Wednesday 7/19/2017

Thessalonians - Encourage U Part 7 1 Thess. 3:11 I. Togetherness is essential to/a sign of healthy relationships. In a healthy relationship, time apart only kindles the desire to be together. "To a true child of God, the invisible bond that unites all believers to Christ is far more tender, and lasting, and precious; and, as we come to recognize and realize that we are all dwelling in one sphere of life in Him, we learn to look on every believer as our brother, in a sense that is infinitely higher than all human relationships. This is the one and only way to bring disciples permanently together. All other plans for promoting the unity of the Church have failed." AT Pierson Eph. 4:25-32 "Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God's people." - Spurgeon Our togetherness is essential to our health. "Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together." - Corrie Ten Boom "What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else of that sort. Christians come together because they have all been loved by Jesus himself. They are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus' sake." - DA Carson 1 Thess. 3:12-13 II. Abounding love toward all men is essential for living above reproach. 1 John 4:7-13; vs19-5:3 "I want the love that cannot help but love; Loving, like God, for very sake of love." - AB Simpson 1 Peter 4:8-10