Live in Harmony with One Another
August 23, 2015
Harmony and Glory – Romans 12:16, 15:5-7
12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
15:5
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ
has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
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1. There is Only One Family – No Backup! – Ephesians 4:1-6
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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There
is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one
God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
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There is only one family, one body, one community, one entity – the body of Christ, the family of God, the
communion of saints.
Human family, nuclear family, and spiritual family.
2. There is Only One Way – Love! – Romans 12:9-13; James 3:13-18
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Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
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1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Gongs don’t impress God
Love is more about what I do for you than what I do “for” God and “in the name” of God.
A culture of love is more important than having lots of spiritual gifts.
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Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you
have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes
down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every
vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial
and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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Where does love get lost? Our agenda, our ministry, our authority.
Purity, peacefulness, gentleness, open to reason, full of mercy, good fruits, impartiality, sincerity lead to
righteousness and peace.
3. There is Only One Result – Peace! – 1 Corinthians 1:10; James 4:11
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I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but
that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
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Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the
law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge
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Division is the opposite of peace
In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 – 7, Jesus defines the blessed life:
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The spiritually needy inherit the Kingdom of God
The sad receive comfort
The broken inherit the earth
The hungry and thirsty for righteousness are satisfied
The merciful will receive mercy
The pure in heart will see God
The peacemakers are sons of God
Discussion Questions on back
For reflection and small group discussion:
Read Acts 1:8, and listen as your leader reviews the purpose of our gathering.
Reflect on these verses which exhort us to pursue God’s purpose as we gather in our cells.
Hearing from God Together - Worship. Spend a little time listening to a song, singing together, or reading a psalm.
Have you heard from God this week? Is God giving you a word to share with an individual or your cell group?
Building Up One Another in the Word
Read and Reflect on Romans 12:16 and Romans 15:5-7. As you read,
A – Ask Questions - Read and meditate on each passage, making observations and asking questions. What is the
context of the passage? What are some words and phrases that the Holy Spirit is drawing my attention to?
I – Insight - What insights do we get from the passage? Do I know what the words and phrases mean? Do I
understand what the Holy Spirit is saying through these verses?
M – Make a Plan - What are some ways I can apply these verses to my spiritual life? Are there beliefs, attitudes, or
practices I need to adjust to deepen my relationship with Christ?
Encourage One Another - Continue in an attitude of worship and hearing from the Father as you pray for and
encourage one another. What needs do you have in your cell? How are you intentionally practicing the one-anothers
when you are together as well as throughout the week?
Reflection Questions
1. Are you familiar with the American musical Hair? What is the main theme of the play? What was the context in
which it was written and performed? Remember the most well-known song, Age of Aquarius ?
2. Read Romans 12:16 and Romans 15:5-7. What does it mean to live in harmony with others? What does Paul say
is the goal of harmony?
3. What is the difference between harmony and tolerance? Would you rather someone offer to live “tolerating” you or
live in harmony with you?
4. What are some of the groups of people that “political correctness” has told us to tolerate? Are you in any of these
groups?
5. Read Ephesians 4:1-7. According to this passage, what is the calling to which we have been called? How does this
passage encourage harmony?
6. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. What is love? What is not love?
7. Read Romans 12:9-13. How do you show genuine love to those who are easy to love? To those who are hard to
love? How do you recognize evil and abhor it? What further encouragement does Paul give in this passage?
8. What is the opposite of peace? What does it mean to be united in the same mind and same judgment (1
Corinthians 1:10)? Judgment of what?
9. Have you spoken evil against a brother or sister (James 4:11)? What do we become when we speak evil against
one another?
10. Read and meditate on Matthew 5:2-11. How will you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through these
passages? How will you recognize and abhor evil and how it disrupts harmony? How will you live in harmony with
believers and non-believers alike this week?
If you have made a decision to follow Christ, and would like to be baptized, please let one of the Altar Ministers know, or contact us
at [email protected].
If you would like to be a part of a small group, called a T-Life Cell, stop by the Information Center in the Village or contact us at
[email protected].
Share the name of someone you are praying for and with whom you desire to share Jesus. Have you seen
any God activity in their life since you last met? Have you been Bold as Love in serving and sharing with
them? Pray as a group that God would create circumstances in the person’s life to make them open to
receiving Jesus. Is any way you could show God’s love to them as a T-Life Cell? How are you serving
OUT together as a T-Life Cell?