Those Scripture References I Promised

Somehow the sermon didn't get recorded on Sunday, so there won't be a posting of it on our church website. However, I did promise to post the scripture references I used, so here they are:

The question is why we should surround ourselves with people of faith (faith friends, small groups, prayer groups, bible studies, sunday school, etc.)

1. Experience a closer relationship with Christ
• And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." (Matthew 18.20, The Message)

2. Comfort in our times of need
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 9-10 It's better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there's no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.
12 By yourself you're unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.

3. One Anothering
• "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. (John 15.11)
• So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory (Romans 15.7)
• learn to be considerate of one another (1 Corinthians 1:10)
• Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. (Galatians 5:13)
• Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31)
• Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. (Ephesians 5:21)
• Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. (Colossians 3:150
• So speak encouraging words to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
• And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)

4. Encouragement
• You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)