Considering One Another Outline and Audio Sermon

[What is a Church? It is a fellowship. It is a community. It is meant to be the family of God in your life. We call the Church the body of Christ (1 Cor 12). The Church is composed of many members, who are all distinctly different, yet untied for the common cause of building the glorious kingdom of our Lord and Savior.]

[Each of the members of the body are distinctly different, yet we are all a part of the same body. Sometimes members are so different that we rub each other in seemingly wrong ways. Yet, the Bible reminds us that every member is equally important to the body as a whole. The Bible says,]

[1 Corinthians 12:12-19 ¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where were the body?]

[It seems to me that a part of what Paul is expressing in verses 24 and 25 of our text is about how we should be able to work in unity with every other member of the body of our Lord.]

[Hebrews 10:24 ²⁴And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ]

[Considering - κατανοῶμεν (Gk) - contracted katanoó, fut. katanoésō, from katá (2596), an intens., and noéō (3539), to think. To observe, notice, consider, contemplate (Matt. 7:3; Luke 6:41; 12:24, 27; 20:23; Acts 7:31, 32; 11:6; 27:39; Rom. 4:19, to have respect to, regard; Heb. 3:1; 10:24; James 1:23, 24; Sept.: Num. 32:8, 9; Is. 5:12).^{^[1]} ]

[The word consider here is a compound Greek word which teaches us to consider, observe, or contemplate one another with intensity. In other words we are certainly not supposed to be neutral toward one another, we are not to ignore one another; but we are to be intimately involved with one another, concerned with one another, interacting with one another.]

[When this phrase “considering one another” is placed in the context of this passage we quickly realize that we are to consider one another in a way that allows us to provoke or intrude into the lives of one another. Now, this idea of intruding into the lives of each other is fearsome to our individualistic American culture and our ideas of freedom and liberty. Yet, we must at some point in our Christian walk realize that if a Pastor, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Mentor or dear friend in Christ is going to nurture and stretch our spiritual growth then they must be allowed to provoke, challenge or even stretch us and our ideas.]

[It is never easy to hear someone say things that we really don’t want to hear. Yet, we all, and I mean every one of us, need someone in our lives that we know loves us deeply and we allow to challenge us in ways we may not enjoy being challenged. Yet, if you know someone deeply loves you, then you should know that they mean their provoking statements with the best of intensions. Perhaps, you should hear them instead of rejecting them, because our first response is to reject such approaches out of hand. The things we often reject out of hand are often those things we really need to hear, but most people would never love you enough to say.]

[Parenting – This is a huge part of a parents roll in the life of their children, even their adult children. If there is anyone in your life that has a vested interest in your life it should be your parents and your family. They love you, and know you, and if they say something that is hard to take you can usually trust the fact that they love you dearly and their deep love and bond toward you have compelled them to say something to you. You ought to hear and trust your family.]

[Your Church family is meant to be a deeply intimate spiritual family in your life. Your Heavenly Father loves you with a love that is deeper than any mortal love could ever be. He has proven His love with the most profound evidence one could ever imagine. The Word of God states,]

[Romans 5:8 ⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.]

[Your Heavenly Father has placed the Church, the body of Christ, in your life to be a deeply intimate spiritual family in your life. A Church should be full of people who have experienced the supernatural love of God, have learned from the unspeakable love of God how to love in deep and profound ways, and strive to express this boundless love in unconditional and undeniable expressions. I believe that we have many such compassionate Christian’s right here in this congregation. The question is, do you understand that the people of this Church love you and your family deeply? Or have you allowed yourself to believe that somehow you are not loved by God and you are not loved by the people of this Church.]

[You can know with absolute certainty that your Heavenly Father loves you. He proved it with a Cross and there is no deeper love than that one would give his life for his friend (John 15.13). You should know as well that there are many, the majority of the people in this Church that love you and your family deeply. Love is the cornerstone of unity. Love will overcome a multitude of distractions and divisions. Love is also the fertilizer of spiritual growth in your life.]

[Until you believe that those around you in this Church love you, then you will not be able to experience the kind if fellowship described in Hebrews 10.24-25. This is the kind of fellowship that our world really needs today; a Church that is born again, alive in Christ, founded upon God’s Word and able to provoke and exhort their spiritual growth.]

Notice three things in our text that we must practice if we will consider one another as we ought,

A. Provoking Compassion (vs 24; Prov 17.17; John 13.35; Eph 4.1-4; Rom 12.10) [– And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: - Let us consider that word provoke,]

[Provoke - παροξυσμὸν (Gk) - gen. paroxusmoú, masc. noun from paroxúnō (3947), to stir up, provoke. In a good sense, a sharpening; used figuratively meaning an encouragement to some action or feeling (Heb. 10:24). In a bad sense, a paroxysm, the stirring up of anger, sharp contention, angry dispute (Acts 15:39; Sept.: Deut. 29:28; Jer. 32:37). The Eng.“paroxysm” is derived from it.^{^[2]} ]

[Proverbs 27:17 ¹⁷Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. ]

[Sharpening iron or steal means that there is an abrasive application of some sort. Patient and wise sharpeners use a sharpening stone and carefully and purposefully hone away a dull edge. Impatient people, like me when I am sharpening my lawn mower blades, and just want to get the job done quickly, use an electric grinder. The sparks fly, it is loud and abusive, but the blades wear down much faster. I would caution you though, don’t ever view people like you might a lawn mower blade.]

