Acts 17 – The message comes to all
Summary until now
Acts has been a journey of the early church and the missional journeys of Peter and Paul. We have traveled through 16 chapters of acts to date and are in the middle of Paul’s second missionary trek.
Paul stirs it up in Thessalonica
Paul starts off this chapter in Thessalonica where he encounters heavy resistance to the message he is bringing. He then leave to head for a city called Berea where the group he is reasoning with appear to be receptive to the gospel, but then some of those from Thessalonica show up and start causing trouble. Paul leaves to go to Athens and leaves both Silas and Timothy to deal with the issues in Berea.
While in Athens Paul gets out and tours the city, and starts doing what Paul does best, preaching the gospel. He hits the marketplace and the synagogue, why? This is where the people are, he simply walks around until he finds where the most people are gathered and starts to explain the gospel. The Paul encounters certain stoic and epicurean philosophers in the marketplace where they call him a babbler. They invited him to come to speak at the Areopagus.
Areopagus
This is known as the hill of Ares or Mars Hill. This was the place in the city where many official and unofficial duties took place. This was the cities main court; the groups gathered would hear arguments from people in civil matters and disputes. They would also discuss philosophy and religion on top of this hill. At the time Paul arrived there were two main camps of thought:
Epicureans
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus (c. 340–c. 270 BC), founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention.
For Epicurus, the highest pleasure (tranquility and freedom from fear) was obtained by knowledge, friendship, and living a virtuous and temperate life. He lauded the enjoyment of simple pleasures, by which he meant abstaining from bodily desires, such as sex and appetites, verging on asceticism. He argued that when eating, one should not eat too richly, for it could lead to dissatisfaction later, such as the grim realization that one could not afford such delicacies in the future.
Stoics
It teaches that self-control, fortitude and detachment from distracting emotions, sometimes interpreted as an indifference to pleasure or pain, allows one to become a clear thinker, level-headed and unbiased.
A primary aspect of Stoicism would be described as improving the individual’s spiritual well-being. Virtue, reason, and natural law are prime directives. By mastering passions and emotions, Stoics believe it is possible to overcome the discord of the outside world and find peace within oneself. Stoicism holds that passion distorts truth, and that the pursuit of truth is virtuous.
Sermon at Mars Hill
So Paul comes before this group and gives what is one of the most important sermons to those of us who would be included as gentiles. We pick it up in Acts 17:22-31. Paul starts off on a positive note, notice that he hits common ground? He doesn’t jump in and tell them they have everything wrong and that they have no idea of truth? Instead he looks for the common ground with the people there.
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
The unknown God is where we now have the term agnostic, Gnostic, knowledge, adding the A in front makes is without. Agnostic, without knowledge, of God.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
Paul establishes who God is in terms that they can relate to and tried to show them that the temples and idols they worship are not the one true God. He is starting down a path to show them that they have broken the second commandment, but in order to do this he must first establish with them who God is and why He created us.
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Paul again was establishing common ground with the gathered crowd, showing them that through creation that we are all related and that God had predestined the times they lived and that if they seek Him, He would meet them halfway.
This raises an interesting question on pre-destination, is God in charge or are you? Why were you born in the place you were and why are you here right now, in this room or listening to this on the internet? Was that God’s will or was that something you did of your own free will? Certainly this is a concept that is not easily answered in the short time we have left, but according to scripture God has decided this, He has pre-appointed the times you live and that means that you are here right now for a reason, the question you have to ask yourself is what that reason is?
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.
Now Paul moves to tell them that they are the offspring of the created. He also speaks of their idolatry in a manner that some may have found offensive. Basically he makes a case in the beginning then drives it home here by telling them that they ought not to think of the divine nature is something that comes from humans. He tells them that they have formed a god in their own image.
There is a brilliant turn in Acts 17, where Paul tells the Athenians that God had overlooked their past idolatry. As an act of divine patience and forbearance. He winked at these times; he did not restrain them from these idolatries by sending prophets to them, as he did to Israel; he did not punish them in their idolatries, as he did Israel; but gave them the gifts of his providence, and now calls all men everywhere to repentance and faith in Christ who is coming again. So it is a new beginning, a new message for them, and us.
