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Am I My Brother's Keeper? Introduction: You probably recognized the above question from Genesis 4.9. This question has obviously been asked many times since. Why did Cain ask the question? He had offered an unacceptable sacrifice to God and then killed his brother. When asked where Abel was Cain tried to deflect what he had done by claiming ignorance. Of course God knew where Adam was, verse 10. Cain knew what he had done but instead of acknowledging his responsibility he tried to cover it up. In looking at the question the key word is "keeper". It comes from the Hebrew word, shamar and it is translated as watch, attend, protector, doorkeeper, guard. His question was to deflect his responsibility in this case. I) Why Asked the Question? A) Cain 1. Because of his sin, 1 John 3.10-12,15 a. He killed his brother not because of his brother's weakness but because of his own. b. The common enemy we all fight is sin and the devil. If he can get us to fight each other, he will have won the battle. 2. Because of his lack of love for God and his brother a. If love will cover a multitude of sins; hate and envy will magnify our sins. b. Paul speaks of the importance of love in 1 Corinthians 13.1-3 3. Selfishness -- he was centered on what he wanted and his anger instead of what God wanted. a. He loved himself too much to love anyone else. B) Why might we ask this question? 1. Our responsibility to our fellowman and fellow Christians with emphasis on our brothers and sisters in Christ a. We are to "receive one another" Romans 15.7 b. We are to "edify one another" Romans 14.19 c. We are to "serve one another" Galatians 5.13 d. We are to "bear one another's burdens" Galatians 6.1-2 e. We are to be "forgiving one another" Ephesians 4.32 f. We are to be "submitting to one another" Ephesians 5.21 g. We are to "exhort one another" Hebrews 3.12-13 h. We are to "consider one another" Hebrews 10.24-25 i. We are to be "hospitable to one another" 1 Peter 4.8-10 2. This all plays a part in being "our brother's keeper" C) Why some shirk being "their brother's keeper" 1. Individual accountability -- the person that is in sin, having spiritual problems, not showing up for services, etc. have to want to do more. a. It is true that no one can make another person obey God b. You cannot nag someone into coming to services; you cannot complain them into coming, all you can do is encourage them to come. That can be frustrating. 2. Grow tired of trying to encourage others. It is hard to be the one who is doing the calling, writing the cards, inviting others to come, and not see visible results. a. "When will they encourage me?" Is the question that some have asked. b. There is a point when we do have to stop and go to someone else. Mark 6.11 c. There is a point when congregational discipline must be practiced but we should not just give up on the soul of the lost. 3. We become uncomfortable with talking to them. If they say stop then stop; but many will tell you to keep on trying. a. There may be nothing new to say but they need to hear your concern for them. II) Why I AM My Brother's Keeper A) Because of our individual responsibility 1. God has placed the responsibility to teach the lost upon our shoulders, Mark 16.15-16. a. Not given to the world but to the apostles and then to us. b. We cannot escape our responsibility to try and teach the lost. B) Because we can relate to their guilt 1. Jesus can relate to our temptations, Hebrews 2.17-18 2. Can you relate to going to a strange place to worship God and not knowing anybody? a. Can you relate to sitting down and feeling out of place? b. Can you relate to having young children and feeling discouraged because of having to deal with them while trying to concentrate on the lesson? c. Can you relate to having to "work" at getting motivated to go to services on Sunday morning? d. Can you relate to a sin problem such as an anger issue, or bitterness, or envy, or low self worth? 3. Most of us can and we can relate to those who are having troubles, Galatians6.1-2 C) Because of the value of their soul 1. How much is your soul worth? Jesus said it is of greater value than the whole world, Mark 8.36 2. We need to see the value of every soul of every person. a. The soul of my children are beyond compare as is the value of your children's souls. b. That which is of great value needs to be valued greatly, Luke 15.7. III) What Can I Do To Be My Brother's Keeper? A) Be the welcoming committee 1. If you are sitting in the back of the building you are the welcoming committee. Look around for visitors and let them know we are glad to see them. 2. Go to the young mother and let her know where the nursery is. 3. Go to the young couple and talk to them. 4. Go to the single person and let them know that they have a friend in you. 5. It takes effort for a visitor to come and be with us so make the effort to get up and walk around the building and greet the visitors. B) Receive new Christians and encourage them, Romans 15.7 1. Do we ignore new converts or do we encourage them to be active in the work here? 2. Get to know their names and talk with them. C) Look to see who is and is not here and contact them 1. Make it a point to check on one another to see why they are not here. Let them know it is out of love and concern that you are calling. a. We are either going to be body builders, encouraging one another or like cancer weakening each other. b. Be like Philemon in verse 7, "For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. 2. Do we accept back those who repent of sin in their lives? Ephesians 4.32 Conclusion: We need to think of what we are to be doing and then how to do it. We want all to come to Christ, to have the hope of heaven, to be a part of the work here.
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