MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER Romans 12 5 John

MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER Romans 12: 5

John 17: 20 -21 “That they may be one” • Unity is really important • Unity isn’t easy

MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER 1. Members one of another 2. Love one another 3. Peace with one another 4. Forgive one another 5. Serve one another 6. Strengthen / encourage one another 7. Comfort one another 8. Pray for one another 9. Support (bear with) one another 10. Sing to one another 11. Watch out for one another

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER • James 5: 16 • Paul asked us to pray for one another (Eph. 6: 1820; I Thes. 5: 25) • Paul sets the example in praying for one another (I Cor. 1: 4; Col. 1: 3, 9; etc. ) • Jesus sets the example (Lk. 22: 32; John 17)

PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER AS MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER • Strive together in prayer (Romans 15: 0 -32) • Part of our spiritual fight (Eph. 6: 18 -20) • We are all in a spiritual fight and a spiritual journey. We are in this together. • We all need God’s help • So, naturally, we need to pray for one another

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER THE WAY PAUL DID Colossians 1: 9 -12 • “to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (9) • “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ” (10) • “to please Him in all respects, ” (10) • “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (10) • “Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining for all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father” (11 -12)

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER THE WAY JESUS DID John 17 • “Keep them in Your name” (11) • “Keep them from the evil one” (15) • “Sanctify them in truth” (17) • “That they may all be one” (20 -21) • “That they…be with Me where I am” (24)

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER • The way Paul did • The way Jesus did • If we prayed like that, would we only be praying for one another after announcements?

PRAY ABOUT ONE ANOTHER • Colossians 1: 3 • I Thessalonians 1: 2 • Philemon 1: 4 • What if we brought these sort of prayers to God (Acts 9: 39)? • What if we viewed prayer as a way to give “Christian reviews”

PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER ISN’T ALWAYS EASY • I Corinthians 1: 4 – giving thanks always for a church like Corinth? • Job 42: 10 – praying for friends like these? • “There is no end to your iniquities” (Job 22: 5) • “You have sent widows away empty, and the strength of the orphans has been crushed” (Job 22: 9) • “God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons” (Job 21: 19)

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Suppose we all pray for each other more often and more meaningfully, will that bring us closer together?