Imagine a community of people that all functioned with this phrase as their motto: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” Imagine how radically different that type of community would look in a world that trumpets “do what makes you happy.” Community isn’t easy, we are different people coming together with different backgrounds, different personalities, different perspectives. The only way we are ever going to be the church community that God desires us to be is by living lives that have as their goal God’s glory and our neighbours good.
Sermon Notes:
You shape the health of the communities you are part of. (vs. 23-24)
You seek the good of others when you live in Christian freedom rather than fear. (vs. 25-27)
You seek the good of others when you care enough to talk to them about the health of their soul. (vs. 28)
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings him back from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” (Proverbs 27:5-6)
You seek the good of others when you love them more than you love your freedom. (vs. 28-29)
Living for the good of the other person is ultimately about living as a disciple of Jesus. (vs. 31 – 11:1)