The two Mars Hills
There are two really big churches on either side of the continent called Mars Hill with completely opposite theologies and viewpoints. The one in Michigan is an emerging church which has a view of scripture where they term themselves “red letter Christians” On the other side you have a group putting the fun back in fundamentalism, Mark Driscoll’s church. They are a reformed church with primary focus on the teachings of the reformed church Luther and Calvin guiding their theology. The liberal left view is a humanistic point of view that puts man at the center of attention, not God. It is based on the assumption that Christians have “failed” for the past 2000 years in accomplishing Christ’s purpose and now they are going to get it fixed and put this world in order. They have opened the Bible p to new interpretations focusing only on the gospels, treating all the rest of the Bible as lesser scripture.
Both were asked in the latest issue of Relevant magazine:
"What do you see as the greatest challenge for young Christians in the next ten years?"
Mars Hill, Seattle, pastor, Mark Driscoll comments, "There is a strong drift toward the hard theological left. Some emergent types (want) to recast Jesus as a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in his hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. In Revelation, Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down his leg, a sword in his hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper; halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up. I fear some are becoming more cultural than Christian, and without a big Jesus who has authority and hates sin as revealed in the Bible, we will have less and less Christians, and more and more confused, spiritually self-righteous blogger critics of Christianity."
Asked the same question, Mars Hill, Grandville, pastor, Rob Bell comments, "The unbelievable amassing of wealth and consumer goods that we have at out fingertips in American culture. Our greatest challenge will be to learn how to move this into blessings for others, or we will continue to be more selfish and indifferent to the cries of the world. These insane amounts of goods that are at our service are not doing good things to our souls."
So what is the most important thing that faces Christians in the next ten years? Is it feeding the poor? Or contending for the true gospel? Paul’s message to the Athenians was that the unknown god they were worshiping and didn’t understand was the God of Israel and the God of our Bible. They were confused because they didn’t have the scriptures and no one to that point had explained it, but what’s our excuse? In a time where we have free and full access to the Word of God.
Jesus said when asked what is the greatest commandment, that it was to love your God then love your neighbor, not the other way around. It is insulting to think that Christians have failed in the past 2000 years when nearly every single humanitarian organization formed over the past 200 years is Christian based. Some examples, The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The United Way, and the YMCA just to name a few.
For Christians to come out and say that we are failing because we are not focusing on the “red letters” implies that we have historically been wrong in the interpretation of the Bible. In truth we are now failing because we aren’t focusing on the black letters, the gospels don’t trump the epistles. Opening up the Bible to pick and choose your theology like a menu is a form of idolatry, creating an image of God that you are comfortable with and denying His true nature. This path is one that leads to further destruction and drives us further from God’s word.
Other attacks on the record of Christianity will come from people who are self proclaimed atheists, or from secular humanists. They will often say that Christianity is worth rejecting because of their horrible track record of the past. They will say that the crusades, the inquisition, and the witch trails prove that Christianity has not helped the planet and have harmed society as a whole.
If the measure of harm is the number of people killed as a result of apparent beliefs then atheism and secular humanism win hands down. Lets look at the tally:
Atheism/Secular Humanism:
China – 1949-1965, 21 Million killed
Russia – 1917-1959, 66 Million killed
Germany – 1938-1945, 20 Million killed
Cambodia – 1975-1979, 4 Million killed
Christianity:
Crusades: 40 Thousand killed
Inquisition: 12 Thousand killed
Witch trials: 19 killed
So based upon volume it would appear that Secular Humanism has the edge on volume of death, and this if you notice is just the past 100 years. We also need to look at whether or not the people carrying out these killings were following the ideology they claimed or not? In the case of atheism there can be nothing seen as wrong with killing other human beings, after all if we evolved from monkey’s and before that a random selection of goo, why should it matter if we kill one another? In fact by killing someone else to increase my power and influence and really accelerating the evolutionary process and it fits perfectly with a humanist world view. In fact this is what drove the Nazi regime was the pursuit of the super human, elimination of anything that didn’t fit their ideals. According to this worldview you only get one chance to make an impact on the world, only one time around, you should gain everything you can and enjoy life to it’s fullest.
However from a Christian point of view were these killings justified? Well, for the most part it would appear that those involved in those events were not following the words of our leader, who told us that when we were attacked to present our other cheek to the enemy, rather they were operating in self-interest.
