I See You – Part 2

Review

The “I see you” series about openness, honesty and transparency with God and each other.

All of this happens within the context of fellowship with God and each other.

Fellowship is the Greek word κοινωνία (koinōnia). It means shared experience:

• Shared circumstances (responding to other people’s circumstances as if they were your own)
• Shared responsibility (taking ownership of an outcome even when you are not on the front lines)
• Share resources (Seeing the things in your possession as things that belong to you and not God)

Responding to the Generosity Challenge

• Matthew 13:20–21 (ESV) – ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
  • Key Term: no roots
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV) – ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
• 2 Corinthians 8: 5 (ESV) – ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

God Sees You

God Makes Love Practical

1 John 4:20 (ESV) – ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

• • • 1 John 1:1 (ESV) – 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
    • Matthew 25:35–40 (ESV) – ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
    • Philippians 1:7 (ESV): 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Christianity: A True Fraternity, A True Sorority

• 1 John 3:16–17 (ESV) – ¹⁶ By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ¹⁷ But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
• James 2:15–16 (ESV): 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that
• Galatians 6:10 (ESV): 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Unhealthy Fellowship

• 2 Corinthians 6:14–15 (ESV): 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
  • 1 Corinthians 5:9–10 (ESV) – ⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2022