TheSecond Greatest - AC Publication's · 2015-08-12 · Second Greatest Commandment. Memory Verse...

GreatestThe Second

an Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study

Commandment

This Bible study seeks to illuminate our understanding of Bible teachings about inter-personal relationships.

References used in the study are from Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary and the King James Version of the Holy Bible. When a definition from the dictionary is used in the text, that word is written in the margin. Likewise when a Bible verse is referred to in the text, the reference numbers are written in the margin.

At the end of each section are the words Examine, Pray, Thank and Record, along with questions and directions intended to help you apply the Biblical principles to your own life. Each section should be studied separately, allowing time for spiritual growth. Many prompts in the Record sections are meant for completion later - after applying the lesson.

The Second Greatest Commandment

Memory Verse“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ”

- Mark 12:30-31

a Bible Study

© 2013. Apostolic Christian Church of America. All Rights Reserved.

introduction

background

Table of Contents

Is Your Heart Pure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Ultimate Example of Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Love Described . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Loving vs. Not Loving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Forgive, and You Shall be Forgiven . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Love Your Enemies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Be Humble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Do Not Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Serve Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Get Along with Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Put Off the Old Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Put On the New Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Love the Brotherhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

6 The Second Greatest Commandment

Is Your Heart Pure?

Pure - unmixed with any other matter; free from dust, dirt, or taint; spotless, stainless.

Reflection

Is your heart pure? Jesus said ‘’Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Have you seen God? Is it possible for man to see God?

The Bible says without holiness no man shall see the Lord, and he that does evil has not seen God. 1 John 4:12 says no man has seen God at any time. But the verse does not end there. It continues: If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. If we love one another, we know God because God is love. In our love for one another, God gives us a way to see Him, because He is love.

The impurities of our hearts stand in the way of God’s love being perfected in us. We cannot love one another if we are harboring ill-feelings, carrying grudges or allowing unforgiveness in our hearts.

God calls us to purify ourselves, even as He is pure, and to love one another with a pure heart. We are to be diligent so that when Jesus returns He will find us in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Is your heart pure?

MT 5:8

HEB 12:143 JN 1:11

1 JN 4:12

1 JN 4:16

1 JN 3:31 PET 1:222 PET 3:14

7An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study

ApplicationExamine If there are any family members or acquaintances with whom you are not on speaking terms, what restorative measures does God’s Word promote?

PrayPray that God will cleanse your heart from all “dust, dirt or taint”and replace it with His love.

Thank Thank God that He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Record Record how God exposed some dirt in your heart and then throughconfession and reconciliation how you were cleansed from thatimpurity.


The Ultimate Example of Love

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…”

- 1 John 4:10

Reflection

Does God ask too much of us when He commands us to love one an-other? When we understand how much God loves us and the ultimate example of love He gave to us, we will have a great desire to fulfill anything He asks us to do.

What God did for me is of such great magnitude, how can I be unwill-ing to show love to others?

God Did This: therefore We Should Do This:

JN 13:34JN 15:12JN 15:17

ROM 13:81 TH 3:12

l JN 4:10-11

EPH 5:1-2

l JN 3:16

God loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation* for oursins

Christ loved us and gavehimself for us as a sweet smelling savour and sacrifice to God

Jesus laid down His life for us

We should also love one another

Be followers (imitators) ofGod and walk in love

We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers

When you think of John 3:16...For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso-ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

...also remember 1 John 3:16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

* Propitiation: the sacrifice that reconciled sinful man to God


ApplicationExamine What qualities in another person would make him/her seem not to de-serve your love? As a sinner, how much did your worthiness influence God’s decision to love you?

PrayPray that God will help you understand how much He loves you.

Thank Thank God for loving you so much.

Record Record what God has taught you about His love for you.


Love Described

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay

down his life for his friends.”

- John 15:13

Reflection

Would you be willing to die for your best friend or spouse? Is your love so great that you would risk your life to rescue your loved one from danger? Now, is your love so great you gladly put their interests ahead of yours, speak kind words instead of harsh, and build them up instead of finding fault?

We do not prove our love for others by big heroic actions, but rather in our small day to day interactions. If I gave you everything I owned and even died for you, but did not love you, it would profit me nothing. I cannot just say I love you.

