Spiritual Growth

Temple Baptist Church - 3-8-2017

1 Peter 2:1-5

Introduction: 

A.  Growth is a natural occurrence after birth. 

1.  We expect our physical children to grow at a specific rate and, if they do not, we become concerned and take them to the doctor and find out what the problem is. 

2.  We also realize that not all children are the same so there will be those who grow bigger as well as mature differently.  It takes some children a little longer to “grow up” psychologically. 

B.  Spiritual growth is the same.  

1.  We are expected to grow consistently after the New Birth.  As a baby desires to feed on the milk of the mother, the newborn child of God should have a desire to feed upon the “sincere milk of the Word.”  I am bothered when a professing believer has no desire for the Word of God or the things of God!

2.  Not all will grow at the same speed but all need to grow.  And, yet, we too often fail to be concerned when God’s children remain in a state of spiritual “infancy!”  Let me give you a Biblical example.

Hebrews 5:11-14  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

C.  We should have: Spiritual Babes, Spiritual Young Men and Women, Spiritual Older Men and Women.

1 John 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  

D.  With our physical health, there are three main ingredients for proper growth and good health.

1.  You must eat right!  Children need a nutritious, well balanced diet that incorporates all the food groups.  Children of our day are obese because they eat all the wrong things.  A good healthy appetite must be cultivated at an early age.  When I was a child, I learned to eat what was set before me.  Today, I eat what is put before me!  Churches do more entertaining than they do Biblical preaching and teaching.  The pulpits pander to the “fast food” appetites of the people.

2.  You must have exercise!  Healthy bodies require exercise and plenty of sunlight.  Children of our day are physically lazy and spend most of their time indoors while playing around on cell phones or other electronic devices.  When I was a child, mom would not allow us to remain in the house on beautiful days.  No sitting around watching the TV set for us.  We spent our days running and playing out in the sunlight.  People must exercise spiritually unto godliness.  (1 Timothy 4:7-8)  Instead of doing only those things which please self, do things for the Lord that will be a blessing to others.

3.  You must have rest!  Our bodies and minds need rest.  When you fail to eat right while sitting around doing nothing, you do not rest right!  When I was a child, mom would make us lie down for a while in the heat of the day and either nap or just rest.  When night came, we got to bed early and were refreshed when we got up in the morning.  Spiritually, there is an old saying: “You need to come apart before you come apart!”  I have heard men say that they had rather burn out than rust out but you are out either way.  We must learn that rest is a good thing and renews us for the work that lies ahead.  Even our Lord got tired and slept.  He also took his disciples apart to allow them to rest.

E.  There are two things that I want to look at in this message.

           

THINGS THAT WILL STUNT YOUR GROWTH – “laying aside”

1.  Malice

MAL'ICE, n. Extreme enmity of heart; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.

a.  Malice Causes Defilement - Hebrews 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

1 Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

b.  Malice Causes Division - Ephesians 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Philippians 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

2.  Guile

            GUILE, .  Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit; usually in a bad sense.

           We may, with more successful hope, resolve

a.  Honest Before God - Romans 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

b.  Honest Before The World - 1 Thessalonians 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

c.  Honest Before The Saints - Hebrews 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

3.  Hypocrisies

a.  Unfeigned Faith - 1 Timothy 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2 Timothy 1:5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

b.  Unfeigned Feelings - 1 Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

4.  Envies

a.  Envy And Carnality - 1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

b.  Envy And Contention - 2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

c.  Envy And  Confusion - James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

5.  Evil Speaking

a.  The Deceitful Tongue - Psalms 52:4  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Psalms 120:2  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

b.  The Destructive Tongue - James 3:5-6  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Psalms 15:1-3  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

THINGS THAT WILL STIMULATE YOUR GROWTH – “that ye may grow thereby”

1.  It Takes A Birth – “as newborn babes”

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (The dead have no life)

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned.

2.  It Takes Desire – “desire”  (You must have a desire to grow in Christ)

3.  It Takes Sincerity – “sincere milk”  (If you can prove it to me in the Bible – you don’t want to know the truth!)

4.  It Takes God’s Word – “the word”  (The Word of God is both milk to the young and meat to the strong)

5.  It Takes Remembrance – “that the Lord is gracious”  (By the mercies of God)

6.  It Takes Approach – “To whom coming”  (If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God)

Stand Fast

Temple Baptist Church - 3-5-2017

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Introduction:

A.  We have looked long and hard at the churches of Macedonia which were standing fast in the faith and doing a great job in missions.  (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)  Thessalonica was the capitol city of the 2nd Province of Macedonia under Roman rule and Rome did not like the infiltration of Christianity as they thought Caesar to be god.

