The church is the family of Jesus.  We are called to unity and community.  We have considered our need for unity amidst differences and offenses.  And we have considered our need to be a community together.  Today we conclude with our need to be a caring community.

Caring Community

Healthy families practice the one anothers.  They care for one another.  They serve one another.  They encourage one another.  They pray for one another.  They simply love one another.

And the New Testament clearly calls us to live out the one anothers as a church.  The church must be characterized by the one anothers.  Care for one another.  Serve one another.  Encourage one another.  Pray for one another.  Love one another.

It would be good for us to regularly ask questions like these:  Who could use some help in my church?  Who could I seek to encourage this week?  Who do I need to pray for?  Who is lonely that I could show love toward?  May we not only ask these questions, but also act on the answers – that our churches might be caring communities.

Conclusion

God has made us the family of Jesus.  He calls us to unity amidst differences and offenses.  May we strive to maintain that unity with humility and love.  He calls us to be a caring community together.  May we strive to build deeper relationships that we might be a more caring community.  May we live as his family – for his glory!