If I love you, I will patiently endure for a long time any hurt you may cause me. I will always treat you kindly, without harming you in any way. I will never envy you when things go well for you but not for me. I will be glad and delighted with you when you have reason to rejoice, even if I don’t, and I will weep with you when you have reason to weep, without feeling like you are ruining my time of rejoicing. I will never call attention to myself, pridefully boast about my own worth or attainments, or have an excessively high opinion of myself.

If I love you, my actions will never be in poor taste or inappropriate. I will not seek my own way nor be easily angered. I will not think nega-tive thoughts about you.

When I have love for you, I will not feel glad and delighted to win an argument, get my own way, or get even, but I will rejoice when God’s commands are being fulfilled.

Because I love you, I will put up with anything that is trying or pain-ful between us, I will believe in God’s ability to work in our relation-ship, and I will expect the fulfillment of God’s plan for us. I will remain firm in my love for you under suffering or misfortune without yielding because love never gives up.

1 COR 13:3

1 JN 3:18

longsufferingROM 13:101 COR 13:4ROM 12:15

vauntpuffed up

(conceited)unseemly

provoke1 COR 13:5

rejoice1 COR 13:6

bearhope

1 COR 13:7endure

1 COR 13:8


I am to always love you no matter what you do because Jesus has asked me to love you in the same way He has loved me; He has loved me unconditionally. I should not wait for you to reciprocate my love before I show you more love because I always have a continuing debt to love you.

My love for you should not fade and die out, but it should continue and increase more and more. Above all things, my love for you should be sincere and earnest. I am not to hide indifference under a false appear-ance of fervent love. True love is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical or pretentious.

How do I know if I love you?By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. - 1 John 5:2

Does it seem overwhelming to keep God’s commandments? 1 John 5:3-4 goes on to say that His commandments are not oppressive, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

Because we are born of God and have Him living within us, by His power we can overcome the way of the world (which thinks of self first and is so far from love). God does not ask us to keep His commandments without His help. The truth is that we cannot keep His commandments without His help. That is why Jesus said that our love for one another lets others know that we are His disciples. Because without Jesus, it cannot be done.So rather than being oppressive, God’s commandments become beauti-ful promises of what He will do through us when we acknowledge our own sinfulness and inadequacies and allow Him kingship of our life.

JN 13:34

JN 15:12ROM 13:8

HEB 13:11 TH 4:9-101 TH 3:121 PET 4:8ferventROM 12:9dissimulation1 PET 1:22unfeigned

1 JN 5:3-4grievous

JN 13:35


Love Described, continued

ApplicationExamine How does your love for others compare with God’s standard?

PrayPray that God will teach you how to let Him love others through you.

Thank Thank God that His commandments are not oppressive, but rather beautiful promises.

Record Record how someone responded when you allowed God to love them through you.


“And this commandment have we from him, That he who

loveth God love his brother also.”

- 1 John4:21

Reflection

How important is it for us to love each other? When we contrast what the Bible says about those who love, with what it says about those who do not love, we get a clearer picture of the importance of loving our brother.

Loving vs. Not Loving

Those Who Love...have fulfilled the law.

...do well.

...remain in the light and there is nothing in them to provide opportunity to fall into sin or waywardness.

...know that they have passed from death into life.

...live/exist in God and God in them.

...are born of God and know God.

...are the children of God.

Those Who Do Not Love ...are children of the devil; are not of God.

...remain in death.

...do not know God.

Those Who Hate* Their Brother...are in darkness even now, even if they say they are in the light.

ROM 13:8

JA 2:8abideoccasionstumble1 JN 2:101 JN 3:14

dwell1 JN 4:161 JN 4:7

1 JN 3:10

1 JN 3:10

1 JN 3:14

1 JN 4:8

1 JN 2:9

* Hate - to feel extreme enmity (deep-seated dislike or ill will) toward; to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility; to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for


Loving vs Not Loving, continued

ApplicationExamine Who do you find especially difficult to love? Where do you need God’s strength to approach such relationships in His way?

PrayPray that God will impress upon your heart the seriousness of not lov-ing others.

Thank Thank God that He taught us how to love by Jesus’ perfect example.

Record Record how God revealed to you where your love was lacking toward a particular person.

It is vitally important for us to love our brother, for that is how we know that we love God. If we do not love our brother whom we can see, how can we love God whom we cannot see?

...are in darkness, walk in darkness, and do not know where they are going because darkness has blinded their eyes.

...are murderers and do not have eternal life abiding in them.

...are liars if they say they love God.

