Berean Studies / Ber06 - Brotherly Kindness (Brotherly Love)
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Single Click a triangle below to see the references CT Russell selected for the associated question. The study questions (with the references) are also included as an attached Adobe PDF file at the bottom of this page. 1. What is the ‘new commandment’ given by Christ to his disciples? 2. What is brotherly love? 3. Who are our ‘brethren’? 4. Why is the manifestation of brotherly kindness so necessary ? 5. Is it important that we observe the spirit as well as the form of our Lord's command? 6. Why do the Lord’s ‘brethren’ need no ‘outward passwords, grips or badges’? 7. How is our love for God measured by our love for ‘the brethren’? 8. Can we fellowship all ‘the brethren’ alike? 9. Should we always expect to have our manifestations of brotherly kindness received in the same spirit? 10. How are the comfort and peace of the Church dependent upon the manifestation of this grace? R3436 col. 2 ¶4 R3436 [col. 2 ¶4]: Finally, we notice that the Apostle implies, in some of his statements, that the comfort and peace of the Church are dependent largely upon unity of the Spirit of the Lord in the various members: and that we from experience should note that this is the case. He says, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (2 Cor. 13:11.) And again (Phil. 2:1,2), "If there be any consolation [comfort] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." What exhortations these are to unity, peace, brotherly kindness! How they suggest to us patience, forbearance, gentleness, helpfulness and comfort one toward another in the Church; that thus the Spirit of the Lord may abound in all, that each may make the greatest possible progress in the right way. Dear brethren and sisters, let us more and more be worthy of the name Barnabas--Comforter of the brethren. Let us have the holy Spirit abounding in us more and more, for this is the Lord's good pleasure; that with it dwelling in us richly we may be all sons and daughters of comfort in Zion, representatives of our Father, and channels of the holy Spirit, as well as of the Truth. 11. How should brotherly love exercise itself in seeking opportunities for service? 12. How should brotherly love manifest itself ‘in honor preferring one another’? 13. How should we ‘consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works’? Heb 10:24; F308 ¶1, 2; R3536 col. 2 ¶4 Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: F308 [¶1, 2]: What a loving and beautiful thought is here expressed! While others consider their fellows to fault-find or discourage, or selfishly to take advantage of their weaknesses, the New Creation is to do the reverse--to study carefully each other's dispositions with a view to avoiding the saying or doing of things which would unnecessarily wound, stir up anger, etc., but with a view to provoking them to love and good conduct. And why not? Is not the whole attitude of the world, the flesh and the devil provocative of envy, selfishness, jealousy, and full of evil enticement to sin, of thought, word and deed? Why, then, should not the New Creatures of the Christ body not only abstain from such provocations toward themselves and others, but engage in provoking or inciting in the reverse direction-- toward love and good works? Surely this, like every admonition and exhortation of God's Word, is reasonable as well as profitable. R3536 [col. 2, ¶4]: "Let us consider one another," said the Apostle-- consider one another's weaknesses, consider one another's trials, consider one another's temptations, consider one another's efforts to war a good warfare against the world, the flesh and the Adversary--consider one another's troubles in the narrow way against opposition from within and without, and as we do so it will bring to our hearts sympathy, a sympathy which will take pleasure in pouring out the spikenard perfume, very costly, purest and best, upon all who are fellow-members of the one body. 14. How will brotherly love exercise itself in ‘laying down our lives for the brethren’? 15. How should we manifest brotherly kindness toward the weaker brethren? 16. How will brotherly love sympathize with the more demonstrative brethren? 17. How should brotherly kindness deal with the self-seeking ? 18. How will brotherly kindness deal with brethren who lack self- control? 19. How should brotherly kindness seek to avoid ‘busy- bodying’? 20. How should brotherly love control the tongue? 21. How should brotherly love treat a slanderous report against an elder or other brethren? 22. How should the Church exercise brotherly kindness toward those who ‘walk disorderly’? 23. How should the elders exercise brotherly love in reproving the ‘unruly’? 24. How may we avoid judging one another as individuals ? 25. How should brotherly kindness be exercised toward brethren who have doctrinal ‘hobbies’? 26. What is the relation between brotherly kindness and ‘the unity of the faith’? 27. How should brotherly kindness deal with serious offenders in the Church? 28. By what rules are ‘false brethren’ to be judged? 29. What should be our attitude toward ‘siftings’ among the brethren? 30. What should be the attitude of all ‘true sacrificers’ toward each other and toward those who have left ‘the Holy’? 31. How does brotherly kindness apply ‘the Golden Rule’? 32. How should brotherly love exercise itself toward the special servants of the Church? 33. How should we exercise brotherly love toward our brethren still ‘in Babylon’? 34. How should brotherly kindness consider ‘social obligations’? 35. What course will brotherly love dictate in the matter of ‘borrowing and lending’? 36. How should brotherly love regard visiting, ‘borrowing a neighbor’s time ‘? 37. What is the relation between brotherly love and communism? 38. Do those who have reached ‘the mark’ still have trials along the line of brotherly love? 39. Why is brotherly love ‘one of the final and most searching tests ‘ of the brethren and how may we prepare to meet it? 40. What should be ‘the main- spring back of brotherly kindness’? 41. What does the illustration of ‘the third- quarter mark’ signify? 42. Why is it important that we manifest brotherly love now ? 43. How may we become members of ‘the Mary class’? 44. How did Jesus show us a grand example of brotherly love and sympathy? 45. How can we fulfill Jesus’ command to ‘wash one another’s feet’? 46. How jealously should we guard and increase this grace of brotherly kindness? 47. How may we cultivate brotherly love? 48. What additional thoughts are found in Topical Index of ‘Heavenly Manna, ‘ under ‘Love One Another‘?