"Am I My Brothers Keeper?" - This is a question that Cain asked God many thousand of years ago. But the interesting thing is Cain asked this question after committing murder! It was out of guilt, fear and shame that he throws this question to God! Yes, we are our brothers keeper!

God expects us to help one another and be there for each other! That is why he asked "Where is your brother"

Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Our relationship with one another is a basic component of Christianity. However, these relationships can work only if the total commitment to following Christ as Lord is present to begin with!

The powerful purpose for one another relationship

To form Christ in another person

Galatians 4:19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

This task is not easy and cannot be accomplished without some labors and struggles

Colossians 1:28-29
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

The maturing process being described in what Jesus referred to in Mt.28:19. Teaching the baptized disciples to obey everything!

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Once we have discipled someone to Jesus (conversion), then we must disciple them into the image of Jesus (maturation)!

This process takes into consideration the needs of the whole person - their physical, the emotional and the spiritual needs.

To accomplish the mission of Jesus

Matthew 28:19-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

If Christ is truly formed in another person, that person will have the same focus in life which Jesus himself had,

Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

The healthy heart in one another relationships

In order for maturing relationships to work, our hearts must be open to change and eager to change.

Discipling necessarily deals with the outward actions of a disciple, but not without the involvement of the heart

One can do the deeds of a disciple without the heart of a disciple, but if one has the heart of a disciple, he will do the deeds of a disciple.

For this reason, Jesus always discipled from the inside out rather from the outside in.

What are the heart qualities needed by us as disciples?

1. A teachable heart

A teachable heart is shown by initiation. If our desire is to be as much like Jesus as possible, we will seek inputs for our lives.

A teachable heart is shown by imitation. The principle of imitation is a very practical and biblical one.

1 Corinthians 4:14-17
14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.
15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

The things in another's life which are to be imitated are the Christ-like qualities. Obviously, we are not concerned with imitating incidents, styles or weaknesses. But imitation is without doubt the fastest way to grow.

2. A trusting heart

A trusting heart begins with a complete trust in God, which makes possible the trusting of those people he puts into your life.

The idea that you can trust God without trusting the people in your life is ungodly and unbiblical!

If disciples are to be known by their love (Jn.13:34,35) and if love always trust (I Cor.13:7), then we cannot be disciples without trusting others in the family of God!

John 13:34-35
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

1 Corinthians 13:7
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

3. A transparent heart

A transparent heart is open in every area of life because every area of life is to become like Jesus.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

We are to confess our sins to each other. In the original language, the idea is to be in the habit of confessing sins and not waiting until you are sick!