1 JN 2:11

1 JN 3:15

1 JN 4:20


Forgive - to cease to feel resentment against (an offender):

pardon; to grant relief from payment of

Reflection

Have you ever needed God’s forgiveness? Is there something in your life now for which you need to ask forgiveness? When you ask God for forgiveness, do you expect Him to say “Yes, I forgive you,” or ‘No, I will not forgive you”?

Of course, we have all needed God’s forgiveness, and we will continue to need it as long as we wear flesh and blood. But unless we forgive oth-ers, we cannot expect God to forgive us.

If I forgive someone when they hurt me or infringe upon my (per-ceived) rights, God will also forgive me when I fail Him. But if I do not forgive that person, God will not forgive my failings.

So what happens if God does not forgive my sins? Consider the story of the unforgiving servant (MT 18:21-35). A servant owed a huge amount of money. There was no way he could pay it back, so his lord com-manded him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and every-thing that he had in order to pay the debt.

The servant begged his lord to be patient with him until he paid back what he owed. The lord moved with compassion, let him go, and forgave the debt. The servant then went to a man who owed him a very small amount of money, took him by the throat, and demanded payment of the small debt. The man begged him to be patient until he could repay the debt, but the servant cast him into prison until the money was paid in full.

When the lord found out what had happened, he said to the servant, “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst

Forgive, and You Shall Be ForGiven

trespassMT 6:14-15MK 11:26


Forgive and You Shall Be Forgiven, continued

me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?”

And the lord was very angry and sent the servant to be tortured and subjected to extreme pain and anguish of his body and mind until he paid back the entire debt.

According to Jesus, that is exactly what His heavenly Father will do to me, if I do not forgive my brother’s trespasses, from my heart.

A portion of the Lord’s Prayer, “ forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us,” teaches us to seek forgiveness and also to forgive others. We are to be cleared of all relationship problems when we come to God in prayer. If we remember that a brother has some-thing against us, we are to first go and be reconciled with him, and then come and “offer our gift on the altar.” We are not to wait until he comes to us or to consider it his problem.

On the other hand, when we are praying, if we have something against anyone else, we are to forgive them, so God may forgive us. We are to forgive whatever grievances we have against another, just as Christ forgave us without holding back.

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37

torment

MT 18:35

LU 11:4

MT 5:23-24

MK 11:25

COL 3:13EPH 4:32


ApplicationExamine What, if any, debts have you not cancelled, whether they be apologies, admitting wrongdoing, unfulfilled promises, or things you feel that others owe you?

PrayPray that God will grant you grace to forgive others now, so you do not have to face your sins in eternity.

Thank Thank God that you, like the servant, have been forgiven a huge debt paid by Christ’s blood. (How much more should we forgive the small trespasses against us!)

Record Record how God helped you forgive (cease to feel resentment against) someone.


“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

- Romans 12:21

Reflection

According to the dictionary, an enemy is someone that is antagonis-tic or opposing to another. Do you have ‘enemies’ — people who are in opposition to you for one reason or another? Is there anyone with whom you are in conflict?

The Bible gives many challenging directions for dealing with opposi-tion. We are sure to see God work mightily in our own lives and even in the lives of our ‘enemies’ when we obey His commands by His grace.

If someone is in opposition to me, I am to first of all love them (see Love Described). If they curse me to bring great evil upon me, I am to bless them, desiring God to bring prosperity and happiness upon them. If someone expresses extreme ill-will towards me or acts hostile towards me, I am to do good to them and even give of my belongings to them without expecting anything to be returned. I am to pray for anyone who treats me maliciously or hatefully. I am also to pray for anyone who harasses me, causing me to suffer because of my beliefs. If some-one slaps me or hits me with an object, I am to offer them my other cheek. If someone takes my possessions, I should not ask for them to be returned or refuse to let the rest be taken. I am to give to anyone who asks something of me.

Because God is in me, and I am in Him, it is possible for me to use good to overpower the evil, rather than retaliate and allow evil to get the better of me.

As a child of God, it is never an option for me to get even. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” I am never to return evil for evil to anyone or to respond with harsh words to someone who has spoken to me accordingly. Instead, I should rather be wronged or cheated and always do good to the family of God and everyone else too. I should

Love Your Enemies

curse

blesshate

despitefully usepersecute

LU 6:27-28,35

LU 6:29-30

1 JN 4:16overcome

ROM 12:21

ROM 12:19

1 PET 3:9railing

defrauded1 COR 6:7


desire to meet the needs of those who hurt me. Jesus calls me to feed them when they are hungry, and give them a drink when they are thirsty. What a light that will be to the unsaved! When I allow God, through me, to do something humanly impossible, blinded eyes and hardened hearts can open to God.

