People who share a common direction The ofmuch

People who share a common direction The ofmuch Christ is composed of If. What we church have as sense as a goose, message do wedoing give can when we and of community get Itmany payssense to take turns the hard people, yet wethose are we will different stay in formation with honk from behind? where“one they are going quicker and jobs—with people or with geese flying body Christ”: who are headed theinsame way we are easier, becausesouth. they are traveling on Encouragement or discouragement? going. Rom. 12: 5; 1 Cor. 12: 12; Eph. 4: 16 the thrust of one another. 2

The Sense of a Goose 1 Corinthians 12: 12 -31

Common direction and a sense of community �Christians will make it to heaven easier with the help of other Christians: Gal. 6: 2; Eccl. 4: 9 -12 �Division destroys our ability to work effectively together: Matt. 12: 25; Acts 4: 32; 33 -35 �Our common direction in Christ is walking in the light as we press onward to our heavenly home: 1 Jn. 1: 6 -7; Phil. 3: 15 -17 �Cultivate a love for the souls of others: 1 Tim. 2: 4 The Sense of a Goose 4

Stay in formation with our fellow Christians �The Lord determines the “formation” by which we will fly: 2 Thess. 3: 6 �It’s easy for any of us to fall away: 1 Cor. 10: 12 �We must diligently guard our “formation” (i. e. , unity): Eph. 4: 3 �Our unity is built upon divine truth: Amos 3: 3; 1 Cor. 1: 10; Eph. 4: 4 -6 The Sense of a Goose 5

Take turns doing the hard jobs �We are fellow-workers in the church; no one does all the work: 1 Cor. 3: 6 -9 “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care the whole: Eph. 4: 16 who gets the credit. ” �Every member has something to add to �We need to take our turn; be a worker —Harry S. Truman and not a drag on others. The Sense of a Goose 6

Give encouragement �We all need and benefit from encouragement: Heb. 10: 24; 1 Thess. 5: 14 �The language we use is important: Eph. 4: 29 �Our conduct should set good examples for others: 1 Tim. 4: 12; Titus 2: 2 -7 �Recall the “Son of Encouragement”: The Sense of a Goose Acts 4: 36 7

Stand by one another �The whole body hurts when one part of the body hurts: 1 Cor. 12: 26 �Don’t add to the burdens of others: 1 Thess. 5: 14 �Geese take care of one another: Eccl. 4: 9 -12 Gal. 6: 1 -2; 1 Cor. 12: 25; �Standing by each other doesn’t mean we condone sin. The Sense of a Goose 8

Conclusion Do we have the sense of a goose? 9