All By Myself

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

 

I.         Why do I have to go to church?

            A.        After all, I can worship God all by myself.

            B.        After all, all Christians are priests - I Peter 2:9

            C.        I can read my Bible and I don’t need anyone else - Ephesians 3:3-4

            D.        I can pray all by myself - Matthew 6:5-6

II.        But these aren’t the only acts of worship

            A.        Lord’s Supper

                        1.         It is a part of coming together - I Corinthians 11:20

                        2.         It is shared with others - I Corinthians 10:16-17

                        3.         It is not a solitary act

            B.        Singing

                        1.         I sing, but in the process I speak to others and am spoken to - Ephesians 5:19

                        2.         I sing, but I teach and admonish others while they are simultaneously teaching and admonishing me - Colossians 3:16

                        3.         I can’t sing by myself and fulfill this command

            C.        Come to think of it, you can’t even become a Christian without others

                        1.         The command is “be baptized,” which involves others

                        2.         I suspect that was purposely done

III.       Christianity is not a loner’s religion

            A.        We learn to put ourselves behind others

                        1.         Through love we serve one another - Galatians 5:13-15

                        2.         We submit to each other, so we can learn humility - I Peter 5:5

                        3.         We esteem others better than ourselves - Philippians 2:3-4

                        4.         We give preference to each other in honor - Romans 12:10

            B.        We help each other

                        1.         Bear each other’s burdens - Galatians 6:2

                        2.         Same care for each other - I Corinthians 12:25-26

                        3.         Comfort and edify each other - I Thessalonians 5:11

                        4.         We pray for each other - James 5:16

            C.        We treat all Christians as equals

                        1.         Have the same mind toward each other - Romans 12:16

                        2.         Like-minded so we can serve God together - Romans 15:5-6

                        3.         Be of one mind - I Peter 3:8-9

                        4.         We are members of one another - Ephesians 4:25

            D.        Welcome each other

                        1.         Receive each other - Romans 15:7

                        2.         Greet each other - Romans 16:16 (also I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Peter 5:14)

                        3.         Be hospitable - I Peter 4:9-10

            E.        Love one another - John 13:34-35

                        1.         This command is repeated at least 18 times in the New Testament!

                        2.         Abound in love - I Thessalonians 3:12

                        3.         Fervently love - I Peter 4:8

            F.        Be at peace

                        1.         Have peace - Mark 9:50

                        2.         Don’t cause others to stumble - Romans 14:13

                        3.         Be kind and forgiving - Ephesians 4:32

                        4.         Bearing with each other - Colossians 3:12-15

                        5.         Everyone isn’t easy to get along with. This isn’t an option, but a requirement

            G.        Encourage

                        1.         Pursue things that edify - Romans 14:19

                        2.         Admonish - Romans 15:14

                        3.         Exhort - Hebrews 3:13 (also Hebrews 10:25)

IV.      To attain all the riches, we must be knitted together - Colossians 2:1-3

            A.        How good and pleasant when brethren live in unity - Psalms 133:1

            B.        Be like the early church - Acts 4:32

            C.        All by myself? I don’t want to be all by myself

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