[This is the idea of provoking one another. It is to stir them up, to provoke them, to cause them to think and to grow.]

[Now there are many in our world that LOVE to provoke people, but they often do it in wrong and abusive way. Notice again the context of our passage,]

[It is impossible to provoke unto love if there is no love in the way you stir up your brother or sister in Christ. Harsh provocations will result in harsh responses. Our first goal in approaching and exhorting our fellow Christians should be to provoke them to love. We are reminded in the Bible,]

[John 13:35 ³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ]

[Ephesians 4:1-4 ¹I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ]

[Love and compassion must be the basis of our fellowship and unity. Through love we stir up love. Love produces the seed and fruit of love. Now, I think many of us men struggle with the expression of love more than women. Most women just seem to be naturals when it comes to love. So how do we express love?]

[Romans 12:10 ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ]

[Colossians 4:6 ⁶Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. ]

[Be kind, be humble, and control your words carefully. Discipline yourself to be compassionate and loving in the way you provoke or stir other people up. The way you show your compassion and love to others will teach them how to show love in their life.]

B. Provoking Conviction (vs 24) [- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: - Once your compassion and love are established then the second and equally important aspect of our Christian relationship can develop. Not only are we to consider one another in love and provoke each other to love, but we are also to provoke good works in each other. I used the word conviction here because conviction deals with what you really believe in your heart and you will always live in keeping with your convictions. If you are living in sin then your convictions are wrong, because you will always do what you believe is right in your heart.]

[My friends are your convictions founded upon the Word of God – There is a huge difference between a command and a conviction. I had a man tell me once, “I will get baptized when God tells me in my heart that I need to get baptized.” His problem was that he is getting his conviction from some place other than the Word of God. When God says something in the Bible then it is no longer a matter of conviction, it is a matter of command. As God’s people we must always understand that God’s commands are not negotiable. Hence, God’s commands ought to always be the foundation for our beliefs or convictions.]

· [When God says, “Be ye Baptized . . .” (Acts 2.38) then you should believe God and be baptized.]

· [When God says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:28) Then I will put no tattoos or piercings upon my body.]

· [When God says, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, . . .” (Habakkuk 2:15) Then I will keep all beverage alcohol out of my life and home.]

[Far too many people in our day are establishing their convictions or beliefs on their feelings and emotions rather than the rock solid foundation of the Word of God. Hence, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if we are going to provoke each other to good works then we must stir up one another to hear, believe, and heed the inerrant, and infallible Word of God, for only those works which are right with God are good works.]

[Now, let us understand, it is not easy and comfortable for someone to come up to you and say, “Hey buddy, you are a great sinner. Only heathens and pagans do what you are doing!” But the truth is there are times that we need to hear that something we are doing is wrong, so that we can get it right in our life. We often need correction in our life.]

[What we need to understand as a messenger, and the stirrer of the pot, as the provoker, is that it is not necessarily what we are saying, it is often how we are saying something that causes it rejection. We must always bath our considerations in love, kindness, compassion, and grace.]

C. Provoking Communion (vs 25; 2 Pet 3.11-14) [- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. – What is this passage really saying to us as we read it? It is saying that the closer we get to the rapture of the Church and the end of the Church Age, the more we will need the provoking of our brothers and sisters in Christ. My friends, we are closer than ever to the end of this dispensation of Grace and we need the fellowship of the Church, we need the compassionate stretching of the body of Christ, we need the challenging of our beliefs and convictions so that we will be right with our Heavenly Father in these last days. But you will have none of this if you forsake the assembly of the Church.]

[Exhorting – παρακαλοῦντες (Gk) – contracted parakaló, fut. Parakalésō, from pará (3844), to the side of, and kaléō (2564), to call. To aid, help, comfort, encourage. Translated: to comfort, exhort, desire, call for, beseech with a stronger force than aitéō (154).^{^[3]} ]

[To exhort is to come along side someone and to be there to help, comfort, counsel, and even convict them in their Christian Journey. Do you have trusted brothers and sisters in Christ who you will allow to say the things to you that you may not want to hear, but you may need to hear? Do you have the kind of Christian friends who you know love you, with the love of Christ, so that you can trust them to say things that may be hard for you to hear? We all need exhortation and even provoking in our lives. Especially in these last and perilous days before our Lord establishes His eternal and glorious kingdom.]

[2 Peter 3:11-14 ¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ]

[We need trusted brothers and sisters in Christ who can help us to realize Peter’s exhortation for our lives. We need to be the kind of compassionate, Bible believing Christians that can be trusted to exhort and provoke our brothers and sisters in Christ with grace and purpose.]

^{^[1]}Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G2657). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^{^[2]}Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G3948). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^{^[3]}Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G3870). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.