B.  In this second epistle to the Thessalonicians, Paul commended them for their work and labor of live in chapter one and gave warning in the first part of chapter two concerning the “falling away” that was in progress.  Paul alluded to that same “falling away” when writing to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

C.  As the great Apostle preached, witnessed, and established local churches—Satan’s crowd infiltrated very quickly. 

1.  Thus, in our day, Bible believing people have gone from the being the rule to being the exception in my short lifetime.  Good churches are getting harder to find.

2.  As more and more churches get in to the “numbers game,” they give in to the worldliness and false doctrine that so quickly infiltrates.  I am all for numbers, but—in out day—churches that still preach sanctification are labeled by those who do not as “legalistic” and are to be avoided.

3.  Salvation is so much more than a “wink wink nod nod” pray this little prayer.  Salvation is to those who repent and turn to Christ.  It is not a prayer alone that brings one salvation but a heart condition that turns one to Christ.  He is Lord and the repentant bow!

D.  Paul is exhorting a great church to remain great! 

1.  Their greatness was not found in numbers because they were but few. 

2.  Their greatness was not found in finances because they were in poverty. 

3.  Their greatness was not found in peace because they were in great affliction. 

4.  Their greatness was found in obedience to the Word of God.

5.  Their greatness was found in their love for each other as well as the missionaries that came their way.

E.  The message is this: you can run well and stop!  Galatians 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  (A spiritual church is like your body’s weight: if you do not strictly maintain it, it begins to go up and is almost impossible to stop.  Once a church begins to slip, it becomes virtually impossible to pull it back to where it once was.)

1.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Faith

a.  Suffer The Word - Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

b.  Magnify The Word - Psalms 138:2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

c.  Pray For The Word - 2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

d.  Preach The Word - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

e.  Continue In The Word - 2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

2.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Freedom – be not entangled “again” with the yoke of bondage – Christ’s yoke is not bondage, it is light – the blessing of coming to Christ is “free indeed”

a.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Bondage - Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

b.  Beware Of The Yoke Of False Brethren - Galatians 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

c.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Phariseeism - Colossians 2:20-23  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

d.  Beware Of the Yoke Of Inexpedient Things – Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1 Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  (Yes, we are free.  But we must be careful how we use our freedom lest it become bondage.)

3.  Stand Fast In Our Fellowship –persecution brings the church together.  The world hated Christ as Christ loved them.  The world hates us as Christ loves us.

a.  Fellowship In Unity - 2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

b.  Fellowship In Separation - 2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  (Separation is a must!)

c.  Fellowship In Light - 1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

4.  Stand Fast In Our Fight

a.  We Need To Fill The Gaps - Ezekiel 22:30  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  (Our older generation is passing off the scene and the need is great for men and women to “step up to the plate!”)

b.  We Need To Withstand The Onslaught - Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

5.  Stand Fast In Our Finishing - 2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

The Infinite Wisdom Of God

Temple Baptist Church - 3-5-2017

1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Introduction:

A.  In these verses, we find the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men contrasted.  Wisdom is the right application of knowledge and godly wisdom is an indictment upon the “wisdom of men” as they attempt to do away with God.  The “wisdom of men” is foolishness to God and the “wisdom of God” is foolishness to men.

2 Timothy 3:7-9  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (8)  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  (9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.  (Men have great knowledge but, in their knowledge, they resist the truth of God.)

B.  Wisdom defined:  accumulated knowledge or enlightenment , the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight, the quality of being prudent and sensible. By my definition, wisdom is the right application of knowledge.

C. One of the attributes of God is that of omniscience.  

1.  Omniscience comes from two works meaning “all” and “knowledge.”  The state of having infinite knowledge.  As Dr. B. R. Lakin so put it, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” 

Isaiah 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

2.  God knows everything about everything!  He knows the end from the beginning because He is on both sides of time.  I AM THAT I AM declares that God has no time and lives in an eternal moment.  He sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end.

Revelation 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

D. There is a difference between having knowledge and having wisdom. 

1.  Many men of our times have had great intellect, extensive education, and yet have died without Christ!  That is the most foolish thing that I can think of.   “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God!” 

2.  To see nature and deny a Creator is foolishness.  To see the universe and deny a Creator is foolishness.  Men like Confucius who have left behind a legacy of worldly wisdom have denied Christ, died lost, and are in hell today.  That is the ultimate foolishness!