So At the end of the day, God is still in control. Christianity, while social justice and planetary restoration are not the key message has had more of a positive impact than any other group in the history of humans. Bono, Tony Campolo, and George Clooney don’t have the “power” to fix this planet and all its ills. How do we know this? Paul tells us here that God has decided where we were born, where we would live and the extent of our travel. What causes all these problems, why is the world degrading rapidly? The root cause is sin, and the Bible lays out a compelling story of how to eliminate this. We teach this to our children:
A – Admit you’re a sinner
We learn very early in our culture to point out other people’s problems rather than look at our own and we are given a myriad of excuses to reason out why we have the problems we do. These range from a bad childhood to rejection by our father or anything else that Freudian theory can “prove”, excuse or medicate. The true root cause of all of our problems is sin and we need to repent and receive the forgiveness that Christ offers. Jesus taught us to forgive those who sin against us, so all the excuses and reasoning comes from a lack of our own forgiveness and us harboring hatred.
In the case of those present at Mars Hill their sin that Paul addressed was idolatry. What is yours? Do you create images of your god like the Athenians? No you say? What about work, what about money, power? Do these things come before God? How about creating god’s image in one that you’re more comfortable with rather than the God as described in the Bible? I know I have done this, decided I didn’t like God’s rules and decided to create a god of Ryan, built on my principles, do you? Idolatry is not just limited to the physical formation of graven images, but God is always first and foremost interested in the condition of your heart.
This step is often missing today; we like to jump to the good stuff. It fits with our culture better. Why wait to buy the television when you have a credit card? You deserve that spa treatment it will make you feel better. Focus on your happiness not your faults or weaknesses…after all your only human, everyone makes mistakes, we have replaced sin, willful disregard for God’s laws with “I made a mistake”. Similar to the language that insurance companies started using “collision” rather than “accident”, it does mean a world of difference. However now most people think of “sin” as “mistake”
You must tell God your sorry for the sins you have committed and turn from them. Think of it as if you are married and have an adulterous relationship. You come back to your wife and say to her “honey I had an affair, I just wanted you to know that.” And expect everything to be OK? No, you have to be sorry, broken, and on your knees. Same situation you tell your wife you’re sorry and you convince her that you have repented and she accepts you back, then you go out and have another affair, were you really sorry in the first place? Ask yourself the same question about your sin. If you are really sorry for it and want forgiveness for it, why do you keep coming back to it?
B – Believe Christ was who He said He was that he came in the flesh, died and was resurrected. (The resurrection being the proof, but a real sticking point and source of mockery for the Athenians)
He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked,
This means he can’t be who you want Him to be, but who He was and is. If you create a God you want to worship you create a false God and give yourself false security. This is also the greatest news of all because if you get the first part right you know how much this means. You know that God should punish you for your sins, that He has every right to do so and should. You know that there is nothing you can do to make things “right”, no amount of good works make up for the wrong. Think of a rapist who stands before a judge, he says to the judge, “Judge I know I raped that women, I admit it but I have dated 30 women since and treated them with respect and dignity”. The Bible says if you break one of the commandments you are guilty of breaking the whole of the law. However instead of punishment He instead chooses to take the punishment in the ultimate display of Love and Mercy. Once you grasp this and comprehend how big a deal this is, your life will be different.
If you don’t grasp this my words will seem foolish and confusing. You will mock me and the message I have to bring. Paul later tells us in 1 Corinthians 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. God purposefully chose a seemingly foolish message, but when it is grasped by those that believe it is amazing. Finally we move onto C.
C – Confess, Choose, and commit to follow Him
This means to put on, not just think about once in a while. Your whole life will be God focused, everything you say, do and think will put God first. The analogy that I think is best is the parachute. You’re on a plane and it is going down, the pilot comes on and says that there is a parachute under your seat. First you must admit that the plane is going down, and then you must believe that there is a parachute under your seat. You do this by reaching down and checking. Once you grab hold of the parachute belief is not enough, you must put on the parachute in order to save yourself from the coming crash. This is the same with Christ, believing isn’t enough. Demons believe and tremble, but they don’t have salvation.
