I want to challenge your faith!

Welcome to an audio sermon series by Sonny Childs!

Who Is My Brother?
How Must I Treat Him?

Helpful Suggestion: After selecting the lesson you wish to hear, minimize the audio player. This will bring you back to this window and the lesson outlines below. Each lesson will be more effective if you view the outline along with the audio.

After listening to both lessons, please take time to work through the solutions mentioned at the bottom of this page. Few things are more important than unity within the family of God. Please do not forsake the solutions offered below.

Note: The lessons below are also part of the "Blessed Assurance" series from 1 John.

Part One: Who Is My Brother?

Part Two: Hate, Love and Confidence

Lesson Outlines:

Part One: Who Is My Brother?

1. A brother obeys Christ's commands
Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6, "We know we have come to know him if we obey his commands." (vs. 3)

2. A brother's obedience defeats darkness
Scripture: 1 John 2:7-8, "...it's truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing..." (vs. 8)

3. A brother loves his brother
Scripture: 1 John 2:9-11, "Whoever loves his brother lives in light..." (vs. 10)

Part Two: Hate, Love and Confidence?

1. Hate Defined
Scripture: 1 John 3:11-15, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (vs. 14)

2. Love Defined
Scripture: 1 John 3:16-20, "And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (vs. 16)

3. Confidence Defined
Scripture: 1 John 3:21-24, "...if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God" (vs. 21)

Solutions:

1. Inspiration: Now that you have listened to the lessons above, take time to be still and meditate on the changes they should make in your life. As you do, think about these two ideas:

• Think of all the hurt and all those who have been lost because of family division.
• Imagine the success the church could have in reaching the lost if this division was solved.

2. Application: Below, you will find several questions to help you apply the lessons above. Please take time to complete this personal assessment test.

• How many times have you prayed for church unity in the past week?
• Many people find great satisfaction in conflict. Are you satisfied or saddened by the division in the church?
• John says that "we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16). What sacrifices and inconveniences have you suffered recently to reach out and help bring healing?
• Which is more important to you, being right about an issue or being right with your brother?  Romans 14:3-4 says that both are often possible.

3. Dedication: Make it your priority to study Romans 14. Apply the principles found in this great unifying passage and teach them to your family. Perhaps, if we raise up a "generation of dedication" to this great passage, they will spend more time reaching out to the lost and less time doing the devil's work for him.