E. God not only has all knowledge, He also has all wisdom!  God’s knowledge and wisdom are far above that of the smartest and wisest of men.

Revelation 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Notice the analogy here: “as the heavens are higher than the earth.”)

F. When I think of the wisdom of man, I think of Solomon.

1 Kings 4:30-34  And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  31  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.  32  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.  33  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.  34  And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.  (Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived!)

G. Yet, the Bible declares that Christ was wiser than Solomon!

Matthew 12:42  The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Romans 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

1. The Wisdom Of God Penned Down In The Bible – Proverbs 1:1-5  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;  3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  4  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.  5  A wiseman will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Peter 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (There has never been a book like this one.  You can live by it and be glad you did!  You can trust it and find it true!  You can learn from it and find it both factual in its truth and perfect in its detail!  What a Bible!  What Wisdom!)

2. The Wisdom Of God Previewed In Creation - Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Proverbs 3:19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Psalms 19:1-4  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  2  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.  (God created in wisdom!  It was and is still very good – so good that He has never had to change or correct anything in the heavens or the earth.  All was created perfectly and remains perfectly unchanged.  All of earth and space remain in perfect harmony!  What a wise God we serve!)

3. The Wisdom Of God Personified In Jesus Christ - Proverbs 8:1, 22   Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?...The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

1 Corinthians 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:2-3  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Jesus Christ did not have wisdom, He was Wisdom!  He never said a wrong word, did a wrong deed, think a wrong thought, or give a wrong advice!  He was all wise!)

4. The Wisdom Of God Performed In Salvation - 1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 Corinthians 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Ephesians 1:6-10  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;  9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:8-11  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;  9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  (God came to us in grace and mercy.  Thank the Lord for His perfectly free salvation!)

5. The Wisdom Of God Personalized In Justification - 1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  (God knew what we were.  God knew what we needed.  God knew that we could not maintain our salvation.  It was perfected in wisdom!)

6. The Wisdom Of God Perfected In Eternity – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Psalms 31:19-20  Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!  20  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Hebrews 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Revelation 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Godis with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  4  And God shall wipe away allgod tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  (A perfect place prepared for a perfected people!  I promise you, you will never be disappointed in Heaven!)

Brotherly Love

Temple Baptist Church - 3-1-2017

1 Peter 1:22

Introduction:

A.  I preached on the incorruptibility of the Blood of Christ and the incorruptibility of the Bible.  In between these two verses, lies the result and responsibility of brotherly love.

B.  As both the Blood of Christ and the Bible are essential to the New Birth, both are also essential the love of the brethren.

C.  We live in days of churches on every street corner. 

1.  Because of doctrinal division or plain lack of doctrine.  Doctrinal division, if done considering true doctrinal purity, is a positive thing as the Bible commands it.

2.  Because of people’s inability to get along with one another.  Division from sinful or disorderly brethren is also a positive thing as the Bible commands it.

D.  As the Blood and the Bible are incorruptible, so should the love of the brethren be incorruptible.

1.  I thank the Lord that I was born into a closely-knit family.  Mom and Dad are long gone but my two brothers and one sister are still alive.  We love and help one another.  We were born into the same family!

2.  I thank the Lord that God placed me into a closely-knit church.  We love and help one another.  We were born into the same family!

E.  I know that there are some people who have a hard time getting along and there is a simple reason for it.  They are born into the family but are not “nestled” between the Birth and the Bible.

F.  Brotherly Love is part of being in the Family!  You could call it one of the birthmarks of the child of God.  A part of our spiritual DNA.  God is love and God inspires love in His children.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  (10)  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

1.  Brotherly Love Glorifies God - John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

2.  Brotherly Love Edifies The Church - 1 Corinthians 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

3.  Brotherly Love Shows Our Spiritual Maturity - Colossians 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

4.  Brotherly Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins - 1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1.  Brotherly Love Must Be Carefully Cultivated - 2 Peter 1:5-7  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (Even though it should come natural.  The love between a man and wife must be carefully cultivated.)

1 Thessalonians 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

2.  Brotherly Love Must Have A Fertile Growing Place - 1 Timothy 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2 Timothy 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

3.  Brotherly Love Must Be constantly Maintained - 1 Corinthians 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

4.  Brotherly Love Must Be Our Motivation For Fellowship - 1 Corinthians 16:14  Let all your things be done with charity.  (We come together to exhort one another as well as to worship!

1 Peter 5:14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Jude 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

5.  Brotherly Love Must Be Consistent Among The Members - 2 Thessalonians 1:3  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

James 2:1  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

James 2:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.