Have you done this? Really put on Christ? Not just in a superficial Sunday I’m all for God but a Monday through Saturday live your own life. Instead you need to wrap your whole life around Christ? The concept of the world is one that is written about often in the scriptures; John tells us in 1 John 15-17 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The world is passing away, degrading every day just a little more, accelerating at a pace unseen before. Our footprint and impact is extending to every single nook and cranny of this planet, the whole of creation groans because of our sinful nature. Don’t focus on the world and all your problems, instead focus on God’s purpose, God’s glory and God’s holiness. When you do this all of your problems and concerns are muted, they aren’t fixed, but it puts life into perspective.
Now we come to the conclusion of Paul’s message and after a great delivery with the demonstrated power of God working through him as demonstrated in the previous 6 chapters you would expect everyone to be struck down and worship God right? Well, remember that many mocked the resurrection and
while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Was Paul’s message a failure? Here he was among a bunch of unbelievers and he preached a revival message. He was THE apostle, shouldn’t the entire city have been converted immediately with all sorts of signs and wonders occurring? Shouldn’t he have had an alter call where all the people fill in cards saying that they have accepted Jesus Christ and then published their stats on how many conversions he had under his belt? Well, that’s not what happened, instead he was mocked by some, others said they would hear him again, and some believed. Only 2 people are named who become believers as a result of the message he delivered.
So how could this have been measured as a success? It was because Paul preached the Word as it was written and communicated by God, he didn’t tickle the ears of the listeners with words they long to hear, he told them the complete council of God and allowed god to do the work.
Remember earlier when we talked of God’s predestination of people of where they live and the places they go? Well this is in the same category. If you change the message to conform it to what you think the culture and the people are comfortable with you are telling God that you think your smarter than Him and you don’t need His help. In fact you are telling God that he got it wrong and that you know better. God knows what he is doing; don’t for a minute doubt it. All the world is his creation, the salvation of humanity is His plan and He lays out the blueprint in the Bible. There are 66 books in the Bible that contain around 775,000 words, the bulk of the bible deals with God’s plan to restore and save fallen man. Only 3000 words deal with before and after this in the beginning before the fall and the last part of revelations with the restoration of heaven on Earth. The rest 700,000 words in English describe this plan of the messiah to come, the messiah on earth, and finally then the messiah who came. All is the word of God and to be taken at face value.
Finally I want to look back a little in Acts 17, and go to verse 11. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Everything I have talked about is a little controversial and for some difficult to handle. For those that are seeking God, or call themselves Christians, are you reading you Bible every day without fail? If not why not? And please don’t tell yourself you have no time, this is an excuse that is completely untrue no matter who you are. Do you watch TV? Do you drive to work? Can you live with 15 minutes less sleep and spend your first waking minutes of every day with God?
Summary:
God wants all of you, he is calling you to Him now, and how will you respond to this call?
God is in charge of the planet, the people and your life whether you choose to work with Him or against Him is your decision, but make not doubt about it God is in full control.
Today is the day that God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Church Discipline
Church Discipline
This was gathered from a variety of sources, but primarily from a talk given by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.
Submission is not submission until there is a disagreement. All issues in the church boil down to one of two things; either moral sin or theological error. Church leaders are often afraid of confrontation so rather than address the issue it is left alone and grows.
This is am important issue because of the variety of attacks from within and outside the body of Christ. We must be ever vigilant in the protection of the sheep and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As leaders we will be called to give an account for our leadership, for everything we have taught. We need to ensure it is theologically sound, doctrinally clear and be unwavering in our commitment.
What is the focus of church discipline?
The goal is repentance and reconciliation
Resolution and recompense
Protection of gospel and the entire church
Church leaders are given authority and are not to abuse it
Discipline is unpleasant but necessary
Self discipline is important
Matters of discipline must be orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Leaders should not let anger turn to sin (Ephesians 4)
Both sides of a dispute must be heard (Proverbs 18:17)
Multiple witnesses where possible (1Peter 3:1-7, Deuteronomy, 2 Corinthians)
Communion table – 1 Corinthians 11
Sin is serious
People should repent
Or bring on judgment
How can we fall into sin?
