"The Test of Courageous Love"

These are my notes from Rob's sermon

James 5:19-20

Authenticity is more than jeans at a service/music terminology/a band.
James peels back the culture layers and defines what authenticity is.
Faith is not just a head/doctrinal thing.

We live in a culture and time where truth is subjective(post modernism) vs objective.
What happens? Our truths clash. Our behavior is tied to our beliefs and values.
James is writing to churches that are being persecuted for their belief in objective truth.
James tells us the tests of these faiths.

Every week people join the family of Apex and people leave Apex.

Baptism in faith and commitment to house church is joining the family of Apex.
Coming every week to the gathering is joining a crowd.


We all need community. It doesn't matter where you are on the Meyer-Brigg or what circle you are in.

5 questions that should haunt biblical community.

1 Hey whatever happened to.....?
2. Have you seen ...... lately?
3. Is ..... doing ok?
4. ....comes all the time but does anyone kow his/her spiritual condition?
5. Boy,..... has really gone over the deep end hasn't he/she?

We shouldn't have to ask these questions because we should know the answer and have taken action.

The people who are wandering...people who don't respond when we reach out in emails,phone calls, etc.

Who goes after the wanderer and who is the wanderer? All who call themselves disciples
Why do we go after the wanderer? Better is open rebuke than hidden love Psalm 27:5
We need people who courageously love us and who we courageously love.
We don't go after the wanderer because of numbers..its because their soul is in danger.
If you aren't persevering in your faith and there is no fruit..you can't have assurance of being in Christ.
How do we go after the wanderer? Bring them back to the truth(gospel)
Bring them back to Christ not just us.

Other equipment to use in pursuit of the wanderer


1. Soak in prayerful self-reflection Matthew 7:1-5
It clears out your motives. It makes us humble.
2. Communicate both love and truth
3. Approach them gently but deliberately
4. Go through their behavior but get to the heart
5. Involve the body of Christ(as necessary)
Rob has put an article on church discipline on "The City" at the Apex website
Celebrate their return
6. Set up real mutual accountability