One Another Ministry ~ 20150726 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

07/26 One Another Ministry; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20150726_one-another-ministry.mp3




Romans 1 [ESV2011]

Romans 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

...15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.


Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 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.


Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God


One Another in Romans

As our Bible text for today, I want to look at the beginning and ending of the book of Romans. Romans is Paul's magnum opus on the gospel, probably his most thorough and systematic teaching on our desperate and hopeless sinful condition, and on sinners being declared righteous not by our works but by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone to the glory of God alone. But listen to what he writes as a preface to this great proclamation of the gospel.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

...15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Paul is eager to visit Rome to strengthen the believers there, but he is aware that this would not be a one-way ministry. Instead it would be a one-another ministry. To visit would mean that he would be able to strengthen and encourage them in their faith, but also that the apostle would be strengthened and encouraged in his own faith by the Roman believers. Imagine, if the Apostle Paul were planning to visit our church! Imagine the questions we would have for him, imagine the expectation of how we would benefit from his ministry. Imagine the eagerness to just sit and soak in the teaching of the great apostle to the Gentiles! And imagine him saying that he is longing to be strengthened in his faith by us! That seems absurd, but that is what he says. He is expecting to be mutually encouraged by one another's faith.

Keep in mind who he is writing to.

Romans 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

He is not addressing only the mature believers. He is not addressing only the elite, only the spiritual. He was addressing every believer. Every saint. Old or young, male or female, mature or immature, he was eager to have a mutual ministry, a one-another ministry; to strengthen and to be strengthened, to build up and to be built up, to preach the gospel and to be encouraged in the gospel. Paul did not approach a church with the idea that he had everything to give that they needed and nothing to learn from them. He was acutely aware that he was the chief of sinners, and he needed to be encouraged in the gospel by them as much as they needed to benefit from his gifts. Paul recognized that, although he had been called to an unique, foundational, unrepeatable ministry in the church, that he was was always only a stray sheep that had been brought home by the Good Shepherd. He was one member of the body, desperately in need of and dependent on the other members of the body to be able to function in the way God meant for him to function.

Paul's Need For One Another Ministry

Paul needed the help of other believers. In Romans 15 Paul expects to be helped on his missionary travels by the believers. And he asks for prayer for protection and to be useful to the saints. In Ephesians 6, Paul asks the church to pray for him for boldness in proclaiming the gospel. In Colossians 4, he asks for prayer for an open door for the word. In 2 Thessalonians 3 he asks for prayer that the word of God would advance and be honored. In 1 Thessalonians 5 he simply asks “brothers, pray for us”. Paul recognized his need for the other gifts of the body to minister to him. He was not ashamed to ask for their help.

The Philippian church sent Epaphroditus to minister to Paul's need. The church at Corinth sent Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus to make up for their lack and to refresh his spirit. While Paul was in Corinth, brothers from Macedonia came and supplied his need. Paul would have been glad for Onesimus to serve him in his need on behalf of Philemon. Paul asks Titus to come spend the winter with him in Nicopolis. At the end of his life, Paul asks Timothy to come to him before winter. He asks him to bring Mark, who is useful to him, and to bring his cloak, and the books, especially the parchments.

Over and over again in his letters Paul mentions his co-workers in the ministry. Paul was not a one man show. He was acutely aware that he was a part of something much bigger than himself. He was a part of the body of Christ, and he needed the one another ministry of the church.

One Another Ministry

As we look at what the New Testament letters tell us about one another ministry, we see a lot of teaching on how to relate to one another in the body of Christ.

Do not:

There is some clear teaching on the things we are not to do or be toward one another.

Romans 1:27 do not be consumed with lust for one another,

Romans 14:13 Do not pass judgment on one another; do not stumble one another.

1 Corinthians 6:7 do not wrong or defraud one another

1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive one another

1 Corinthians 11:33 do not be rude to one another—

2 Corinthians 10:12 do not compare yourselves with one another

Galatians 5:15 do not bite and devour one another, ...26 do not provoke one another, do not envy one another.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another,

Titus 3:3 do not hate one another.

Hebrews 10:25 do not neglect to meet together with one another, as is the habit of some,

James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another,

James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another,

These are some clear things to avoid in our interaction with one another

Greet One Another

But the teaching is not only negative. The New Testament has much to say on how we are to interact with one another.