One Christian sins against another
Matthew 18
i. 2-3 witnesses there for the process, they don’t need to be witnesses to the event. This is in response to the issue of some churches that would not discipline leaders in child sex cases because there were not 2-3 witnesses present. This is an incorrect view on this issue.
ii. Refusal of repentance means refusal of membership, conversely repentance means reconciliation, but it doesn’t mean free and clear to go about, it depends upon the sin involved.
Person is a gossip
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
What do you do? – Avoid them – this is difficult a lot of times, but this is necessary as it will infect a church faster than anything else.
i. Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips
It is critical that this start and end with the leadership team. The leadership team must act to stop this behavior and never, ever start it on their own.
Someone who says they are a Christian but live a life of habitual sin
1 Corinthians 5
i. The church and leadership endorse this person’s life
ii. Kick them out if they are not repentant
iii. It is not good to be tolerant of sin
Someone who continually blasphemes God
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
i. People who will not stop teaching false doctrines
ii. Someone who was not teachable
Someone appoints themselves to leadership
3 John 1:9-10
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
i. Refused to welcome the brothers
Revelations 2:2
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
If you don’t appoint someone to leadership, someone will appoint themselves.
Someone is divisive
Single issue voters, for example people who come into the church and say that everyone must speak in tongues or that we must burn all Bibles that are not the King James Version.
Titus 3:10
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition
Idle busybody
Someone who is into everyone’s business
2 Thessalonians 3:6-11
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
Titus 2
i. Keep away from those who are idle
Commits a minor offence out of character
Proverbs 19:11 – forgive them
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Christians sins and is repentant
We should be ready to forgive and come along side such a person as this, teaching them sound doctrine and helping them through.
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
2 Corinthians 2:5
But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
Now we enter into the more specific ways that sin can enter into a church, these are the things we must be on guard for always vigilant and ever ready to address.
Teaching Sins
Someone who encourages false doctrine
Open handed or closed handed issues
i. Someone tries to move something from the open hand into the closed hand
ii. Someone tries to debate a closed hand issue
Acts 20 – the challenge will come from within
1 Timothy 1:3-7 – they must stop
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 4:1-8 – some will follow demons
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 4:14,15 – be on your guard
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
Colossians 2:8 – do not get confused, do not lose sight of Jesus
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Romans 16:17,18 – watch out for those who are ready to take over
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Habitually nit-picking the doctrinal message
2 Timothy 2:14-16,23 – Godless chatter, Have nothing to do with these arguments
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9 – Avoid silly talks
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
People who only listen to false teachers
2 Timothy 4:1-5
i. Preach the word, do nothing with the freaks
ii. Correct from the pulpit
iii. Rebuke
iv. Encourage
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Acts 6:4
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Self-righteous legalist
They think they are Jesus 2.0
i. In them is no humility or repentance
Galatians 5 – run the good race
i. People will try to tell you that you must do something to prove yourself to God
2 Corinthians 1:21
i. Taking credit for their righteousness
ii. Council of leaders Vs. a single leader
iii. Confidence and humility
1. All things in Christ
Someone who promotes a false gospel
Galatians 1:6-10
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
The glory of the Lord is at stake
Sincere but deceived
2 Corinthians 11
i. Satan will masquerades as an angel of light
ii. Be sure to know who Jesus is
iii. Be sure to know the true gospel
Legal Issues
1 Corinthians 6:1-8 – This covers the legal dispute between two believers.
Sin not crimes
i. Romans 13 – This deals with crimes, God has placed laws and authorities over us with government
Responses for church leaders and members
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey leaders and submit to authority.
2 Thessalonians 3:14,15 – A person counseled by a leader but refusing the council
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Someone leaves the church to pursue sin and heresy
1 John 2:19 – They went out from us (you assume they never were a Christian to begin with)
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Someone who is consistently not in community
Hebrews 10:25 – Don’t forsake gathering together – we need to encourage these people
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
When a teacher is in moral sin or doctrinal error
James 3:1 – they will be judged more strictly
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
1 Timothy 5:1 – They should be treated with respect
i. Listen to those who bring a credible charge
1. witnesses
2. evidence
3. investigate
ii. Rebuke publicly
1. 1 Timothy 3
2. Titus 1
a. These speak of the qualifications for an elder, if they disqualify themselves then they are fired
b. There are disqualifying issues and rebuke issues
iii. There is no room for partiality and favoritism
iv. Pastor needs to set example of coming under authority
Confidentiality
There is no confidentiality as that means keeping things in the dark.