God calls us to respond to our enemies with blessing, desiring their prosperity and happiness, so that we can inherit a blessing. If we love our enemies, our reward will be great, and we will be called the chil-dren of the Highest. But if we only love those who love us, we will not receive a reward because even a sinner does that. When we obey these commands, we will see God because we will be like Him; He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil

Finally, we are called to willingly suffer for doing good. (This is accept-able with God, but it is no glory to patiently endure being beaten for a fault.) Christ suffered for us, and left us a perfect example, that we should follow His steps. Jesus never sinned, and He never spoke deceit-fully. When He was verbally abused, He did not do it back. When He suffered, He did not threaten the people. Instead, he committed Him-self to God, who judges righteously.

How could Jesus and early Christians like Stephen feel compassion towards those who mocked them? How could they call out for God to forgive those who were killing them instead of being afraid of their persecutors? By loving one’s enemies, there is no fear in love because perfect love casts out fear.

1 TH 5:15

ROM 12:20

1 PET 3:9

MT 5:46

LU 6:35

revile

1 PET 2:19-24

1 JN 4:18


Love Your enemies, continued

ApplicationExamine For anyone whom you feel is in direct opposition to you, how does the Spirit move your heart to respond?

PrayAsk God to reveal to you where you fall short in obeying the wayHe wants you to treat people in opposition to you.

Thank Thank God that He will help you to not be overcome of evil, but toovercome evil with good.

Record Record how loving a difficult person removed the fear you had of them hurting you.


Humble - not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive

Proud - showing or feeling superiority towards others

Reflection

Be Humble

PH 4:13

1 PET 5:5

ROM 12:3ROM 12:16GAL 6:3

1 COR 4:6-7

strife-dissensionvain gloryPH 2:3TIT 3:2meeknesshonor; preferROM 12:101 PET 2:17

Have you ever felt better than someone else? Or felt your way was the best way? If you do not agree with someone, how do you work it out?

The Bible lays out a plan that is so very much against our human nature, it seems impossible to follow. Satan will tell us we will lose out if we follow God’s way, but that is a lie. The truth is we can only win. God promises to give us the strength to fulfill His commands. The re-ward we will receive now and in eternity for obeying will far outweigh getting our own way.

This is the plan.

As soon as I find myself thinking that I know more or am better than someone else, a red flag goes up that it is time for me to examine my heart because that is pride, and it will cause God to resist me.

So, checking myself against the Bible, I find that I am not supposed to think of myself more highly than I ought to think or be wise in my own eyes. For if I think myself to be something, when I am nothing, I am deceiving myself. And if I do happen to be more gifted than others in a particular area, I still should not feel that I am better than they. For God’s Word asks me, ‘’Who made you gifted in that area? And what do you have that you did not receive? Since every gift you have is from God, why do you glory as if you had attained it by yourself?”

Secondly, if I have a difference to work out with someone, our discus-sion should never involve bitter or violent conflict or quarreling and taking sides. I should not be insistent that I am right, but in lowliness of mind I should regard the other person as better than myself. I should never speak evil of them, but be gentle and endure any injury they cause me with patience and without resentment. I am to show respect to that person and choose or regard them above myself. I am to act this way to all people all the time.


Be Humble, continued

Thirdly, I am to go one step further and yield myself to the authority or will of the other person, fearing what God will hold me accountable to if I do not. According to God’s Word, I owe obedience or allegiance to the power or dominion of others and, if I am clothed with humility, God will give me grace to obey these commands and will not resist me.

Finally, there should be no one who is not good enough for my time, attention, and love. If there is someone who seems too lowly for me to care about, I am to descend to a less formal or dignified level and stoop to meet them where they are. If there is someone in whom I see faults, I am to receive them into my life anyway. After all, Christ did welcome me despite my faults because He saw what He could help me become. I should not feel a separation from any brother or sister, but I should care about them just as much as those closest to me.

Often, when we have been humbled, we find we did not have all the best answers anyway. James gives us a true definition of wisdom. He asks, ‘Who, among you, is a wise man provided with knowledge?” If we are wise, we will prove our wisdom by living a Godly life in the meek-ness and humility that comes from being wise. But if in our hearts we bitterly resent an advantage enjoyed by another and desire to possess the same advantage, or if we have conflict or dissension with others, we should not rejoice proudly and lie to ourselves that we are wise. For this wisdom does not come from God, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Because where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.

