This is the last in a series of sermon notes based on a series of sermons by my pastor, Kevin Bockus.
X. Accepting the Unacceptable
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, everyone knows,
Anything Goes.
Matthew 13:24-25
Introduction:
The story was related about the two men who made an agreement with each other, that the one could kill and eat the other. As horrific as that incident was, many people defended the action because they were “two consenting adults.”
What was once unacceptable is now acceptable.
The church is not just quiet when it comes to these things, but has become comatose.
An anecdote was told about a couple in a church who seemed to be very devout Christians. When the pastor called on them, as could be expected, there was a Bible on the coffee table and a wall plaque attesting to their faith. They talk about thing that would be expected to be of interest to Christians. But as the pastor sits on the sofa, in a shelf just 3 feet from him are the family’s collection of movies. A quick glance shows him that most of them are what would be called “hard ‘R’” rated movies.
Let’s look at thinkgs the church needs to do in order to avoid accepting the unacceptable.
We need to wake up.
Matthew 13:24-25
We learn two things about the enemy:
• He’s calculating
• He’s conniving
Somebody needs to sound the alarm!
We need to speak up.
We cannot depend on the media to sound warnings for us.
Good things happen when God’s people speak up.
There was a boycott on Pepsi for donating money to a Gay & Lesbian organization. The boycott is no longer on. Why? Because Pepsi listened, and stopped supporting this organization.
Ephesians 4:15 – speaking the truth in love
We speak up because of love, not because we want to look “holier than thou.”
We need to shape up.
We must make sure that what we do matches our witness.
If you would feeling uncomfortable watching something on television, or a movie, if Jesus were sitting beside you watching, then you need to cease watching that type of thing.
II Timothy 2:16-23 – verse 21 “keeps himself pure”
Conclusion:
Don’t say,”I’m just one person; I can’t do anything.”
The most powerful alliance in the world is the Lord and His people.
Stop accepting the unacceptable!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
How the Church Hinders the Kingdom of God - Part IX
IX. Allowing Wolves to Live Among the Sheep
Titus 3:10-11
Introduction:
There are three truths we must realize if we are to protect ourselves against these wolves.
A story was told about a lone gunman entering a church and shooting up the place, killing several people, at last turning the gun on himself. Churches immediately started taking measures to protect their people physically. But what about those who are on the prowl to attack and destroy us spiritually?
Truth #1 – We’ve Been Warned
II Corinthians 11:14; I Peter 5:8
If we are going to be prepared, we must know who our enemy is.
• Fact #1 – Spiritual wolves are masters of deception; they disguise themselves as sheep and make themselves look like super Christians
• Fact #2 – Spiritual wolves are dangerous.
• Fact #3 – Spiritual wolves are evil – “Satan’s servants”
• Fact #4 – Spiritual wolves always reveal themselves. Don’t label a person a wolf on one incident; a wolf will have a consistent pattern.
• Fact #5 – Good people can morph into wolves. Some will distort the truth to gain a following
• Fact #6 – Spiritual wolves love power. They are “upwardly mobile” – false prophets, teachers and apostles.
Truth #2 – We’ve Been Hesitant
• We foolishly believe people will change without discipline.
• The intertwining of personal relationships.
• We’re afraid of collateral damage.
• We don’t know what to do.
Truth #3 – We’ve Been Instructed
Conclusion #1 – No one should get a free pass for bad behaviour.
Galatians 6:1 Do all in humility, gentleness and love. We need to keep the goal in view that we may restore the offender without becoming a wolf ourselves.
Conclusion #2 – Not all bad behaviour makes a person deserving of confrontation or removal from the church.
Don’t confront someone just because they get on your nerves, or disagree with you, etc.
Conclusion #3 – Biblical discipline is a process, not an act.
Titus 3:10-11 There must be a first warning, then time allowed to pass for them to correct the situation; then a second warning. When adequate time has passed after the second warning, they should be put out.
Conclusion #4 – Biblical discipline should be carried out with patience, but not to an extreme.
Warn once, twice – no more. More warnings, more time would tend to undermine authority.
Conclusion #5 – The removal of a person from the church's fellowship should be a last resort.
Conclusion #6 – There should be no guilty feelings on the part of the church leaders who exercise church discipline…and no animosity directed toward them by members of the congregation. They are following the process of scripture.
Conclusion:
Our goal is not to move them out, but to see them transformed into sheep through repentance.
Titus 3:10-11
Introduction:
There are three truths we must realize if we are to protect ourselves against these wolves.
A story was told about a lone gunman entering a church and shooting up the place, killing several people, at last turning the gun on himself. Churches immediately started taking measures to protect their people physically. But what about those who are on the prowl to attack and destroy us spiritually?
Truth #1 – We’ve Been Warned
II Corinthians 11:14; I Peter 5:8
If we are going to be prepared, we must know who our enemy is.
• Fact #1 – Spiritual wolves are masters of deception; they disguise themselves as sheep and make themselves look like super Christians
• Fact #2 – Spiritual wolves are dangerous.
• Fact #3 – Spiritual wolves are evil – “Satan’s servants”
• Fact #4 – Spiritual wolves always reveal themselves. Don’t label a person a wolf on one incident; a wolf will have a consistent pattern.
• Fact #5 – Good people can morph into wolves. Some will distort the truth to gain a following
• Fact #6 – Spiritual wolves love power. They are “upwardly mobile” – false prophets, teachers and apostles.
Truth #2 – We’ve Been Hesitant
• We foolishly believe people will change without discipline.
• The intertwining of personal relationships.
• We’re afraid of collateral damage.
• We don’t know what to do.
Truth #3 – We’ve Been Instructed
Conclusion #1 – No one should get a free pass for bad behaviour.
Galatians 6:1 Do all in humility, gentleness and love. We need to keep the goal in view that we may restore the offender without becoming a wolf ourselves.
Conclusion #2 – Not all bad behaviour makes a person deserving of confrontation or removal from the church.
Don’t confront someone just because they get on your nerves, or disagree with you, etc.
Conclusion #3 – Biblical discipline is a process, not an act.
Titus 3:10-11 There must be a first warning, then time allowed to pass for them to correct the situation; then a second warning. When adequate time has passed after the second warning, they should be put out.
Conclusion #4 – Biblical discipline should be carried out with patience, but not to an extreme.
Warn once, twice – no more. More warnings, more time would tend to undermine authority.
Conclusion #5 – The removal of a person from the church's fellowship should be a last resort.
Conclusion #6 – There should be no guilty feelings on the part of the church leaders who exercise church discipline…and no animosity directed toward them by members of the congregation. They are following the process of scripture.
Conclusion:
Our goal is not to move them out, but to see them transformed into sheep through repentance.
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