We are excited for a new sermon series at Westover! The One Another series will be a 7-part series that will last from September 12 - October 24. Using Romans 12 as our foundational passage, each week of this series will focus on at least one of the 59 “One Anothers” found in the New Testament, while also exploring what it means to be a Gospel-people to one another and the world by moving toward opportunities for living and serving on mission for the Glory of Christ.

Each week we will be providing resources for you to engage with what we've learned in each sermon and to help you dive deeper into putting these lessons into practice. Scroll down to see our resources we have for the series as a whole, and check back each week to see updates!

One Another Resources

Scripture 

• The One Anothers of the New Testament

Personal and/or Group Study

• True Spirituality: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian by Chip Ingram
• Building Up One Another by Gene Getz
• The One Anothers - a RightNow media video series by Tony Evans
• 31 Ways to be A One-Another Christian: Loving Others with the Love of Jesus by Stuart Scott

For More In-Depth Study

• The Story of God Bible Commentary (Romans) by Michael Bird
• Romans 8-16 For You (God's Word For You Series) by Timothy Keller

Week 1 – The One Anothers

Discussion Questions:

• What is the greatest act of mercy someone (other than God) has shown or demonstrated for you? How did it shape or change you?
• Read Romans 12:1. Take time to reflect on (or view) God’s mercy and God's mercies in your life. How has God’s mercy changed you? How is it changing you?
• Do you find yourself struggling to fully accept and trust God’s mercy for you? If so, in what ways, and why?
• Read through and reflect on the 59 One Another’s. What stirs you? What challenges you?
• What difference would a One Another-ing church make to a watching world? How is God calling you to contribute?

Week 2 – Love One Another

Discussion Questions:

• What prevents me from loving others? 
• According to Philippians 2:3, what is the relationship between having a healthy self-esteem and "considering others better than yourself"?
• How does Philippians 2:5-11 deepen your understanding of that relationship? 
• What is the next step I need to take in honoring one another? 
• What is the next step I need to take in practicing hospitality? 
• In what ways have you seen Westover Church function as the family of God? 

Week 3 – Members of One Another

Discussion Questions:

• Take some time to identify the most dedicated and devoted relationships in your life.  What are some of the characteristics and agreements that have contributed to defining these relationships?  How do these relationships serve to benefit you specifically?  How do these relationships serve to benefit others?
• Read Romans 12, giving more specific focus to verses 1-5 and 9-16.  According to these passages, what are some of the defining characteristics of a people who are devoted to one another in love?  What gets in the way of this regularly happening among God’s people?
• What does it look like for Christians to belong to one another?  In what ways have you experienced the church functioning as a family?
• How would you describe God’s covenant-relationship with His people as defined by the Gospel?  How does this shape the way we (as followers of Jesus) relate to one another?
• In what ways does being a member of the body of Christ and a member of the family of God bring you comfort?  In what ways are you challenged to grow?

Additional Resoures: 

• Biblical Evidence for Church Membership
• 4 Metaphors for the Church 
• Westover's Blog Post on Membership

Week 4 – Serve One Another (Part 1)

Discussion Questions:

• Read Mark 10:42-45, with emphasis on verse 45 (for fuller context, also read v.35-41).  What do you think it means for God to serve us?  In turn, how do we serve God?
• Read Galatians 5:13-14.  What is the relationship between freedom and serving others?
• Why do you think God gives special attention for Christians to serving one another (instead of just serving everyone)?
• What are some of the distinctives of a people who follow Jesus and who serve one another?  What are some specific ways that Christians can serve one another?  Brainstorm and make a list.  
• Take a moment to reflect on what was shared (#4 above).  What do you find compelling and attractive about a people who serve one another well? 
• Read Romans 12:2.  How has someone’s obedience to serve one another contributed to spiritual transformation in your life?  In what ways have your experiences of serving others also contributed to spiritual transformation in your life?