Wisdom from God is vastly different. It is first free from any unrigh-teousness. Then, the wisdom from above is neither contentious nor quarrelsome, is quietly behaved, and is marked by freedom from strife or disorder. A truly wise person is gentle, easy to deal with or plead your cause to, full of compassion and forbearance even for an offender, and full of love, joy, patience, goodness, and kindness. A person whose wisdom comes from God is not inclined to favor one party more than the other (biased) nor does he pretend to be what he is not.Is your wisdom from God?

condescendROM 12:16

ROM 15:7

1 COR 12:25

enduedenvy

strifeglory

JA 3:13-16

pure

peaceableintreatmercy

partialityhypocrisyJA 3:17


ApplicationExamine When have you had reason to work out a situation with another person?

PrayPray that God will forgive you for the times you have failed tofollow His plan in the past, and that He will supply the grace and strength for you to obey Him from now on.

Thank Thank God that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Record Record how God was faithful to supply His help, and what a difference it made in your relationships when you chose to obey God’s plan.


“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.”

- Luke 6:37

Reflection

Do you ever use another person’s actions as an excuse for your own disobedience? Such as:

I cannot love him because he ...I cannot esteem her because she .. .I cannot accept her because she .. .I cannot submit to him because he ...

It is not our job to judge others’ trespasses against us. It is our job to forgive any infringement on our person, property, or rights. God will judge others’ actions against us, and we will be judged for how we respond. The Bible says that every knee shall bow to the Lord and that every tongue shall confess to God. Every one of us will give account of himself to God. Therefore, we are not to judge each other anymore. In-stead, we should make up our minds to not put an obstacle to progress or an occasion to fall in another believer’s way.

So, following the typical pattern of God’s plan for relationships, we cannot use another person’s actions as an excuse for our own disobedi-ence or lack of progress, but we are responsible for our actions if we cause him to fall or not make progress. Instead of placing blame on someone else, we should be responsible for our actions toward others.

Do you tend to be critical of others? Would you like to have yourself as a judge? Be careful in your assessments of others, for you will be judged with the standard you use to judge others. With what measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

The Bible has strong words and soul-searching questions concerning judging others. It says we are inexcusable and we are condemning our-selves when we judge others, because we do the same things ourselves. God’s Word asks if we think we will escape God’s judgment if we judge others but transgress similarly ourselves.

Do Not Judge

trespassLU 6:37

stumbling-blockROM 14:10-13

MT 7:2

ROM 2:1-3


Some other questions we must ask ourselves when we are judging oth-ers are:• How can I approach someone else about a small fault until I have

overcome my large fault?• Who am I to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he

stands or falls.• Since God is the one lawgiver, Who is able to save and destroy, who

am I to think that I can judge others too?• How can I judge others and how can I look down on them since we

shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ?

We are commanded to not judge one another, but that does not exempt us from carrying some responsibility for other believers’ spiritual wel-fare. “Not judging” does not mean being comfortable with sin. After we deal with the faults in our own lives, we are to help our brother remove the faults in his life.

If a believer becomes overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual are to gently and humbly bring him back to his original state, consideringthemselves lest they also become enticed to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain.

If this does take place, and someone is able to turn a sinning believer around, he shall save a soul from death and shall hide many sins.

Likewise we are commanded to forgive those who cause us harm or hurt, but that does not mean we ignore the wrongful actions of that person and never approach him/her about them.

If a believer trespasses against us, we are to go and tell him his fault be-tween ourselves and him alone. If he accepts what we say, we have gained that brother. But if he does not accept what we say, we should take one or two other believers with us when we speak with him, so that there will be two or three witnesses of everything that is said.

If the believer who has trespassed against us still does not accept what we have to say, we are to tell it to the church. Finally, if he refuses to hear the church, we are loosed from our responsibi1ity. He is to be to us as a non-believer, but that does not mean we no longer love him —for we are to love everyone.

