Fitly Joined
Part 1 – The Principles of Relationship
The Principles of Great Relationships:
Foundation Scripture:
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB) 15 but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even
Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper
working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body
for the building up of itself in love.
The Framework:
 Every great relationship has
as its
.
“who is the head, even Christ”
 For relationships to be great, each party must:
1. Acknowledge their
“speaking the truth in love”
 The Bible is the story of
.
8
Genesis 3:8-9 (NASB) They heard the sound of the LORD
God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man
and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God
called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
18
Genesis 2:18 (NASB) Then the LORD God said, "It is not
good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable
for him."
 Two overall relationships are at the center of
the Bible: ours with
, and
ours with our
.
Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the
second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law
and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The ultimate handbook on how to have good
relationships with God and with man is
.
2. embrace their
relative to the other party(ies)
Christ is head, “what every joint supplies”, “each
individual part”
3. comprehend that their position gives them
specific
in the relationship
“fitted and held together by what every joint supplies”
4. understand that their functions are
to the health of the relationship
“what every joint supplies”
5. effectively
their
essential functions in the relationship
“proper working of each individual part”
6. recognize what they are seeking to
accomplish is to
the relationship
“causes the growth” “for the building up”
7. bring
to the relationship.
“speaking the true in love” “building up of itself in love”
All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
Fitly Joined
Part 1 - The Principles of Relationship
Foundation Scripture:
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB) 15 but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even
Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper
working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body
for the building up of itself in love.
The Framework:
 The Bible is the story of relationships.
Genesis 3:8-9 (NASB) 8 They heard the sound of the LORD
God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man
and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God
called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
Genesis 2:18 (NASB) 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not
good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable
for him."
 Two overall relationships are at the center of
the Bible: ours with God, and ours with our
fellow man.
Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the
second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law
and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The ultimate handbook on how to have good
relationships with God and with man is the
Bible.
The Principles of Great Relationships:
 Every great relationship has Christ as its head.
“who is the head, even Christ”
 For relationships to be great, each party must:
1. Acknowledge their shortcomings
“speaking the truth in love”
2. embrace their position relative to the other
party(ies)
Christ is head, “what every joint supplies”, “each
individual part”
3. comprehend that their position gives them
specific functions in the relationship
“fitted and held together by what every joint supplies”
4. understand that their functions are
essential to the health of the relationship
“what every joint supplies”
5. effectively accomplish their essential
functions in the relationship
“proper working of each individual part”
6. recognize what they are seeking to
accomplish is to grow the relationship
“causes the growth” “for the building up”
7. bring love to the relationship.
“speaking the true in love” “building up of itself in love”
All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.