Pray for one another – Colossians 4:2; James 5:13-18
-Admonish one another—Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14
-Bear one another’s burdens—Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:2
-Stimulate one another to love and good deeds—Hebrews 10:24
-Do not envy one another—Galatians 5:26

[pink]b.[/pink] Guard against a spirit of selfishness
Philippians 2:1-4

-Regard one another as more important—Philippians 2:3
-Serve one another—Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10
-Be kind to one another—Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12
-Be devoted to one another—Romans 12:10
-Seek good for one another—1 Thessalonians 5:15
-Give preference to one another in honor—Romans 12: 10
-Look out for one another—James 5:19-20; Jude 20-23

[pink]c.[/pink] Guard against a spirit of partiality -
James 2:1-9

-Be of the same mind toward one another—Romans 12:16, 15:5
-Be hospitable to one another—1 Peter 4:9
-Clothe yourselves in humility to one another—1 Peter 5:5
-Submit to one another—Ephesians 5:21
-Greet one another—Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12
-Bear one another—Romans 15:1-2
-Encourage one another—Romans 1:11-12
-Grudge not against one another—James 5:9

[pink]d.[/pink]Guard against a spirit of abusive speech -Ephesians 4:29-32

-Encourage one another—1 Thessalonians 5:11; Heb. 3:12-13, 10:25
-Build up one another—Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
-Comfort one another – 1 Thessalonians 4:18
-Speak and sing to one another—Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
-Do not bite, devour; consume one another—Galatians 5:15
-Do not lie to one another – Colossians 3:9
-Do not speak against one another – James 4:11
-Do not complain against one another—James 5:9

-Do not speak unwholesome words to one another—Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 5:4; Phillipians 1:27a

[pink]e.[/pink] Guard against a spirit of Judgementalism
James 4:11-12

-Accept one another – Romans 15:7
-Be at peace with one another – Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18;14:19; Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:13
-Forbear (be patient) with one another – Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13
-Forgive one another-- Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37
-Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another –1 Peter 4:16
-Keep one another accountable but always do it in love–Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:1-11
-Be careful how you judge one another-- Romans 14:13; Matthew 7:1-5
-Do not think more highly of yourself than you should –Romans 12:3
-Judge yourself first– Romans 14:1-12; Romans 14:13; Romans 14:22-23; Galatians 13:5; Luke 6:41-49

4. So how important do yall think actively/practically loving one another?
•1 John 4:7-11
•1 Peter1:22; 4:8

Speaking specifically of Loving One Another:

1)Read John 4:7-12. What is Love? (hint vs. 7 and 10)


2)Read John 4:19-21. Why do we love?


3)Read Acts 2:42-47. What do you notice?

The love of God shared in experience among and within God’s people.

4)Read I John 3:11, 14-16. What is the message the apostle speaks of?

5)Read I John 3:17-18. In what way is our love proved?

Extra :
•Read 1 Corinthians 13 and consider why all our actions are worthless when conducted without love.

•and meditate on why God has emphasized love for his people among his people. Why has God emphasized it again and again? Why is love so important?

•Isn't it amazing how these thoughts have affected your heart and mind in understanding this love of which God speaks.

[tinidril]

This is an excellent study. Did you write this or is it from a published study?

A local pastor I know once did a complilation of the "one another"s and it is impressive even just looking at the list. But you have categorized them in an effective way. Thanks!

[kg00ds]

Well, I wrote a three series discipleship bible study course for my church with our youth pastor and this is part of it. However, this imparticular lesson was largely categorized by another good freind of mine who is also a pastor. I enjoyed his sermon on One Anothering so much it convinced me to put it in this series long after I had heard it. So I took my notes from the sermon and wrote this lesson for the series. Anyway, thanks for the kind response...I just hope it shows those who are actually discipled with its use the importance of "one-anothering".