When a believer trespasses against us, we are to reprimand him. Then, if he does accept what we have to say and is sorry, turns from the sin, and strives to amend his life, we are to forgive him. If he continues to infringe on our person, property, or rights but always repents for his

MT 7:4-5LU 6:41-42ROM 14:4

JA 4:12

ROM 14:10

LU 6:42

restoretemptedGAL 6:1

JA 5:19-20

MT 18:15-17

1 TH 3:12

rebuke

repenttrespass


Do Not Judge, continued

ApplicationExamine When do you find it most difficult to avoid judging others? What are the proper steps to follow when someone wrongs you?

PrayPray that God will reveal to you where you need to forgive instead of judge. Pray that He will teach you how to act towards someone who has wronged you.

Thank Thank God that He alone is our Judge and that His judgments are righteous.

Record Record an example of being freed to love and accept someone* you had been holding in judgment.

actions, we must continue to forgive him and at no point can we stop accepting him as a brother.

*When you love and accept a person, you do not necessarily love and accept their actions.

LU 17:3-4


Serve - to be a servant

Reflection

Serve Others

MK 10:43-45

LU 22:27

MT 25:40

GAL 5:13

EPH 6:7

1 PET 4:10

1 COR 9:191 COR 10:33

Think about the goals you have set for yourself to reach by the time you turn 30 years old, or 40 years, or retirement. Wealth? Power? Honor and prestige? How about to be a servant? Oh, it sounds so lowly to our human minds.

Jesus certainly must have turned the world upside down when He preached His plan. That is what must happen today, too. We must let Him turn our false castles and dreams upside down so He can teach us the perfect way.

Jesus said that the way to be great in His eyes is to be a servant to everyone. He wants our purpose in life to be to serve others, not to live out our own desires. Because that is what He did; He came to serve.

If Jesus were to visit us in person, no doubt we would jump at His every request. We would be so honored to serve Him! But often it is difficult to surrender our desires for another human being. Satan would have us believe that this is less honorable than serving the Lord himself, but the truth is that whatever we do for even the most insignificant person, we are doing it for Jesus.

We are called to serve others out of love. Our service should not be outward only -- to be noticed by others. Rather, when helping our neighbor, we should truly have a servant heart that views Jesus as the recipient.

God has given us each different gifts for the purpose of serving each other by using those gifts. Often, we feel that others hinder us in fully serving with the talents God gave us. That is not so: people do not hin-der our service; people are our service.

Finally, we should follow Paul’s example, who made himself a servant to all. Namely, he pleased others instead of seeking his own profit, so that more might be saved.


Serve Others, continued

ApplicationExamine What, if any, castles, goals, or desires of attaining a position of power do you have that need to be broken down?

PrayPray that God will give you a servant heart.

Thank Thank Jesus that He came to serve, not to be served.

Record Record how God is teaching you to serve the very people you thought were hindering your service to God.


“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” - Psalm 133:1

United - being in agreement; harmonious

Reflection

Get Along With Others

EPH 4:3-6

EPH 4:13

perfect EPH 4:14-15EPH 4:7-8

edify

EPH 4:12;16

PH 1:27mindROM 12:162 COR 13:11PH 2:1-21 PET 3:8agreepeaceableROM 12:18peace2 COR 13:111 TH 5:13ROM 15:1

Is there anyone you know who thinks the same as you in everything all the time? Should this be our goal?

Our ultimate goal should be for everyone in the body of Christ to reach the unity of the faith (one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all) and to fully know Jesus so that each person can reach the standard set by Him, and be made complete in His fullness. Then, we will no longer be children, going back and forth, confused and deceived, but our lives will lovingly express the truth while we grow up and mature in Christ in all areas.

To help us attain unity, Jesus gave us gifts to make us different. If we each use our gifts properly, for the perfecting of each other so we all can do the work of building up the body of Christ, the whole body will fit together just as it should and will grow and build itself up in love. In this way, we will reach the ultimate goal of unity.

If the body of Christ is functioning as it should, we will be using our differences to strive together for the faith of the gospel. Concerning the gospel, we will speak the same thing, and there will be no divisions among us. We will be perfectly joined together, having the same inten-tions, desires, and judgments.

Through discussion and adjustment of differences, we will strive to reach complete accord about the faith. We will not be contentious or quarrelsome, but quietly behaved, marked by freedom from strife or disorder. There will be harmony in our personal relationship, and there will be freedom from disturbance within the body.

If resolving points of disagreement, the members of the body will not


Get Along With Others, continued

ApplicationExamine How are you inclined to react if someone does not share your opinion on a matter?

PrayPray that God will teach you how to please others instead of yourself— without compromising the scriptures.

