Team Sport

A sports headline in a national newspaper this morning says that the Golden State Warriors are deeper than Curry and Thompson.  Last night’s game showed that reality.

The NBA Finals are in full swing, and the league certainly builds its reputation on the play of individuals and the superstar players.  After all, when Curry is hitting those “threes” it is hard to deny that he is a very gifted player.  Yet, basketball is a team sport. 

The Bible teaches us that we are to join together with other followers of Christ.  In John 13, the Lord Jesus tells us that He gives us a new commandment that we love one another.  Several different “one another” phrases and commands are in the Bible.  As we serve in churches, as we work together on ministry teams, as we go and do mission work this summer on teams, I am reminded of the directness and the importance of these “one another” commands.

Pray for one another.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)

Encourage one another.

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12-13 ESV)

Build up one another.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 ESV)

Honor one another.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10 ESV)

Serve one another.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13 ESV)

Bear with one another.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

Let’s submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and pray that He will enable us to have “a one another summer!”

Thank you for your partnership in the gospel through the SBC of Virginia as we seek to strengthen and mobilize churches to make disciples and plant churches.  You are not alone!  Your church’s cooperation with other SBCV churches is making it possible for churches to make disciples among various people groups, allowing us to serve the needy and desperate refugees around the world, providing for the equipping of a new generation of young leaders in gospel ministry this summer and much more.  Thank you.

Your brother in Jesus,

Brian Autry