Better Together

We need people who really love us to keep us out of trouble.

John 13:1-8 (NIV)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 

4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 

5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

1. We need to serve each another.

John 13:12-15 (NIV)

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 

13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 

15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

2. We need to encourage each other. 

John 14:1  (NIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

3. We need to Work with each other.   

John 15:4-5 (NIV)

4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Deuteronomy 32:30 (NIV)

30 How could one man chase a thousand,
    or two put ten thousand to flight,

Prayer multiplies when you pray with each other.

4. We need to Protect each another.

John 16:1  (NIV)

16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  (MSG)

9-10 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!

You need a second set of eyes looking out for you.

5. Pray for one another. 

John 17:1, 9  (NIV)

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 

9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

James 5:16  (NIV)

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

We is always better than just me. 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/better-together