Slide 1 : “IN SEARCH OF HARMONY”
A SERIES OF LESSONS PRESENTED BY THE ELDERS
FINAL OF EIGHT (8) LESSON
“Living in Harmonious Fellowship”
MORRIS WARE AUG 5, 2007
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : In Agreement
In Accord
Friendly
Well-balanced
Well proportioned Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship. To the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Essential Functions of the Church
Study of the Scripture
Fellowship
Observing Communion
Building member’s prayer lives Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : RELATIONSHIP
PARTNERSHIP
JOINT OWNERS
STEWARDSHIP
COMPANIONSHIP
ENCOURAGEMENT Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Relationship Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.Phil 1:4-5 In all my prayers for all of you. I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Partnership Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Living in Harmonious Fellowship JOINT OWNERS
Why do we fail to show up for work?
Why do we use so much of our time and talents moonlighting on worldly things?
Why do we hid out and let the other shareholders do most of the work?
How does arguing among ourselves help the business to grow?
Why do so few want to volunteer to work in God’s sales department?
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : 1 Cor. 9:10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.
Stewardship Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Companionship
There are two dimensions to companionship.
Vertical
Horizontal
Assembling Together
Instruct One Another
Comfort and Encourage One Another
Worship with One Another
Seek the Good of One Another
Be Honest with One Another
Be at Peace with One Another Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : 1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declared to you; God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Encourager
He was willing to give his personal wealth to help the less fortunate.
He was confident enough in the Holy Spirit’s leading that he trusted and befriended the repentant Paul the persecutor of Christians.
He went out of his way to help new believers in their walk with Christ.
He was strong enough to stand up to the forceful personality of Paul, knowing his place was that of an encourager. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : WHAT IS ENCOURAGEMENT?
When we say we are encouraging another person what does that really mean?
Are we encouraging someone when we yell at them or tell them they are not going to amount to nothing in life?
Is being critical of everything being an encourager?
When you are around other Christians who are struggling, be careful that you are not only pointing out what they are doing wrong, make sure you are encouraging them to stay in the game. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : WHAT DOES THE WORD “ENCOURAGE” MEAN?
To encourage means to “come along side of.” Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS?
We get in the game with others.
We display a positive attitude.
We instill faith in others. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : 1 Thessalonians 5: 11-23
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything; Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : BEING AN ENCOURAGER
Build each other up.
Respect leaders.
Hold leaders in highest regard.
Warn the idle.
Encourage the timid.
Help the weak.
Be patient.
Resist revenge
Be joyful
Pray continually.
Give thanks.
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Avoid every kind of evil.
Count on God’s constant help. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : Rom 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
The power in words can build up or tear down.Create a big smile or produce a sad frown;So in all your contacts with people each day,Be sure to encourage in all that you say. — Fitzhugh Living in Harmonious Fellowship
Living in Harmonious Fellowship : WHY DO WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS?
To keep the fainthearted from quitting.
To draw out potential in others.
To help people see God in the tough times.
To strengthen others.
To strengthen the church community. Living in Harmonious Fellowship
LIVING IN HARMONIOUS FELLOWSHIP : LIVING IN HARMONIOUS FELLOWSHIP