The first problem in the Bible was not sin but solitude.
We
need other people.
Genesis 2:18
New International Version
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for
the
man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18
New International Version
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for
the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him.”
Ecclesiastes
4:8
English
Standard Version
8 one person who has no
other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and
his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For
whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an
unhappy business.
We
need Jesus, and we must allow Him to use our hands and feet.
John
13:8
English
Standard Version
8 Peter said to him, “You
shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you
have no share with me.”
If
you won't allow Jesus to help you at your worst, you can't be His partner.
We
need small groups.
1. We need people who will care for us.
John
13:12-15
English
Standard Version
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Ecclesiastes
4:9-10
English
Standard Version
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
1
Corinthians 12:26
English
Standard Version
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
* We must keep our small group leaders informed about our needs.
2. We need other people to encourage us.
John 14:1
English Standard Version
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe
also in me.
Hebrews
3:13
English
Standard Version
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
* We should exchange phone numbers with the people in our small group.
3. We need people who will partner with us.
John
15:4-5
English
Standard Version
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the
vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Ephesians
2:10
English
Standard Version
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
* We should do a serve project together.
4. We need people who will protect us.
John 16:1 English Standard Version
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.
Ecclesiastes
4:12
English
Standard Version
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
*We must ask each other hard questions.
Here are the questions that John Wesley used to ask others.
1.
Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the
impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2.
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I
exaggerate?
3.
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told
to me in confidence?
4.
Can I be trusted?
5.
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6.
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7.
Did the Bible live in me today?
8.
Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
9.
Am I enjoying prayer?
10.
When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11.
Do I pray about the money I spend?
12.
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13.
Do I disobey God in anything?
14.
Do I insist upon doing something about which my
conscience is uneasy?
15.
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16.
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or
distrustful?
17.
How do I spend my spare time?
18.
Am I proud?
19.
Do I thank God that I am not as other people,
especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20.
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown,
criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about
it?
21.
Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22.
Is Christ real to me?
5. We need people who will pray for us.
John
17:1,9
English
Standard Version
17 When Jesus had spoken
these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the
hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 9 I
am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for
those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
Ephesians
6:18
The
Message
13-18 Be prepared. You’re up
against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can
get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting
you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation
are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your
life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way,
prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your
brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that
no one falls behind or drops out.
* We must share prayer requests weekly and cover one another in prayer.
