WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER
Rick Warren
“Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Rom. 12:5b (NLT)
1. I NEED OTHERS TO WALK WITH ME.
“Just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him...” Col. 2:6-7 (ESV)
“It is not good for man to be alone.” Gen. 2:18 (NLT)
“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together… Instead, let us encourage one another.”
Heb. 10:25a (TEV)
· Community is God’s answer to: loneliness
I cannot grow without other people in my life.
“When you gather, each one of you be prepared with something useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight… Take your turn, with no one person taking over. That way… you all learn from each other.” 1 Cor. 14:26, 30-31(Mes)
“As each part does its work, it helps the other parts grow, so Christ’s whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Eph. 4:16 (NLT)
“Open your homes to each other without complaining.” Peter 4:9 (TEV)
2. I NEED OTHERS TO WORK WITH ME.
“God made us to do good works, which He planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Eph. 2:10 (NCV)
“Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.”
Eccl. 4:9 (NCV)
· Community is God’s answer to:
Fatigue
“Every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” Gal. 6:10 (Mes)
3. I NEED OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR ME.
“Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.” Ph. 2:4 (TEV)
“Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord's followers should.” Heb. 13:1 (CEV)
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Eccl. 4:12 (NLT)
· Community is God’s answer to:
Defeat
“If one person falls, another can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.” Eccl. 4:10 (NLT)
4. I NEED OTHERS TO WAIT AND WEEP WITH ME.
“You should be like one big family, full of sympathy toward each other...” 1 Peter 3:8a (LB)
“If one member suffers, all suffer together.” 1 Cor. 12:26 (ESV)
· Community is God’s answer to: despair
“Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.” Rom. 12:15 (TEV)
“Encourage each other and strengthen one another.” 1 Th. 5:11 (GW)
5. I NEED OTHERS TO WITNESS WITH ME.
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”
John 13:35 (NLT)
“The Holy Spirit doesn’t want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” 2 Tim. 1:7 (LB)
“...You are working together and struggling side by side to get others to believe the Good News.” Ph. 1:27b (CEV)
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