4B FOUNDATION

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. …

10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

This passage echoes John the Baptist, doesn’t it? But to really follow what is being said here, we need to understand three key words:

The original word: denotes "a brother, or near kinsman"; … persons united by a common interest, … or… a common calling, … by implication, all believers,

So in short- we are meant to be empowered by this remarkable spirit-fueled love. And if we look around us right now… we see the intended objects of that love. The faces around you –right now- are the faces of ‘adelphos.’

How would you describe the Biblical definition of “brother”?

How do the words “love” and “brother” fit together in the passages we’ve read?

Who is NOT your brother?

What is this thing that proves we are in darkness? You might say, “I don’t hate anyone in here. Well, yeah, there are a few people who get on my nerves from time to time. But I wouldn’t say I ‘hate’ them.”

Well maybe not- at least not by our definition of hate, but how about by God’s definition?

Meaning: of malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others, whether towards the innocent or by mutual animosity… Note: In 1 John 3:15, he who "hates" his brother is called a murderer; for the sin lies in the inward disposition, of which the act is only the outward expression.

Hate is when we stop holding another’s welfare at heart. Hate is when we simply don’t care; hate is when we justify breaking the unity. Hate is when my thing is more important than your thing. If we hate, God says we are liars and murders waiting to stumble. And even our very best won’t last. Hate kills harmony. Hate kills inspiration. Hate kills others. Hate is suicide.

But when we agape-love, we are in God’s light. And that light is so bright we can see exactly where we are going- and you know what- we will be going exactly where we need to go.

Describe in your own words, the Biblical meaning of hate?

Why is it so wrong to hate your brother?

In what ways do people in the church battle with hate?

How can we combat hate?

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

The Bible tells us, the people of a church are a ‘spiritual house’. And the foundation of that house is love. -Love that cares and carries out its real purpose to the very end. Love is Jesus Christ.

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What a unique thing it is to be founded on Christ! God became someone’s son. He became someone’s brother, a person who touched, and was touched in everyday life. He went to the cross with faces before His eyes… As He hung there, His mind was filled with names and friendships. God isn’t some vague force- He is personal which means- He is specific.

He has a specific name- Jesus. He came in the flesh for a specific reason- to save. And He uttered specific promises- joy, peace, & eternal life. Should it be surprising then; that He calls us to a specific purpose?

Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t believe we truly understand the importance of knowing our ‘specific purpose.’ Here’s what I mean. The owner’s manual in my car gives practical steps like this:

P. 87 If starting a vehicle with a manual transaxle: push the clutch pedal to the floor- place the gearshift in the neutral position- turn the key to Start and release…

The manual gives me practical steps for operating the car, but it does not give me the purpose. It does not give me a conceptual identity of what a driver is.

Active member is a member who regularly attends the services of the Church and who gives financial support to the Church…

The Board of Elders shall … meet with the prospective new members… serve the Lord's Supper.

The Deaconess shall… Send flowers to members … in case of death… Arrange and prepare family dinners… Be in charge of the Church nursery… Arrange …and supply seasonal … decorations…

The Church constitution does its job. It is an owner’s manual- it gives practical steps for running the church machinery. And our church officers are to be commended for their faithful service.

But I tell you this: It’s a deadly mistake to define your spiritual identity by merely practical steps. You can be a member, supporting every week, and still be spiritually bankrupt. It is possible to be an elder and lead in prayer, yet never raise a disciple. It is possible to be a deacon and greet people yet never communicate the warmth of God. It is possible to be a deaconess and fill people with excellent cooking and yet wound them with poison words. Member or leader; you can follow the manual to the ‘T’, and still miss the whole point. People can still go into eternity without Christ! Yes, we need the practical, but…

Practical steps mean nothing outside the context of God’s purpose. From John the Baptist to Billy Graham; from the Jerusalem church to Canaan Church- there has never been a Christian, or a church to carry out God’s Will, without clarity of purpose. That purpose starts like this:

22 And in him you too are being built [in only one direction] together to become [only one thing] a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

God says His personal plan for your life is tied directly to His purpose for others. It is tied directly to clarity of purpose. But here’s the thing- we cannot see clearly if we aren’t looking.

We are built on purpose and for a purpose. – Our spiritual health, success, and satisfaction only come through our specific purpose- that God ordains.

In Huntington, WV, there is a building destined for greatness. You can tell by the foundation. Are we ready for our foundation yet? Are we ready to set ourselves aside and ask God- “What is your purpose for us? Because God; that’s the foundation on which we want to build.” As the old hymn says- ‘All other ground is sinking sand.’

What does our church constitution teach us about our church purpose?

What is the purpose of our church?

What is your purpose in God?

How can we save ourselves from missing the real purpose of our church, our Christian lives?

What is the foundation of our purpose?