Faithful in Friendship

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12, 251 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.”The way this world will know Jesus is through the church; there is to be no disunity; instead, we have a common purpose, function, and goal. We are to remain faithful in our friendship with one another. There can be no arrogance or envy, no rivalry or self-sufficiency; we are charged to care for one another. (See 1 Corinthians 12:25.)There are seven ways in which we as a church demonstrate our faithfulness to each other.Love one anotherAs Christians, we proudly love each other as Jesus has loved us (See John 13:34.); this means we extend good to others regardless of what they do to us.Receive one anotherIt is crucial, now more than ever, that we make people feel loved and welcomed when they come to our church. This does not mean we tolerate heretics or willful sinners who try to distort the body with false teachings. It means anyone who comes through our doors to worship God must be received.Greet one anotherWe must demonstrate our love and reception in a personal, warm, and impartial way.Submit to one anotherBiblical submission within the church is one equal willingly and lovingly placing himself under another equal that God may be glorified.Forbear one anotherChurches are made up of very flawed people; forbearance is graciously enduring and putting up with the displeasing, offensive, or sinful attitudes or actions of other people.Confess to one anotherJames 5:16 says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed…”Failure to confess to one another holds back revival, forgiveness, and healing.Adrian Rogers says, “Real revival is not just getting the roof off; real revival is getting the walls down.”Forgive one anotherThere is a legacy of forgiveness for every one of us, but it never becomes ours until we claim it by repentance and faith.Apply it to your lifeAre you a member of a church body that exhibits love, reception, greeting, submission, forbearance, confession, and forgiveness?