A Faith That Works (23.10.11)

"Exploring the New Command of Jesus - To Love One Another"

Text: Romans 16:3-16, 1 Corinthians 16:19-20, 1 Peter 5:14

Greet with one another with...
- Five times in New Testament
1. Romans 16:16
2. 1 Corinthians 16:20
3. 2 Corinthians 13:12
4. 1 Thessalonian 5:26
5. 1 Peter 5:14 (Love)

What is a greeting?
Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other. Throughout all cultures people greet one another as a sign of recognition, welcome, affection and friendship. The greetings can be expressed audibly (verbally) and physically using bodily gestures. The verbal expression and the physical gestures varies from culture to culture.

Cultural Greetings
- Apa khabar?
- Vanakam
- Ni haou?
- Hello
- Konnichiwa
- Annyoung
- Bonjour

Greetings in Old Testament
*Jacob kissed Isaac - Genesis 27:27
*Jacob kissed Rachel - Genesis 29:11
*Laban kissed Jacob - Genesis 29:13
*Esau embraced and kissed Jacob - Genesis 33:4
*Joseph kissed all his brothers - Genesis 45:15
*Israel kissed Ephraim and Manasseh - Genesis 48:10
*Joseph kissed Israel - Genesis 50:1
*Aaron kissed Moses - Exodus 4:27
*Moses kissed Jethro - Exodus 18:7
*Naomi kissed Ruth - Ruth 1:9
*Orpah kissed Naomi - Ruth 1:14
*Samuel kissed Saul - 1 Samuel 10:1
*David kissed Jonathan - 1 Samuel 20:41
*David kissed Absalom - 2 Samuel 14:33
*David kissed Barzillai - 2 Samuel 19:39

Kissing in New Testament
*The sinful woman kissing Jesus' feet - Luke 7:45
*The father welcoming home his Prodigal Son - Luke 15:20
*The Ephesian elders praying with Paul - Acts 20:37
*Judas' unholy kiss, the kiss of betrayal - Luke 22:47-48

Greetings Today
- The Roman Catholic tradition
- The Protestant neglect
- The church "ice breakers" (should not be too elaborate not too long, should be Biblical meaningful) - Shalom! Aleichem Shalom (Shalom means peace)

Gladness of Greetings
- I am glad....... you're still alive
- I am glad....... to know you
- I am glad....... we are friends

Paul's Greetings in Romans 16
- He acknowledge people
- He commended good deeds
- He expressed affection
- He blessed people

To love one another is to express your affection and appreciation in words and in action.