To my husband, Bill, who had no idea what he was getting into when he said “I do,” but he has for more than four decades. You have not only loved me as wife, friend and lover, but as a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I am a better one another because of you!

Introduction

I am deeply humbled that you would pick up this book and seek out its pages. I am well aware there are many Bible studies to choose from, so I have to be honest. I really had no idea what the end product of this book adventure would look like when I started on this journey to learn how to live out the one anothers found in the New Testament. Should it be personal and transparent or more reserved? Should the book be conversational or should it be an in-depth study with lots of Greek and lots of homework? 

What you do hold is a bridge of sorts. This bridge attempts to cross the chasm between self-help exchanges (appropriate at times) and the deep studies that involve hours of daily commitment (necessary at times) with a biblical history fictional short story weaved in.

 Will you need to study some during the week? Yes, but probably not hours a day, unless you want to. Will you be amused at times and cry sometimes? I hope so or I’ve missed the whole transparency part discussed in the preface. Do you have to read the short story? No, but I hope you will. You may find yourself somewhere in there!

Above all else, my heartfelt prayer is that you will learn to deeply value the study of God’s Word and then practice what He teaches. 

Chapters include just a little bit of Greek so you can dig deeper into the rich meanings of this intricate language of old. Don’t panic! I am not a scholar – just an average Josephine who has learned how to use online Bible study tools and they are so helpful. You can learn how to use them too! 

Each chapter will include questions to encourage you to keep learning. These can be used personally or within a group study. Don’t be afraid to dig into the Scriptures referenced in these questions. There are so many relevant teachings and applications throughout the Bible.

But I don’t want you to stop there! Each chapter also has one or two practical suggestions for you and your group to practice loving one another. As my mom used to say, “Practice makes perfect.” 

Finally, each chapter will have one scene from the fictional short story entitled Seeking Abigail. I hope you will fall in love with Chloe and Judah and, of course, Abigail, and that you will see in her story how loving one another actually draws people to Jesus.

The Art of Loving One Another is the first book in the One Another Living Series and I sincerely believe it will give you God’s foundation for one another living. I am confident that Jesus is going to show you, just as He keeps teaching me, that if we get loving one another right, the whole world will know that we are His disciples. Only then will the world be drawn to Him and His name glorified. That is my daily prayer!

Because We Need Each Other and the World Needs Jesus!

Elaine H. Baldwin