Fellowship: The art of one anothering

Text: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Together.....They devoted themselves......They gave to everyone who had need.....THEY....IT'S ABOUT WE!!!

1.) Love one another - It is the Hallmark of Faith, our greatest commandment. John writes that this is our new command to love one another. Love is the act of will, without showing love, it is hard to experience emotional love. Love is: Hair-do's that "look worse", cookies that "Hardly taste burnt", or just cuddling up next to the one you love so they can warm up their feet. John 15:17 "This is my command: Love each other."

2.) Forgiving one another - Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Scripture is black and white. Cory Ten Boom puts it like this, forgiveness is like pulling a toll bell rope. When we hold the rope, we continue to pull the bell and make it toll. Just as you hold the rope, you are holding on to the offense that wronged you. Until we let go of the rope, it will ring for a bit, but won't ring forever. Just let go! Let the ringing end--let the healing begin.

3.) Live in Peace with one another - 1 Thesselonians 5:13 says, "Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other." Little squables create the most devicive arguments. Compromise in order to keep the peace. Live at peace with one another. Psalm 34:11-14 – “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

4.) Serve one another - 1 Peter 4:9-10 says, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." Serve one another with the gifts that we've been given. Christian service means this: Living out a slave relationship to our saviour, loyalty to the king. Want to show someone you love, forgive and live in peace? Serve them.

John 3:16 tells of God's love for us. What if we were to use that to express how we love other. It would go something like this.

"For _____________ so love others, their family, and the church, he/she gave their ___________, that whoever believes in God the Father, did not perish, but found everlasting life."