House Rules cont.
So these are the notes from Apex service last night.
Matthew 18:15-20
If you have an authentic community...there will be conflict.
Anyone can love the "ideal" church. The challenge is to love the real church.
Joseph McKinney
How do we love when it's hard?
There should NEVER be a house church where someone "checks out" and isn't checked on.
In the USA we love to "go after" people i.e sue,attack,etc.
Principles of Conflict
1 There is good and bad conflict
bad conflict..cheap shots,anger,temper. It causes people to go into their shell. There are alot of recovering turtles walking around.
good conflict..Some people love conflict..it clears the air..it results in unity.
unity is not the same as uniformity
bad conflict results in division..hypocrisy
good conflict results in growth. You go through a battle together.
bad conflict can inflict a deep wound..back stabbing
Jesus reputation is at stake when we engage in conflict.
How to love through discipline
1 Take responsibility. Our lives lived in public impacts those around us.
Too many times we "rubberneck love" We wait for others to handle the situation.
You need to ask yourself
a Am I able to overlook this? Is it minor enough to overlook an offense..or will it create a bitterness or resentment in you The "grrrr factor"
b What are my motives? Is it for unity or is it to show how "spiritual" you are
c Am I prepared to do this gently as it tells us in Galatians 6
We need to restore those in sin gently for them as well as for us.
d Have I taken personal inventory? You need to take the log out of your own eye first
e Am I making this a matter of prayer? Pray for our enemies
2 Engage with them personally. Go one on one to them.
If they don't respond:
3 Involve others strategically..others can provide wisdom
If they don't respond:
4 Communicate it corporately. This is hard. We have a view that we have to "please everyone"
5 Seperate from them redemptively..Don't give up on them. Continue to share the gospel..God's word with them.
If they are restored..CELEBRATE!
Matthew 18:15-20
If you have an authentic community...there will be conflict.
Anyone can love the "ideal" church. The challenge is to love the real church.
Joseph McKinney
How do we love when it's hard?
There should NEVER be a house church where someone "checks out" and isn't checked on.
In the USA we love to "go after" people i.e sue,attack,etc.
Principles of Conflict
1 There is good and bad conflict
bad conflict..cheap shots,anger,temper. It causes people to go into their shell. There are alot of recovering turtles walking around.
good conflict..Some people love conflict..it clears the air..it results in unity.
unity is not the same as uniformity
bad conflict results in division..hypocrisy
good conflict results in growth. You go through a battle together.
bad conflict can inflict a deep wound..back stabbing
Jesus reputation is at stake when we engage in conflict.
How to love through discipline
1 Take responsibility. Our lives lived in public impacts those around us.
Too many times we "rubberneck love" We wait for others to handle the situation.
You need to ask yourself
a Am I able to overlook this? Is it minor enough to overlook an offense..or will it create a bitterness or resentment in you The "grrrr factor"
b What are my motives? Is it for unity or is it to show how "spiritual" you are
c Am I prepared to do this gently as it tells us in Galatians 6
We need to restore those in sin gently for them as well as for us.
d Have I taken personal inventory? You need to take the log out of your own eye first
e Am I making this a matter of prayer? Pray for our enemies
2 Engage with them personally. Go one on one to them.
If they don't respond:
3 Involve others strategically..others can provide wisdom
If they don't respond:
4 Communicate it corporately. This is hard. We have a view that we have to "please everyone"
5 Seperate from them redemptively..Don't give up on them. Continue to share the gospel..God's word with them.
If they are restored..CELEBRATE!
posted by Rochelle @ 2:14 PM
1 Comments:
At 6:37 PM,
Adam said…
One of the most important and needed topics in the church today, because conflict is never ever dealt in the right way.
Post a Comment
<< Home