Sharing the Life of God

With Others

Through FellowshipAndre P. Llewellyn©2010

 love
THE
Languagesof
The New Testament uses the expression
„one another‟ 59 times. Twenty of those
times the word love is used with it. What
this says to us is that true fellowship takes
place when believers, especially in the
local church community, speak the
language (lifestyle/attitudes) of love.
DENOMINATIONALISM

‘ISMS’ AND SCHISIMS

MORAL FAILURE
SELF-INTERESTS
As the world looks at the church they
are questioning the true meaning of
fellowship. What they see is dependent
upon how we, in our relationships…

„Love like Jesus'

 THE CALL FOR LOVE

Despite the massive growth of the early

church, the epistles reveal that the
church then, like now, had troubling
moments in which bitterness and wrath
erupted and threatened the peace of
the fellowship. We find that the Apostles
often echo Jesus‟ call for love among
believers.
"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."

Jn 13:34
 Greater love has no one than this, that
he lay down his life for his friends…This is
my command: Love each other.

Jn 15;13,17
"Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a
multitude of sins"

1 Pet. 4:8
“If I speak in the tongues of men and
of angels, but have not love, I am
only a resounding gong or a
clanging cymbal.”

1 Cor 13:1
The New Testament uses the expression
„one another‟ 59 times. Twenty of those
times the word love is used with it. What
this says to us is that true fellowship takes
place when believers, especially in the
local church community, speak the
language (lifestyle/attitudes) of love.
 love
THE
Languagesof
 THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY

u.ni.ty
" Singleness or constancy of purpose
or action”
"Beyond all these things put on love,
which is the perfect bond of unity."

Col 3;14
 THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY
Each person in a church is biased by
their own opinions, experiences and
expectations. But if there is love in that
church believers will fellowship in unity
despite their diversity. When the
fellowship is in love opinions and
expectations do not create destructive
relational boundaries and fault lines.
WHAT BREAKS DOWN UNITY ?
 THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY
a. When we measure others by our
expectations.

We threaten unity when we make our

experiences and strengths the standard;
we think people should function in the
boxes that we put them in.
 THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY
B. When we try to monopolize God.

Division is looming when we project our

personal convictions about God as
though we have a monopoly on how He
acts and what He wills on church issues or
in people‟s lives.
 THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY
c. When we major on rules and minor on
God's grace.
When persons or „cliques‟ become
legalistic about traditional church customs
or overly devoted to specific leading
personalities it often creates division or
discrimination (1 Cor. 1:12).
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

Self.less.ness
“actions motivated by care for
others.”
“All the believers were together and
had everything in common. Selling
their possessions and goods, they
gave to anyone as he had need.”

Acts 2;44-45
THE LANGUAGE OF SELFLESSNESS

Christianity is nothing if it doesn‟t show itself

in relationships. The hallmark of fellowship
is that individual believers take care of
each other selflessly.
THE LANGUAGE OF SELFLESSNESS

1. Selflessness is about Serving others

“Each one should use whatever gift he has

received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in its various
forms.”

1 Peter 4;10
THE LANGUAGE OF SELFLESSNESS

Nothing communicates selflessness more

than using our spiritual talents, our time and
our investments to serve the lives of others
and/or help them out of their predicaments.
THE LANGUAGE OF SELFLESSNESS

2. Selflessness is about making Sacrifices

for others

“Each of you should look not only to your

own interests, but also to the interests of
others.”

Phil 2;4
THE LANGUAGE OF SELFLESSNESS

It means we prioritize with other people in

mind. Therefore, Sometimes we need to
make sacrifices to your monthly budget,
things to do lists, route to work, for the
benefit of someone else.
THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

For.give.ness
“giving up one's right to ‘collect’
on a debt.”
 “Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the
Lord forgave you.”

Col. 3;13
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

A mark of authentic fellowship is

forgiveness. The believer who truly
fellowships does not neglect the need to
forgive and love others in the church who
hurt him/her deeply…Forgiveness is HARD!

“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely

idea, until he has something to forgive.”
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

You may need to forgive another believer

who;

1. Is unapologetic about disregarding your

time
2. Embarrassed or disrespected you
3. Discredited your reputation as a leader
4. Has not paid you back despite promises
HOW DO WE FORGIVE?
•Forget the issue?

•Ignore the offender?

•Leave it to time?

•Deal with the emotions

first?
 VIDEO SLIDE
GO TO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv50xrsFNdU
TO WATCH VIDEO
The MOTIVATION to Forgive

“AS THE LORD

FORGAVE YOU”
“Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you.”

Eph. 4;32
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

1. I forgive to the extent that I have been

forgiven by the Lord.

“As far as the east is from the west, so

far has he removed our transgressions
from us.”

Ps. 103;12
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

Although we violated his right, God clears

the debt in our account; He wiped the slate
clean. The language of forgiveness is about
imitating God by TOTALLY releasing
someone of their violation against you.
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

2. I forgive to the extent that I am in need

of forgiveness from the Lord.

"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have

been forgiven—for she loved much. But he
who has been forgiven little loves little."

Luke 7;47
 THE LANGUAGE OF FORGIVENESS

If my perception of myself is that I am the

kind of person who requires all the
forgiveness that I can get, then I will be the
kind of person who will forgive.
 love
THE
Languagesof