CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER I. CARING DEMANDS

---

Series: Word, Care, Mission

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER Galatians 6:1-5 Pastors Jeff Gilmore and Scott Gaskill September 22, 2013 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Galatians 6:1-5

I.

CARING DEMANDS BURDEN BEARING. The Great Commandment 36

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

The New Commandment 34

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Galatians 6:2 — The word for “burden” Galatians 6:5 — The word for “load”

“By this will all men know that you are my disciples, when you have love one for the other.” John 13:35

   

Loving means caring. Genuine caring demands burden bearing. Burden bearing is contingent upon sharing. Truthful sharing most easily takes place in the biblical context of community.

How do we do soul care in a group of 2-4?  Love – Everything we do in community must be saturated with the love of Christ, and these response group times are no exception. When love is present it opens a door for people in response groups to feel more comfortable confessing sin one to another.  Know – We need to know people on a heart level. When someone shares about a situation in response group different people in the community might ask questions like: o o o o o o o o o o o

What happened? Can you walk me through this particular situation? What about this situation stands out to you? How often does it happen? What did that look like? What do you mean by that? What did you do in response? How did that make you feel? What was going on inside you? What should have happened? Why do you think you did this?

 Speak – After examining the basic facts and the person’s response to the situation,

Challenges and Obstacles to Burden Bearing: II. BURDEN BEARING IS CONTINGENT UPON TRUTH SHARING.  The Apostle Paul, the great burden bearer:  The Apostle Paul, the great burden sharer: III. TRUTH SHARING TAKES PLACE BEST IN BIBLICAL COMMUNITY

transition to speaking the truth of the gospel. There is no formula for what this looks like! However, your speech should be saturated in the gospel of grace, the words of scripture and love. Different people in the community might identify: o o o o o

Evidences of Grace Attributes of God Sin to Confess Gospel Power The Need For Prayer

 Do – True heart change always brings about a change in our actions. This is where your community can turn to helping with practical, real-life course corrections. o What practical changes should that person make? o What should they stop doing or start doing? o Who is going to hold them accountable?

What scripture did the Holy Spirit bring to mind for encouragement, correction, rebuke or training (2 Timothy 3:16)?