P.S. Since you asked if it was published. I'll respond by saying kind of. My church is getting them copy righted for its design etc (I think) and we print them for use by members of our church. However, since I wrote most of it I have permission to share them with whomever I like. So if your interested I could mail you a copy of the three book set. That is if you were asking cuz you were interested in seeing where it came from. If you'd like me to do so but don't feel comfortable giving me your address I could mail them to your church or simply e-mail them to you. Anyway, if you were just curious forgive my willingness to share and God bless.

[kg00ds]

Since you liked that one here's another (in more of its original form than the last)

LESSON 17 Memorize: James 1:17
SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1. God has [red]shaped[/red] each and every one of His children for His purposes.

[red]S[/red]piritual Gifts—the supernatural gifts you receive after being born again.

[red]H[/red]eart—the bundle of all your sanctified desires, hopes, dreams, interest, ambitions, and affections; i. e. the personal source of all your motivations.

[red]A[/red]bilities—the talents you are “naturally” born with or acquire.

[red]P[/red]ersonality—who you are.

[red]E[/red]xperience—you are shaped by it; God uses them in molding you and in blessing others.
-"Shape" quoted from Rick Warren


2. What are spiritual gifts?
 James 1:17
 1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4-7

3. Do all Christians receive the same spiritual gifts? NO
 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26
 1 Corinthians 7:7, 12:27-31*
 Romans 12:6-8

4. Are there any gifts that all Christians do receive? YES

•[green]The gift of the Holy Spirit[/green]—Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 2: 38; Acts 10: 45; Acts 11: 17; Romans 8:15-16;
2 Timothy 1: 7
•[green]The gift of justification[/green]—Romans 3:24; 5:15-16
•[green]The gift of righteousness[/green]—Romans 5:17
•[green]The gift of eternal life[/green]—Romans 6:23; John 17:3; John 10:27-28; John 11:25.
•[green]The gift of Grace[/green]—1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 3:7; Romans 5:1-2
•[green]The gift of Faith[/green]—Ephesians 2:8; Romans 12:3
•[green]The gift of Peace[/green]—John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 1:20
•[green]The gift of wisdom[/green]—James 1:5; 3:17
•[green]The armor of God (which includes the Bible and prayer)[/green]—Ephesians 6:10-18
•[green]The gift of encouragement[/green]—Romans 1:11-12

Note: Some christians believe the gift of tongues is another one of them; I don't (discuss why some people believe it is and others don't).


5. What are the other spiritual gifts?

a. [blue]The “basic” gifts[/blue]
Faith, Hope, Love, serving, exhortation, leading, giving, and mercy.
• 1 Corinthians 13:13
• 1 Peter 4:10
• Romans 12: 6-8

b. [blue]The “miraculous” gifts:[/blue]
• 1 Corinthians 12-14
word of wisdom
word of knowledge
gifts of healing
working of miracles
prophesy
discerning of spirits
diverse (various) kinds of tongues
interpretations of tongues.

c. [blue]The gifts “for equipping of the saints for ministry”:[/blue]
• Ephesians 4:11-24
• 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (elders, bishops, presbyters] teachers, helps, administrations

6. Can we have more than one gift?
•Yes, the apostle Paul was also an evangelist, pastor, teacher, and he spoke in tongues.

7. Can we lose the gifts we have been given?
• Romans 11:29

8. a) What are the greatest gifts?
• 1 Corinthians 13:13

b) What is the greatest gift?
• 1 Corinthians 13:13

9. What is the purpose of our spiritual gifts?
• 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7
• 1 Peter 4: 9-10



10. RESEARCH & WRITE: (homework)
What instructions does the Bible give on how to use different gifts?



(some scriptures to study: Romans 1:11; 1 Corinthians 14:1-12; 1Corinthians 14:13-25; 1Thessalonians 5:9-24; Ephesians 4:30; 1Timoty 4:14; 1Corinthians 14:26-40; 1Peter 4:11)