Look up the verses, with their context and answer the questions. In the NIV, the phrase, “one another” is in each of these passages.
1. Compassion from God. Exodus 25:20; 37:9 – The cherubim on the on the ark of the covenant were facing one another looking at the mercy seat. Why? What needs to be at the heart & center of our worship? Peter 1:12
2. Covenant. Genesis 26:31 – These two men covenant together and kept their word. What does it take for us to be faithful to one another?
3. Covering. Exodus 26:3; 26:5 – How can we be better fitted together as a people who worship the Lord?
4. Contracts. Leviticus 25:14 16-17, 46 – Does God care if we treat one another like slaves and our own personal servants? How should we deal with one another?
5. Confession. Genesis 42:21 – Have we failed any of our members? For example, letting them go to the wolves?
6. Communication. Leviticus 19:11 – How do we communicate with one another to preserve the community?
7. Complaining. Numbers 14:3-4 – What is your first reaction when you face challenges & promises from God that seem impossibly great?
8. Conspiracy. Genesis 11:3 – What did God want the people to do following the flood? What did they do instead? Are you working against God’s plan?
9. Confusion. Exodus 16:15 – What are things that we discuss among ourselves when we need to ask God?
10. Collapse. Leviticus 26:36-38 – What happens to the Lord’s people who face judgment because of rebellion?
About the Ministry
Top 10 “One Another”s in the Law of Moses
Naming Righteousness
Disciple of Jesus = Student of Jesus himself / Follower of Jesus who is free of obligations to others and goes wherever possible to learn to imitate Jesus more perfectly. Outside of the Gospels and Acts, no one is called a disciple.
Apostle = missionary, sent by Jesus to make disciples of the nations that have yet to hear.
Believer = Someone who believes in the Lordship of Messiah Jesus.
Elder = Someone who helps lead a local gathering of believers. Usually older and married.
Servant = Helps in the functions of the local gathering and does whatever is needed to complete the good works of a local community of believers.
Pastor = someone who leads others to obey Jesus by feeding them the truth, normally in a local setting and in existing ties to a local community of believers.
Evangelist = Someone who tells the stories of how Jesus served in the first century in Israel and how he died in our place and how he reigns on high, risen as Lord.
Prophet = tells the word of God like it is. Uncompromising in their presentation of the truth, but encourages people to good works by announcing who Jesus is and what His will is in a situation.
Teacher = instructs other in the ways of Jesus and the work of the Lord.
Reader = Someone who reads the Bible to others so that they may believe.
Saint = Someone who is set apart to obey the Lord Jesus in their place of living.
Hearer = anyone who hears the word of God. Not necessarily a believer.
A Final Message
Divest yourself from the things of this world. Follow Jesus.
To be Alone or to Make Contact? Connect to Christ
YHWH God said, “It is not good: the man is alone. I will make for him a helper as his opposite.” – Genesis 2:18
God is good and knows what is good. He is intimately involved in our lives and He longs to give us the best. Jesus loves you.
Anyone who has been truly alone for a long time knows that it does something to the soul. The waves of time and the winds of thought erode more quickly at a person who is alone. It is harder to stand against temptation if one is alone.
Not even God Himself remained alone forever. God is love, and in His love and with love He made us. We are made in His image and designed to love. You cannot love alone. This is why it is not good to be alone. God does not want to be left alone. Look for Him with all your being.
God did not give man a pet dog or cat or even appoint a pet lamb to stay in his house for a few days. The Lord God made him a helper. Not only can we love alone, we also need help in our lives. Someone who will strengthen us to face the storms. We need a cheerleader and a champion.
This is true not only of spouses, even single people do better on teams. Eunuchs were appointed to the king’s palace. Paul served, like the twelve, in teams that the Lord sent out at least two by two usually.
Community is inherent in the human race. No success is real if achieved singularly. There are always others who help. If not, the success will die as soon as the person dies.
Life is a race, a marathon, a relay. One generation passes the baton to the next. The receivers of life must carry it forward together. We are the human race, not a solitary sprint.
Interestingly, there is a difference that is one of matching opposites, a fitness that belongs to marriage. No married couple will agree about everything. If they do, they don’t need each other. Oh, if only Adam had not agreed with his wife in eating the fruit! If only we would demand less harmony with people, we would enjoy them more!
Satisfied couples and satisfied team members expect more from themselves than their partners. They have found that truly it is better to give than to receive.
However, alone, there is no giving or receiving, only looking and naming.
Are you alone? If you want a friend, you must make friends: do what you can with your present skills: name animals, tend a garden, share the good news, talk to your neighbors. Before you know it, you will no longer be alone, but will be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
Cross the street and meet a stranger and tell them Jesus loves them. Or cross the city until you find someone who loves Jesus and let them encourage you.
You will witness this reality: God will not abandon you and will give you those iron-sharpen-iron type friends who will prepare you to resist evil.
If you need connection, feel free to contact us.
What is IF4ES?
IF4ES is an International Fellowship for Everyday Saints.
… OR
Mert at Park
IF4ES is an intermittent fool for the eternal Savior.
IF4ES is about instituting freedom for enduring studies.
