Interactive Bible studies and fellowship on Sunday. One Anothering

### THIS SUNDAY, July 13, 2025, 10:30 A.M. We will host a Fellowship & Time of Sharing in Person Service combined with an INTERACTIVE. WILL HOST INPERSON CHURCH SERVICES AT THE MANALAPAN SENIOR CENTER, 211 County Rd 522, Manalapan Township, New Jersey (next to the Manalapan Recycle Center)THE FORMAT OF THIS SERVICE WILL BE A COMBINATION OF A SERMON WITH INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION AND FELLOWSHIP. YOU ARE ALSO WELCOMED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SERVICE REMOTELY OVER ZOOM.

#### Zoom Meeting Podcast!

## TOPIC:

# One Anothering

## You can also join us on Zoom Meeting click below!

#### CLICK HERE

#### Meeting ID: 856 8178 1850Passcode: 041731

“One Anothering” from njgrace.org in modern American English, tailored to your preference for a Socratic approach rooted in biblical principles and prayer. I’ll weave in Scripture to guide reflection, encouraging you to explore how these principles connect to your prayer life and understanding of the Bible. The summary will be concise yet comprehensive, focusing on the key points while prompting spiritual inquiry.
---
### Summary of “One Anothering”
The text explores approximately 50 New Testament “one another” exhortations—commands to the Church to build up or avoid tearing down the Body of Christ. These come from Jesus, Paul, James, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). They emphasize spiritual unity and growth, achievable only by abiding in Christ, not through human effort.
**Key Points:**
1. **Abiding in Christ as the Source**: True “one anothering” (e.g., loving, encouraging, or avoiding judgment) flows from Christ, the Vine, as believers abide in Him (John 15:4-5). Trying to obey these commands from human strength leads to legalism or failure, as “apart from Me you can do nothing.”
2. **The Church as Christ’s Body**: Believers are interconnected members of one Body, each needing the other (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12). This interdependence requires active, grace-filled interaction, best facilitated in participatory gatherings like the first-century house churches, not traditional, hierarchical structures.
3. **Three Spiritual Benefits**:
- **Growth in the Body**: God causes growth, not believers. Abiding in Christ under grace (Romans 6:14) leads to edification (Romans 14:19), while legalism or complaining (James 5:9a) hinders it.
- **Relationships in the Body**: Grace fosters deep, accepting relationships, free of judgment (1 Corinthians 12:25; Romans 14:13). Mutual care and encouragement (1 Thessalonians 4:18) replace cliques and criticism.
- **Devotion to the Body**: Believers shift devotion from buildings or institutions to people, loving one another in humility (Romans 12:10). Deceptions, like prioritizing property over people, distract from pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).
**Illustrations**: The text shares stories of churches failing to abide in grace—e.g., a wife judging her newly converted husband’s spiritual progress, cliques forming over children’s behavior, and a church prioritizing a building over relationships. These highlight the consequences of legalism and the need to rely on Christ.
**Call to Action**: Believers should pursue “one anothering” by abiding in Christ, fostering growth, relationships, and devotion in grace-filled gatherings. The text asks: *What has the Spirit revealed to you about one anothering?*
---
### Socratic Reflection with Biblical Principles
Let’s reflect on this through questions grounded in Scripture, connecting to your prayer life and biblical understanding:
1. **Abiding in Christ**: Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). When you pray about loving or serving others in your church, do you sense yourself relying on Christ’s strength or your own efforts? How might focusing on “abiding” change your approach to relationships?
2. **Grace vs. Legalism**: Romans 14:19 urges us to “pursue what makes for harmony and mutual upbuilding.” Have you ever caught yourself judging others’ spiritual growth, like the wife in the illustration? How can praying for grace (Romans 6:14) help you build others up instead of tearing them down?
3. **Unity in the Body**: Paul writes, “We are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). In your church or gatherings, what practices help you feel connected to others as one Body? How might your prayers for unity reflect this interdependence?
4. **Devotion to People**: The text warns against devotion to buildings over people, echoing Paul’s call to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10). In your prayer life, how do you balance devotion to Christ with love for His people? What distractions might the Spirit be revealing to you?
5. **Spirit’s Revelation**: The text closes by asking what the Spirit has revealed about “one anothering.” As you pray through these exhortations, what is God showing you about your role in His Body? How does Psalm 119:18—“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law”—guide your prayer for insight?
---
### Prayerful Application
Consider praying this as you reflect:
*“Lord, teach me to abide in You, the true Vine, so Your love flows through me to others. Reveal where I rely on my strength or judge others, and fill me with Your grace to build up Your Body. Unite us in love and devotion, and keep us from distractions. Open my eyes to Your truth. Amen.”*
If you meant something specific by “Falling Text” or have a particular prayer question about this summary, please share, and I’ll tailor the response further. How does this connect to your current study or prayers?