Session 5 • Family • Activation
In her book, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Adele Calhoun shares many helpful resources related to practices that help us to grow. One of these resources is called ‘One Anothers.’ As the family of God, we are called to unity, oneness and community.
“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” 1 Corinthians 10:17
Scripture gives us many examples of ways that we can express our sense of oneness and they are described below. Read through these prayerfully and ask the Holy Spirit to draw your attention to one that you can intentionally live into this week as an expression of your participation in the family of Jesus. You’ll find further suggestions for using this resource at the end.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“They approach and come forward; they help each other and say to their companions, “Be strong!” Isaiah 41:5-6
“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-25
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7
“The fruit of the spirit is…kindness.” Galatians 5:22
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”Ephesians 4: 31-32
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (mutual affection).” Romans 12:10
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
“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 and sisters.” 1 John 3:16
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:25-26
“Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.” James 5:9