Romans 16:16 Greet one another

1 Corinthians 16:20 Greet one another

2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another

1 Peter 5:.14 Greet one another

Romans 15:7 welcome one another

We are to be a warm welcoming community that cares for one another. We are to extend a heartfelt affectionate greeting to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love one another

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection.

Romans 13:8 love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 abound in love for one another

1 Thessalonians 4:9 love one another,

2 Thessalonians 1:3 increase in love of every one of you for one another

1 Peter 1:22 love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,

1 John 3:11 love one another. ...23 believe in Jesus and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

1 John 4:7 love one another, . ...11 love one another. 12 love one another

2 John 1:5 love one another.

Galatians 5:13 through love serve one another.

Clearly we are to be characterized by love in our interaction with one another. To love is to actively pursue the highest good of the other person. We are to be seeking the good of one another in all things. But what does this look like? How do we pursue the good of the other?

Build Up One Another

Romans 1:12 mutually encourage one another's faith

Romans 12:5 we are one body in Christ, ...members one of another.

Romans 12:10 Outdo one another in showing honor. ...16 Live in harmony with one another.

Romans 14:19 build up one another

Romans 15:5 live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 glorify God with one another 7 welcome one another ...14 instruct one another.

1 Corinthians 12:25 have the same care for one another.

2 Corinthians 13:11 comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens,

Ephesians 4:2 bearing with one another in love, ...25 speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members one of another. ...32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5:19 address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing and make melody to the Lord with your heart, ...21 submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Philippians 2:3 count one another as more significant than yourself

Colossians 3:13 bear with one another; forgive one another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ...16 teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, . ...15 do good to one another.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another every day,

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 encourage one another,

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,

1 Peter 4: 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each use gifts to serve one another,

1 Peter 5:5 be humble toward one another

1 John 1:7 walk in the light, and have fellowship with one another

In humility we are to love one another by caring, comforting, encouraging, exhorting, admonishing, forgiving, building up, coming along side, submitting to, teaching, and stirring up one another toward good works. We are to live in harmony with one another. Romans 15 recognizes that this one another ministry is a gift of God, and paints a picture of what this looks like in the life of the church.

Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 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.

Our harmony, our unity, our care for one another, will sing God's praises and bring much glory to the Father

Able to Instruct One Another

Listen to what Paul says toward the close of his letter to the Romans. After laying out rich and solid theological truth, he says:

Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God

He is preaching the gospel to those in Rome, he is teaching them truth, but all this is to remind them, and he is confident that they are able to instruct one another. That is amazing confidence and trust. Do you think the apostle would say that about you? I am satisfied that you are able to instruct one another? Paul is feeding the fire of their faith with the fuel of his teaching, but he is confident in the one another ministry of the church. And he is eager to benefit from that one another ministry. He says in verse 32

Romans 15:32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

The Apostle Paul, eager to be refreshed by their company! Listen brother, listen sister, you have something to offer. You can instruct others. You can refresh others by your company. You are useful in ministry!

We often misunderstand what ministry should look like. It is not the job of a paid professional to evangelize every person. It is not the job of pastors to care for the needs of every person. It is the job of pastors to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Ministry is not something done by a few people who are in the ministry. Ministry is done by the body of Christ. One way we do this is to provide opportunities for ordinary people to be involved in ministry, in serving others, and train them up and come along side them in the process and encourage and support them.

Broken Vessels

We are all broken, hurting, messed up people. We all come with baggage. For some of us, our baggage looks like sinful habits and damaged relationships from sinful choices. For others, our baggage looks like a pious sense of superiority that thinks we can earn God's favor by our impressive resume and conscientious avoidance of those behaviors we deem most sinful. We are all sinners saved by the riches of God's marvelous grace.

In our camp ministry over the past month, we as broken hurting messed up pastors, took broken hurting messed up teens who have been transformed by God's grace, and gave them an opportunity to love and serve and invest in broken hurting messed up kids with the life transforming good news of Jesus Christ and him crucified for broken hurting messed up sinners.

We have experienced three weeks of God doing extraordinary things through ordinary people. We have seen God transform lives, and we have seen him do it through some of our own teens.

...testimonies from leadership campers...

briefly share how God used you and what you learned through the experience

If this is what God can do through through a few ordinary people who say 'we are not perfect, but we have been transformed by Jesus and we are willing to be used by him in the lives of one another'. If this is what God did, imagine what he wants to do with you! Imagine what we could accomplish if each of us was willing to use our gifts in service to one another. Through love serve one another.


Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org