Additional Resoures: 

• Serve at Westover

Week 5 – Serve One Another (Part 2)

Discussion Questions:

• Think of the most gifted person you know.  How would you describe them?  In what ways are they uniquely gifted? 
• How are gifts different from abilities?  Why do you think it may be important to distinguish between a person's gifts and a person's abilities? 
• Think of a specific way someone has recently blessed or served you with their gifts.  What did they do?  How did their giftedness serve to make a difference? 
• Read Romans 12:3-8.  In verse 6, we're told that there are certain and differing gifts, otherwise known as Spiritual Gifts, given to the 'members' of the Body according to God's grace.  What do you think of when you hear the term spiritual gifts?  (Positives and Negatives)**
• In what ways can spiritual gifts are overestimated?  In what ways are they underestimated? 
• How have you seen or experienced the church benefiting from a person (or a group of people) offering their gifts to serve one another?
• How can we ensure that things like spiritual gifts contribute to unity in the Body (and not disunity)? 
• Reflective Question: In what ways might God be leading you to discover, develop and offer your gifts (natural or spiritual) to serve His Body?  In what ways might God leading you to encourage and contribute to someone else's growth in using their gifts?

**NOTE: Spiritual Gifts is often a source of disagreement, confusion, and even division among Christians.  Be sensitive to the differing perspectives and experiences that may be present.  In asking the above question, we are not moving toward any particular answer more than considering how God has gifted His Body. 

**A general definition for spiritual gifts was offered in the sermon:  (from 1 Cor. 12:1-7)
SPIRITUAL Gifts:  Particular GIFTS given (SUPERNATURALLY) by the Holy Spirit to a particular PEOPLE (BELIEVERS) for a particular PURPOSE (COMMON GOOD).

Additional Resources: 

• Register for our "Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts" Class on November 10!
• Slide: "The Holy Spirit is a Gift!"
• Slide: "What Are the Gifts? (Part 1)" 
• Slide: "What Are the Gifts? (Part 2)"
• Slide: "A Brief Doctrine on Spiritual Gifts" 
• Slide: "Why the Gifts?"

Week 6 – Forgive One Another

Discussion Questions:

• Aside from the Bible and the doctrine of God’s forgiveness through Christ, what is one of the most moving stories of forgiveness that you have ever heard?  How does this story inspire you?  How does it challenge, or even, unsettle you?
• Read Ephesians 4:2 and Colossians 3:12-13.  What is the relationship between bearing with one another and forgiving one another?  How are these the same?  How are they different?
• What does it mean to truly forgive?   How do we know that we have fully forgiven someone?  How do we know when we have been completely forgiven? (What are some agreements, assumptions that could be made for each?)
• What would you say about forgiveness to a person who has suffered abuse?  How would you support this biblically?
• Read Romans 12:18.  When it comes to forgiving others, what are some indicators for how/when forgiveness needs to involve going to the other person in loving confrontation?  In other words, when does forgiveness need to be a private matter between just myself and God, and when should forgiveness lead me to speak directly to the person who has sinned against me or whom I have sinned against?
• How are we to forgive someone who is not sorry, and why is it important?

Reflection Questions: (Not to be answered out loud)

• From whom do you need to seek forgiveness? What do you specifically need to confess in order to own your part?  Take some time to pray about it, and perhaps begin writing out what you need to say.  Also, bring the matter before God in order to receive and to be assured of His forgiveness (Read Psalm 51:4).
• From whom are you withholding forgiveness, and/or with whom are you struggling to forgive?  What is God leading you to do?  What are your next steps?  Without inciting gossip or slander against another, who are some others who can pray with you and encourage you in your need to forgive?

Additional Resources & Sermon Slides:

• Peacemaker Ministries
• Slide: Biblical Forgiveness & Reconciliation
• Slide: 7 A's of Confession
• Slide: Loving Confrontation– The Matthew 18 Process

Week 7 – Build One Another Up

Discussion Questions:

• In Romans 12:9-21, we find a number of ways that we as followers of Christ can live out "building one another up." Which of these come most naturally to you? Are there ones that you struggle to live out?
• How would you define "Connecting in Biblical Community?"
• Does you life, schedule, or weekly routine reflect biblical community as a priority? If so, how? If not, what might need to change?
• What is a tangible way that you can show encouragement to those around you (think co-workers, family, spouse, roommates & friends, etc.)?
• What could your part be? In what ways might the Lord be leading you to "One Another" (as a church family... as a local church... as a church with a missions DNA)?