Communicating God's Way - Lesson 11 - With The Saved

Preventive Tactics
Or things you should never say once without thinking twice:

- It's no trouble at all.
- I love dogs.
- We have plenty of room.
- Call me any time.
- Is there anything I can do?
- My husband is a doctor/lawyer/accountant.
- I'll try anything once.
- Of course, bring the kids.
- Why don't you stay for dinner?
- If worst comes to worst, you can use mine.
- Don't worry - there's more where that came from.
- Over my dead body, you will!

Hester Mundis, Powermom, Congdon & Weed.


This lesson is as modified from our Discipleship Lesson 9: “What is My Relationship to Other Christians?”

We learned before that when we got saved, we moved from the devil’s family to God’s family. Spiritually, we now have a new family with many brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Do brothers and sisters ever fight or bicker?

This week I hope we will walk away with a clearer understanding of how the body of Christ operates as a family unit and most importantly, how we are to communicate. 1 John 3:18 states, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

We have both a family and functional relationship to other Christians. We share certain responsibilities with other Christians. We are to pray for each other. Almost every one of Paul’s letters opens with a prayer for those to whom he is writing.

II Timothy 1:3, “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;”

We are to pray for each other. Would you say that is a strong point about yourself…





We are to minister to each other, physically and for those in our immediate family.

Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

‘As we have opportunity…’ Would you say ‘doing good’ is a strong point for you?





We are also to minister to each other spiritually.

Galatians 6:1-2, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

How are you at restoring a brother’s faults, or a family members?





We are to encourage and edify one another.

I Thessalonians 5:11, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

How would you describe yourself as to lifting others up?





We are to serve one another with humility.

Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

A turtle lays thousands of eggs without anyone knowing, but when the hen lays an egg, the whole country is informed.

Malayan proverb.

Are you a turtle or a hen?





We have a personal responsibility to maintain a biblical attitude towards other Christians. We should love them.

I John 3:14-16, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby 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.”

How would you rate your love for others?





We should be patient with them. We should be sensitive to their needs and we should be forgiving of them.

Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying, "I cannot forgive." -Beecher

How are you at forgiving others?





We have a part in a biblical fellowship that unites Christians.

Fellowship is sharing our common life in Christ. “Fellowship” is a term commonly used by Christians generally referring to getting together for activities or times of sharing common interests. However, this is only a small part of true fellowship. While fellowship is sharing things in common, true biblical fellowship goes FAR BEYOND just a meal or an activity. It is the sharing of life and ministry with other believers through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:1-2, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

How would you rate your fellowship?





The essential elements of true biblical fellowship are not physical matters such as social status, friendship, common interests, etc.; but are the biblical essence of the common life and mission we share. Fellowship involves many aspects of Christian living. Prayer, faith, ministry, suffering and doctrine.

Romans 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

What does this verse say to you?





Fellowship is maintained by the practice of biblical character qualities. Humility, honesty, love and hospitality.

Honesty –

2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”

Shakespeare said, ‘to be honest as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of a thousand.’

How is your honesty when no one is looking?





Love –

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

If you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?





Galatians 5:13-15, ”For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Have you ever ‘bitten’ someone?





Hospitality –

Titus 1:8, “But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”

It is not the quantity of the meat, but the cheerfulness of the guests which makes the
feast. -Clarendon

Tell us about your hospitality…





Fellowship among believers must be based on your fellowship with Christ we must learn to have personal fellowship with Him before our fellowship with other believers will be proper. True biblical fellowship is rooted in the elements listed above (prayer, faith, ministry, suffering, doctrine) as we come together in our fellowship in the person of Christ.

I Corinthians 1:9-10, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

What can we do to be more ‘like minded’?





In Conclusion

Romans 14:13, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”


next chapter

back to index