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Sermon on Brotherly Love | Brotherly Love

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Sermon on Brotherly Love

INTRODUCTION:

A. The changing power of the gospel is very evident when you look at the lives of the first century Christians

1. Justin Martyr wrote, “We used to value above all else money and possessions. Now we bring together all that we have and share it with those who are in need. Formerly we hated and killed one another because of a difference in nationality or custom. Now since the coming of Christ, we all live in peace. We pray for our enemies and seek to convert those who hate us.”

2. Tertullian wrote, “It is our care for the helpless, our practice of lovingkindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. ‘Only look,’ they say, ‘how they love one another.'”

B. This kind of brotherly love helps to develop a very strong Christian pyramid

1. As a Christian pyramid, we learn the need for relying on one another for strength and encouragement

2. But, if we are not careful, if we are not showing brotherly love properly, the pyramid can topple

3. Let me give you an illustration of brotherly love: “After the U.S.S. Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans, the eight-two surviving crew members were thrown into a brutal captivity. In one particular instance thirteen of the men were required to sit in a rigid manner around a table for hours. After several hours the door was violently flung open and a North Korean guard brutally beat the man in the first chair with the butt of his rifle. The next day, as each man sat at his assigned place, again the door was thrown open and the man in the first chair was brutally beaten. On the third day it happened again to the same man. Knowing the man could not survive another beating, another sailor took his place. When the door was flung open the guard automatically beat the new victim senseless. For weeks, each day a new man stepped forward to sit in that horrible chair, knowing full well what would happen. At last the guards gave up in exasperation. They knew that they were unable to beat that kind of sacrificial love.”

a. This kind of love is what will produce a strong Christian pyramid

b. This is the kind of love that will make the church here strong

C. Why is brotherly love so important?

1. John 13:35

a. The world will judge us and the church by how our brotherly love is manifested.

b. If we backbite and devour one another, how will the world view us?

2. 1 John 3:14-15

a. If we do not show brotherly love we will not go to heaven

b. It cannot get more critical than this!

3. 1 John 4:20-21

a. There is now way we can love God as we ought if we don’t love our brethren

b. How can we love God whom we have not seen, if we cannot love our brothers who we have seen?

DISCUSSION:

A. BROTHER LOVE IS:

1. IMPARTIAL

a. This principal is taught in Deuteronomy 10:19

b. Our love is not to be extended or withheld because of race, how we are treated, one’s wealth, etc.

2. UNSELFISH

a. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39)

b. All too often we are more concerned about ourselves than we are our brethren

c. If we would always treat our brother like we would like to be treated, and have as much concern about him as we do ourselves, the Lord’s church would explode in number and strength

3. A PROOF OF DISCIPLESHIP

a. It is proof to the world … John 13:35

1) People will not be concern with how much you know until they know how much you care

2) This caring starts in the church

b. It is proof to God … 1 John 4:20

4. SINCERE

a. Romans 12:9

1) Many say one thing, and yet, do another

2) Hypocrites – two faced

c. 1 John 3:17-18

1) Sincere and true love in seen in action

2) Action, is in reality, the only way that love can be seen

5. ABOUNDING

a. 1 Thessalonians 3:12

b. Our love is to abound – overflowing

c. True brother love will not try to love “just enough to get by!”

6. FERVENT

a. 1 Peter 1:22

b. Diligence … zealousness … boiling over

c. Love should not be taken lightly

7. LOVING GOD AND KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENT

a. 1 John 5:2

b. I do not truly love you if I will not keep the commands of God

c. The liberals talk so much about love, but they don’t love God or their brethren if they do not stay true to the Book

d. John 14:15

B. BROTHERLY LOVE WILL:

1. TREAT ANOTHER BETTER THAN HIMSELF

a. Philippians 2:3

b. Romans 12:10

c. How much less trouble would there be among brethren if only we could truly practice this principle

2. SHARE

a. Galatians 6:10

b. 1 Timothy 6:18

c. If we truly love we will share:

1) Of our means

2) Our knowledge

3. FORGIVE

a. Colossians 3:13-14

b. Brotherly love must and will forgive

4. BE KIND

a. Colossians 3:12 … kindness is associated with love in this context

b. Ephesians 4:32 … if we love one another, how can help but not be kind?

5. RESTORE

a. Galatians 6:1 … if we love this we will do

b. James 5:19-20 … how can be say that we love our brother if we do not try to correct him to the saving of his soul?

6. NOT OFFENSIVE

a. 1 Corinthians 8:9

b. Romans 14:13

c. We ought to offend our brother in areas of opinion – we should have concern for the feelings of others

7. HELP IN GROWTH

a. Romans 15:1 … help others to bear their difficulties

b. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

c. This is done by exhorting and reproving

8. ENCOURAGE

a. Hebrews 10:24

b. This is a must! – we all need encouragement!

9. NOT SPEAK EVIL

a. James 4:11

b. 1 Peter 2:1

C. EXAMPLES OF BROTHERLY LOVE

1. 2 Corinthians 12:15

2. Philippians 4:1

3. The perfect example … John 15:12-13

CONCLUSION:

A. It’s all very simple:

1. If we want to go to heaven we must abound in brotherly love

2. If we want the church to be strong we must overflow in brotherly love

B. We all need to do our best to develop and improve on our brotherly love

C. Invitation

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