IF4ES is about initiating friendships for emotional stability.
IF4ES is a bunch of internet files for expressing salvation.
IF4ES is a bunch interesting forums for evangelical service.
We meet in restaurants, on busses, in church buildings, in homes, on the web, on the street, on college campuses. Wherever you find 2-3 Christians, you will immediately forage for the everlasting Sovereign. I.e. We are about witnessing to the Good News of Jesus.
If you met me in the community somewhere, I may have given you a booklet or Bible. I may have given you a DVD or New Testament in your language or another book to point you to Jesus. If you met me at church, I may have urged you to pray for the nations. Perhaps you received a prayer booklet or other reminder to pray. If you met me elsewhere, you may think I am weird. What matters though is that I follow Jesus. If you are not currently attending church, please check out the “Find a Gathering” link at the top of the page and find a church near where you live. If you think I should add a church to the list, email me, and I might do that.
If you will look to Him, you will find Jesus is already looking for you. Has He found you? Are you founded upon Him? Perhaps you would like to know how you can have peace with God.
Let me encourage you to write me to request a New Testament or to read through the following Books of the Bible online: Luke, John, Acts, Romans at one of the links above or download the YouVersion app (or contact me for a paper copy if you so desire). Each time you read, pray that God would show you something about Jesus and what He would have you obey. When you hear or read something you think is helpful, give thanks and apply it to your life as simply and as quickly as possible. If something seems relevant to life and if you have truly learned it from the Holy Scriptures, who can you share it with? Truth is never meant to be kept to yourself. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I live in Washtenaw County, and would be happy to meet you if you can contact me.
Jesus died on the cross to take away your sins.
He was buried according to the Scriptures.
On the third day, he rose again according to the Scriptures and was seen by many people.
If Jesus is alive, it makes all the difference in the world!
Jesus IS alive! He lives!! You can face tomorrow. There is hope!
Talk to Jesus about the bad things you have done and the good things He has done for you. Ask Him your questions and ask Him for Help each day. Dedicate your day to him when you get up in the morning. Dedicate your sleep at night. Consecrate your meals to Him. Offer your work to Him as a life of sacrifice. Live for Jesus 100%!!
International Fellowship for Everyday Saints is not so much about organizing a new denomination, but about prodding people in all existing denominations and religions to ardently pursue the Living God by obeying the risen Jesus Christ as Lord over all.
These posts seek to take everyday matters and orient them around the Hope that we have in Jesus: He is Lord and He will come back to reconcile all things in Himself to God the Father. We believe the Son of God, i.e. God the Son, is the only way to meet the true God. It is not shirk to call Jesus God or to say God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ Jesus. Nor is it arrogance for Jesus to assert all authority in heaven and earth. Nor is it pride or triumphalism for Christians to walk in the Light of that power. These statements and commands are found in the Word of God. I am a mere slave of the Word.
If you ever find anything in the Bible (and particularly the commands of Jesus) that I am not obeying, please do not hesitate to communicate that with me in a direct and gentle manner. I want to learn and grow.
Humility is measured by the degree to which one conforms to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. I, Mert Hershberger, do not want to be found lacking on the last day; so I will gladly embrace suffering, whether emotional, physical, or financial, as an opportunity for the dynamic expression of Christ to be at work in me.
Key verses of mine: Psalm 2:8, “Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession. … if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22
Please email me at mertaka (at) everybody (dot) org if you would like to correspond with me.
You may also write to me at
Bro. Mert Hershberger
P.O. Box 981215
Ypsilanti, MI 48198-1215
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The basis for the following invitation is Job 19:21, 23, 25-27.
“Y’all, pity me, pity me, my friends, for God’s hand has touched me. Who then shall give that my words would be recorded and printed in a book? I myself know my Redeemer: The Living and The Last-He will stand upon the dust. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, from my flesh I will see God, Whom I myself will see for myself. Him my eyes wil see and not a stranger. My heart faints within me …” (MERT: my English-rendered translation)
Later Job’s “friends” were thus moved by God to give to support him when they realized that his poverty was permitted by God to allow them to be generous. If you contribute to this ministry, I will eagerly pray for you. Even if you don’t give, I will pray for you, if you ask. Philippians 3:12-14. If you are not feeling like a saint, please do not share your finances with me unless you are trying to repay a debt. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and to be in right standing with Him, then the finances will be found.”
Monies given are used to pay for the communication of the Gospel, including such things as Bibles and Evangelistic DVDs.
If you are interested in contributing to the ministry entrusted to me of building up the saints for works of service and evangelism among least reached and least prominent people and nations (particularly those living in Washtenaw County), you may do so at the following site:
https://ccc2.securesites.net/index.php?option=com_catalog&view=node&Itemid=6&id=117:if4es
Anyone who contributes $50 or more to the ministry and leaves their address in the contact information, will receive 1 poetry book titled “Peasant Perfume: Poems, Proverbs, Prayers, and Parables” when the book is published.
If you cannot afford to contribute anything, but would like to pray for me, please do so. If you would like to curse me, remember, there is no sorcery against God’s people! Beware. God is my defense. The blood of Jesus atones for my sin and for the sin of all who repent and turn to Jesus.
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