Christian Camarderie Publication

Doctrine of Christian Camaraderie

Tod Kennedy

Camaraderie with God Camaraderie with People
Relationship with God Relationship with people
Christian way of life Support of believers
Live by faith in God and God’s Word Live by faith and application of Bible doctrine toward people

I. Character of Christ – Until Christ be formed in you
(Galatians 4:19)

  1. Authority orientation (Matthew 22:21).
  2. Compassionate (Luke 10:33-42).
  3. Evangelistic minded (John 4:1-42).
  4. Flexible in non-essentials and inflexible in essentials (Mark 2:13-20; Mark 10:13-16; John 4:7-10; John 18-19).
  5. Followed His Father’s will in life (Luke 22:39-46).
  6. Forgiving (Luke 4:36-50).
  7. Gentle (Matthew 11:29).
  8. Gracious (John 8:1-11).
  9. Humble ((Matthew 11:28; Philippians 2:8).
  10. Kept His purpose in mind (John 4:54).
  11. Leader-shepherd (John 10:11; Mark 3:12-16):
  12. Lived life by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 14).
  13. Loved Father (John 14:31) and believers (John 13:1, 34).
  14. Man of God’s Word (Luke 4:16-22).
  15. Man of prayer (Luke 22:38-46).
  16. Merciful (Luke 17:11-19).
  17. Perceptive about people and life (Luke 19:1-10).
  18. Acted favorably to ones that believed Him (Luke 5:17-20).
  19. Self-confident because of good relationship with the Father and spiritual preparation for life (Matthew 7:28-29).
  20. Gave wise answers (Matthew 13:54).

II. One another – Have the same care for one another
(1 Corinthians 12:25)

  1. Accept one another – into society with you, do not be a snob (Romans 15:7).
  2. Be able to warn and instruct one another – wisely say the right thing in the right way at the right time to one who has given the right (Romans 15:14).
  3. Be devoted to one another – family care, affection, protection because believers are members of God’s family (Romans 12:10).
  4. Be hospitable to one another – give a friendly and helpful reception, provide needed food and shelter (1 Peter 4:9).
  5. Be kind and tender-hearted to one another – be useful, considerate, and sympathetic and compassionate (Ephesians 4:32).
  6. Be of the same mind toward one another – think unprejudiced grace thinking toward (Romans 12:16).
  7. Be of the same mind with one another – think the same Bible doctrine with (Romans 15:5).
  8. Bear one another’s burdens – temporarily shoulder the overwhelming worry, trouble, circumstances for another (Galatians 6:2).
  9. Build up one another – strengthen, benefit, improve, do not tear down (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
  10. Care for one another – genuine interest in the welfare of others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:25).
  11. Confess faults and pray for one another – attempt to clear up a known problem that eats on both of you so you can better pray for one another and so the illness due to divine discipline will be removed (James 5:16).
  12. Do not … one another.
  13. Become arrogant toward (1 Corinthians 4:6)
  14. Challenge (Galatians 5:26)
  15. Complain against (James 5:9)
  16. Envy (Galatians 5:26)
  17. Fight (Galatians 5:15)
  18. Judge (James 4:11)
  19. Lie to (Colossians 3:9)
  20. Slander (James 4:11)
  21. Take inter-Christian matters to civil court
    (1 Corinthians 6:7)
  22. Encourage one another – support, hearten, bolster (Hebrews 10:25).
  23. Forgive one another – do it freely and completely, then forget the past failure (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
  24. Greet one another – Pass on greetings from Paul and other authors of Scripture. Application for us is that we ought to give friendly greetings to believers (Romans16:16).
  25. Honor one another – accept and value as a member of Christ’s body; each is useful for service (Romans 12:10).
  26. Love one another – desire for God’s will and best in one another (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23).
  27. Put up with one another – graciously endure or bear with even though one may be hard to be around (Colossians 3:13).
  28. Serve one another – freely assist, wait on, do things for (Galatians 5:13).
  29. Submit to one another – authority orientation everywhere, humility (Ephesians 5:21).
  30. Wait for one another at communion – do not rush ahead thinking only of yourself, instead be polite and considerate (1 Corinthians 11:33).

III. Relationships among believers – Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3)

Guidelines:

1. Oneness is the principle. The positional unity in the body of Christ is greater than any differences (John 17:11, 20-22; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 3:14).

2. Graciousness is the rule. Treat others as you desire God to treat you, in grace (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32; Colossians 3:12-13).

3. Separation is the exception, though it may be necessary under certain conditions. Separate from those that undermine the authority and doctrine of the pastor-teacher (Romans 16:17-18), from those characterized by consistent and well known sin (1 Corinthians 5:9), and from those who are undisciplined busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).

4. Stand firm for well-established Bible doctrine
(2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Timothy 1:13; Jude 3).

5. Conflicts can be resolved if those involved will learn, accept, and apply the same Bible doctrine and so have the same thinking (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2; 4:2).

Primary factors that make relationships work:

    1. Authority orientation – content with your place in the chain of command, whether up or down (Ephesians 5:22; Hebrews 13:17).
    2. Humility – the way you think about yourself in relation to God and others; you are a product of God’s grace, not of your natural greatness (Ephesians 4:2).
    3. Love – desire for God’s will and best in another
      (1 John 3:23).
    4. Genuine interest in another’s welfare without interfering in their life (John 21:21-22; 1 Corinthians 12:25).