The Joy of Taking Care of Relationships
Few Things more entertaining to many than blood sport/combat/boxing
Few things less Christlike than people who won’t work it out / destroying one another & hurting the work of God & the testimony of the church
Few things less Christlike than people refusing to help – instead of just watching or cheering on the pain and the problems.
Vs. 1 Stand Firm - Military Connotation “In the Lord”
Citizenship:
as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel (1:27)
our citizenship is in heaven (3:20)
Opposition:
those who oppose you (1:28)
enemies of the cross (3:18)
Unity:
in the one Spirit, striving together with one accord (1:27)
be of the same mind in the Lord (4:2)
To live above With the saints we love; Oh, that will be glory! But to live below With the saints we know; Now that's a different story!
Foundation for Relationships
“Longed for”
“Joy”
“Crown”
People are Precious.
People are Prized.
People are the Prize.
Fracture in the Relationship
Always a Wedge that Divides.
Moral
Doctrinal
Personal / Leadership
Always takes Work to Unite.
Euodias “Success” - Named after the goddess of Fortune
Syntyche “Lucky”- Named after the goddess of Fortune
True Yokefellow?
Clement
First Aid Plan for Relationships
Problem
Pastor / Spiritual Leader
Plan
- Start by Valuing People of God.
“Longed for”
“Joy”
“Crown”
- Propose Solution.
- Emphasize worth to God and the work of God.
Warriors “labored with me”
Witnesses “Gospel”
Workers “fellow laborer”
- Enlist Help when Needed.
- Remind we are on the same team serving the same Lord.