Steve W. Reeves
stevesermons.blogspopt.com
INTRODUCTION:
A. John
Fawcett (1739-1817) was born in a small British village. Orphaned at the age of
twelve he became an apprentice to a tailor and worked in that trade until his early
adult years. As a teenager he heard the well-known evangelist George Whitefield
preach, leading him to faith in Christ. In 1763 he began preaching for a tiny church in
the small hamlet of Wainsgate. The people were practically destitute and often paid
ohn and his young wife with potatoes and wool. As the couple’s family grew to
include four children, they soon realized the hardships posed by their humble
circumstances. Though other opportunities came their way John and Mary Fawcett’s
love for the people of that small village prompted them to remain for 54 years. To
express his feelings for the congregation John Fawcett wrote the following words that
have been used by generations of Christians.”
“Blest be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred
Kinds Is like to that above.”
When we asunder part It gives us inward pain. But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.”
1. There are few words that are more familiar to Christians today than these lyrics
written over two hundred years ago.
2. There are few, if any, words that better describe the loving,and caring relationship
that Christians have with one anoter.
. In 1 Peter 2:17, Peter saysm :Love the family of b elievers.” It is important to know
that Peter waing to Christians facing severe hardship. They had been scattered
and separated from one another because of persecution. Their faith was being tested
and they were facing isolation.
1. This is one of two occasions in the New Testament where the word “family”
appears. The other is Ephesians 3:17, :”For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
2. In 1 Timothy 3 Paul refers to the church as the “household of faith.” This, also
implies the idea of a family.
C. What is the blessed tie that binds our hearts together as the family of God?
I. IT IS A TIE SEALED WITH BLOOD
A. A tourist in a foreign country noticed something unusual about the children. The
older children were carrying the younger ones. He spoke to one of the older
children and said, “It must be difficult carrying such a burden all day.” The child
responded, :”He’s not a burden. He’s my brother.”
1. In 1969, a British band, “The Hollies,” recorded a song, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s
My Brother.”
2. This sounds like good theology. Remember, Paul wrote that Christians are to
“bear one another’s budens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
B. It is the blood of Christ that binds us together. According to 1 Peter 1:18-19, the tie
that inds us together, the “common bond” is that our redemption is not
through,“perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the
empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the
precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
1. Another song from years past proclaims, “I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of
God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with
Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.”
2. More recently Lanny Wolfe wrote, “We’re part of a family that’s been born again.
Part of a family, whose love knows no end. For Jesus has saved us and made
us His own. Now we’re part of a family that’s on its way home.”
3. There are many things that draw people together. You may join hundreds or
thousands in a stadium to cheer for your favorite team. You may participate with
others in a civic organization or trade guild. You may belong to a social club or
fraternal organization but there is no tie on earth that is more meaningful than
the blood sealed tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
II. IT IS A TIE CONNECTED BY PURPOSE
A. In 1 Peter 2:9-10 Peter wrote, “ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a
people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.”
1. In 1944 my father, theen twnty-five nty-five years old, received an invitation to
join the United States Army (the invitation was known as a draft card).. He was
separated from his family, spent went through basic training and was soon
aboard a troop transport headed for the Pacific island of Okinawa. Aboard the
ship were hundreds of men he had never met. They came from cities and states
across America. They had never been together before and many of them would
never see each other again. However, aboard that ship was a comradery and
purpose that bound them together. Their task was to attain victory over the
enemy.
2. According to Peter, the our common purpose is to show forth the praises of the
One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
B. What binds a church together?
1. Is it because we are in the same place?
2. Are we the same ages with similar walks of life?
3. Do we all have similar backgrounds?
4. Do we all like the same things?
C. The tie that binds is a common purpose of praise and personhood through Jesus
Christ.
III. IT IS A TIE EXPRESSED BY LOVE
A. John Fawcett had it right when he spoke of the tie that binds our hearts in
Christian love.
1. Jesus said that our love for one another was the defining characteristic of
discipleship in John 13:34-35j.
2. John wrote that our love for God is inseperably linked to our love for one another
(1 John 4:7-8).
B. A man had two sons who were estranged from one another. They had not spoken
in years and made no pretense about caring for one another. As their father
approached the end of his life he called the two sons to his bedside. In one hand
he ha two wooden rods. He gave one to each son and asked them to break them..
They did so easily. Then, the man took several rods that had been bound together
by a cord. He asked the sons to break this but they were unable to do so. The
father explained that the cord represented love and how without lovee they would
each b e broken by the stress of life. With love for one another, however, they
would be able to face the difficulties successfully.
CONCLUSION”
A. In a time of crisis, separation and “social distancing.” In a period dof financial
insecurity and uncertain future may we take heart in Paul’s powerful proclaimation in
Romans 8:31-38, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,
who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us ll—
how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the
ne who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to
ife—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us
from the ove of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long we are
considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j] 37 No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
B. The love of Christ is the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. It is the fellowship
of kindred minds that is like to that above,. Hallelujah!
