Sermon Tone Analysis

Notes

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The New International Version.

(2011).

().

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Fellowship, among believers

Synopsis

The fellowship that believers share as a result of their common union with God through Jesus Christ is expressed in life together.

It is evident in worship together, in a love for one another which reflects God’s own love and in a practical commitment to one another which is demonstrated in concern for the weak and readiness to share with the poor and needy.

Sharing in the fellowship of God’s love

(NIV) — 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

See also ; ; ;

(NIV) — 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

(NIV) — 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

(NIV) — 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(NIV) — 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

(NIV) — 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Worshipping together

(NIV) — 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

See also ; ; ;

(NIV) — 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

(NIV) — 26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?

When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.

Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

(NIV) — 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

(NIV) — 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

See also ; ;

(NIV) — 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

(NIV) — 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

(NIV) — 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Breaking bread together

; ; Love feasts accompanied the Lord’s Supper though these were open to abuse.

(NIV) — 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?

And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

(NIV) — 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.

Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.

They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

(NIV) — 12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.

They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.

(NIV) — 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

See also ;

(NIV) — 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

”

(NIV) — 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Showing hospitality

(NIV) — 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

See also ; ; ;

(NIV) — 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

(NIV) — 1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

(NIV) — 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Sharing money and possessions

;

(NIV) — 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

11 There will always be poor people in the land.

Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

(NIV) — 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

See also God’s people are to reflect his concern for the needy in society; ; ; ; ; ; ;

(NIV) — 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.

19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.

(NIV) — 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

(NIV) — 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

(NIV) — 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them.

For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

(NIV) — 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.

The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

(NIV) — 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

(NIV) — 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

(NIV) — 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Examples of sharing with the needy

Job’s compassion for the needy; the daily distribution to widows; Tabitha’s concern for the poor

(NIV) — 16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, 17 if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless— 18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow— 19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, 20 and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

(NIV) — 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

(NIV) — 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.

The collection for believers in Judea:

; ;

(NIV) — 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

(NIV) — 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.

(NIV) — 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

Strengthening one another in fellowship together

Bearing with the weak

(NIV) — 1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

See also ; ; ;

(NIV) — 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

(NIV) — 1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

(NIV) — 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

(NIV) — 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.