Thank Thank God for how He has equipped you to serve the body of believers.

Record Record an incident that helped you understand how you can use differ-ences to build others up.

ROM 14:19ROM 15:2

1 COR 10:24edify

MT 5:41COL 2:2

seek their own desires or desire to please themselves. Instead, they will choose the ways that will lead to peace and to the spiritual growth and building up of others. They will not demand to be met half-way, but will go the full way themselves or even beyond. Their hearts will be knit together in love, allowing for the giving and stretching needed to work together as a body.


“...Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his

deeds; and have put on the new man...”

- Colossians 3:9-10

Reflection

Put Off the Old Self

Is there any of the "old man" left in you? Since you belong to Christ, have you crucified your flesh with its feelings, desires, and cravings? It takes much honesty and self-examination to expose what is left of the old man, so we can rid ourselves of it.

The easiest place for me to start looking is how I speak about others. If I ever say mean or spiteful things about others, spread confidential and derogatory reports, or utter false charges or misrepresentations that defame and damage another person's reputation, I still am wearing the old man.

The next place to look is my conduct when I am speaking with others. If I find fault, argue, dispute, have bitter or violent conflict, take sides, stir up others to anger, or lose self-control due to anger, I am acting according to the old man. If I become loudly insistent, or the whole group becomes disorderly with uproar and confusion of voices, this too signifies the presence of the old man. I also must check if I am filled with pride and arrogance, or if I am behaving or speaking in a pomp-ous, blustering, or self-important manner, or having an excessively high opinion of myself.

Another trait of the old man concerns deceit. If I make an untrue state-ment with the intent to deceive, create a false or misleading impression, am cunning or try to cover my true intentions by deceptive words or actions, I am guilty of deceit. Hypocrisy, or pretending to be what I am not or pretending to believe what I do not, is also a form of deceit.

These characteristics of the old man usually manifest themselves in our actions. We can, though, outwardly appear that we have crucified our flesh but inwardly still wear the old man in our heart. If we carry a strong feeling of displeasure toward someone or something, desire

affectionslustsGAL 5:24

backbitewhisper

evil speaking(slander)

debates(quarrels)strifeprovokerageclamourtumultswellings vainglory (conceit)

lyingguile2 COR 12:20-21GAL 5:26EPH 4:25,31

COL 3:8-9TIT 2:3TIT 3:2JA 4:11


Put Off the Old Self, continued

to see another suffer, wish pain, injury, or distress to another, or feel strong vengeful anger toward others, we are not fully clothed with the new man. Nor are we if we have a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage, or an angry, hostile, or resentful outlook on life.

If you find yourself grumbling and complaining about someone or an-gry at them without cause, remember that God is standing at the door watching, weighing the evidence and holding you accountable for your actions.

We are to be slow to become angry, to hold our tongue, and to deal with our anger immediately, so Satan has no opportunity to work. Each time we become angry or have conflict with someone, our goal should be to resolve the situation without sinning. When we kneel to pray, our hearts are to be free from anger, and we are to be reconciled in our relationships before we offer ourselves for service to God.

If we follow these teachings, our lives will glorify God, we will not be walking as mere men, and we will be a great witness to the unconverted.

1 PET 2:1anger

maliceenvy

bitterness

grudge

JA 5:9MT 5:22

JA 1:19-20EPH 4:26-27

1 TIM 2:8

MT 5:23-24

1 COR 3:3


ApplicationExamine How ready are you to stand before God and give account of all your relationships?

PrayPray that God will bring to light and expose any of the old man that is left, so it can be replaced with the new man.

Thank Thank God that He remembers our frame, that we are dust, and gives us grace to overcome.

Record Record an incident when by God’s grace you were able to resolve a conflict without sinning.


Love - unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the

good of another

Reflection

Could someone describe Jesus by describing you? Are you becom-ing more like Him every day?

Jesus was respectful and considerate of others, free from harshness, sternness, or violence, and mild in manners and disposition. He was affectionate, loving, sympathetic, and helpful.

Jesus was not proud or haughty, arrogant, or assertive, but ranked Himself low and was humble in manner and spirit, free from self-assertive pride.

Jesus was easily moved to love, pity, and sorrow. He extended help even to the lowliest or most undeserving, and had sympathetic sor-row for those who were suffering, distressed, or unhappy.

Jesus was patient and willing to endure offenses for a long time. He also endured both physical and emotional injury with patience and without resentment.

The Lord was stern and uncompromising concerning sin, but lov-ing, gentle, and forbearing concerning people. We are to be the same, always following that which is good, both among the family of God, and to all people.

Put On the New Self

courteousgentlekind

humblelowly

tenderhearted merciful

pity

longsuffering meek

1 TH 5:15

Additional Verses

GAL 5:22-25 EPH 4:2

EPH 4:32PH 2:1-2

COL 3:12COL 3:14

TIT 3:21 PET 3:8

LU 6:36


ApplicationExamine How are you actively seeking to become more like Jesus?

PrayAsk God to convict you when you are not acting like Jesus.

Thank Thank God that if you submit to Him and resist sin, Satan will flee from you.

Record Record a time when God reminded you to act like Jesus, and provided grace for you to do so.


As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all

men, especially unto them who are of the household of

faith.

- Galatians 6:10

Reflection

When you spend time with other believers, what is your purpose for gathering? Are you fulfilling God’s instructions for a body of believers when you are meeting?

If we are fulfilling our duty to one another as fellow believers, we will be meeting frequently, so we can continuously help each other grow in the Lord. We will not withdraw from other believers or quit meeting together because of our own busyness, hurt feelings, inconvenience, or for any reason. Instead, as we anticipate the Lord’s return, we will daily make urgent appeals, give warnings and advice, and urge one another strongly to heed God’s Word, so that none of us will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

We will not spend our time together unwisely, but will talk about things that build others up and that spiritually instruct, improve, or en-lighten others. We will be very familiar with the scriptures and hymns, so we can use them to teach each other and to gently give warning or disapproval and friendly, earnest advice and encouragement to each other. We will sing hymns together and make melody in our hearts to the Lord, and we will consider how to stir each other up to have greater love and to do good works. We will warn those who are willful and headstrong and not submissive to authority.

When we meet together, we will be readily receptive and open, pleas-ant, cordial, and welcoming to everyone attending. We will not be unwilling or reluctant to meet any person. If there is anyone who is troubled or burdened, uncertain how to act or proceed, or wavering in their mind, we will support them, console them, and give strength and

Love the Brotherhood

forsakeHEB 10:25

exhort

HEB 3:13

edify

EPH 4:291 TH 5:11

admonishROM 15:14

COL 3:16EPH 5:19

HEB 10:24unruly

1 TH 5:14

ROM 12:13hospitality

grudging1 PET 4:9

feebleminded


ApplicationExamine When you speak with other believers, how often do you get beyond surface talk?

PrayPray that you can contain the Scriptures in your heart, so you can edify, admonish, encourage, and teach other believers when you talk to them.

Thank Thank God that if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another.

Record Record a time when you were able to be helped by another believer because you were willing to admit your faults and struggles.

hope to them from God’s Word and by sharing how God has com-forted us in our tribulation. We will offer our help and assistance to those who are not firmly decided, or not able to withstand temptation or persuasion, in order to keep them from fainting, yielding, or losing courage.

If we are doing our part, we will also admit our own faults and failings to others, so they can pray for us and support us when we are weak. We will share our material possessions with those who have physical needs. A body of believers that is fulfilling what it has been called to do will have a very close fellowship among its members.

GAL 6:2comfort1 TH 4:182 COR 1:41 TH 5:11,14supportweakconfessJA 5:16

ROM 12:13


And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love

one toward another, and toward all men ...

- 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Be like Jesus. Love like Jesus loves. Forgive as Jesus forgives. We hear these instructions often, but do we really heed them?

We can conclude from this Bible study that we are called to give up our own rights and take on our responsibilities to others. We are to love and accept people but not love and accept sin. We can understand that it is never acceptable to withhold our love from those who hurt us or those with whom we disagree. We know we have forgiven others when we love them unconditionally and begin to place their needs and hurts above our own.

We have learned that marks of humility are desiring to seek Godly counsel and a willingness to heed it, an absence of defensiveness when we are challenged by others, and freedom from the desire to get our own way.

We have exposed the false belief that we need independence to follow the Spirit and serve God to the fullest of our ability. Instead, we have learned the truth that our desire for autonomy (answering to no other person or authority; self-governed) is a lust of the flesh and that true freedom comes from dying to self and trusting God to fulfill His will for us without compromising any scripture.

We have learned that we need to be like God in order to see God and that we cannot be like Him without His help. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us as we seek to be pure, as He is pure.

Conclusion

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