Waiver of confidentiality
i. This covers sin issues (i.e. adultery) and legal issues (i.e. rape)
Need a good insurance rider from frivolous lawsuits
i. May need restraining order for some people.
Registered sex offenders – need a policy, should they be allowed in the church? To someone’s house? Background checks on nursery workers?
We welcome all people, but that doesn’t mean we trust all people
This is different than gossip
This was gathered from a variety of sources, but primarily from a talk given by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.
Submission is not submission until there is a disagreement. All issues in the church boil down to one of two things; either moral sin or theological error. Church leaders are often afraid of confrontation so rather than address the issue it is left alone and grows.
This is am important issue because of the variety of attacks from within and outside the body of Christ. We must be ever vigilant in the protection of the sheep and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As leaders we will be called to give an account for our leadership, for everything we have taught. We need to ensure it is theologically sound, doctrinally clear and be unwavering in our commitment.
What is the focus of church discipline?
The goal is repentance and reconciliation
Resolution and recompense
Protection of gospel and the entire church
Church leaders are given authority and are not to abuse it
Discipline is unpleasant but necessary
Self discipline is important
Matters of discipline must be orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Leaders should not let anger turn to sin (Ephesians 4)
Both sides of a dispute must be heard (Proverbs 18:17)
Multiple witnesses where possible (1Peter 3:1-7, Deuteronomy, 2 Corinthians)
Communion table – 1 Corinthians 11
Sin is serious
People should repent
Or bring on judgment
How can we fall into sin?
One Christian sins against another
Matthew 18
i. 2-3 witnesses there for the process, they don’t need to be witnesses to the event. This is in response to the issue of some churches that would not discipline leaders in child sex cases because there were not 2-3 witnesses present. This is an incorrect view on this issue.
ii. Refusal of repentance means refusal of membership, conversely repentance means reconciliation, but it doesn’t mean free and clear to go about, it depends upon the sin involved.
Person is a gossip
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
What do you do? – Avoid them – this is difficult a lot of times, but this is necessary as it will infect a church faster than anything else.
i. Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips
It is critical that this start and end with the leadership team. The leadership team must act to stop this behavior and never, ever start it on their own.
Someone who says they are a Christian but live a life of habitual sin
1 Corinthians 5
i. The church and leadership endorse this person’s life
ii. Kick them out if they are not repentant
iii. It is not good to be tolerant of sin
Someone who continually blasphemes God
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
i. People who will not stop teaching false doctrines
ii. Someone who was not teachable
Someone appoints themselves to leadership
3 John 1:9-10
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
i. Refused to welcome the brothers
Revelations 2:2
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
If you don’t appoint someone to leadership, someone will appoint themselves.
Someone is divisive
Single issue voters, for example people who come into the church and say that everyone must speak in tongues or that we must burn all Bibles that are not the King James Version.
Titus 3:10
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition
Idle busybody
Someone who is into everyone’s business
2 Thessalonians 3:6-11
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
Titus 2
i. Keep away from those who are idle
Commits a minor offence out of character
Proverbs 19:11 – forgive them
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Christians sins and is repentant
We should be ready to forgive and come along side such a person as this, teaching them sound doctrine and helping them through.
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
2 Corinthians 2:5
But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
Now we enter into the more specific ways that sin can enter into a church, these are the things we must be on guard for always vigilant and ever ready to address.
Teaching Sins
Someone who encourages false doctrine
Open handed or closed handed issues
i. Someone tries to move something from the open hand into the closed hand
ii. Someone tries to debate a closed hand issue
Acts 20 – the challenge will come from within
1 Timothy 1:3-7 – they must stop
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 4:1-8 – some will follow demons
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 4:14,15 – be on your guard
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
Colossians 2:8 – do not get confused, do not lose sight of Jesus
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Romans 16:17,18 – watch out for those who are ready to take over
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Habitually nit-picking the doctrinal message
2 Timothy 2:14-16,23 – Godless chatter, Have nothing to do with these arguments
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9 – Avoid silly talks
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
People who only listen to false teachers
2 Timothy 4:1-5
i. Preach the word, do nothing with the freaks
ii. Correct from the pulpit
iii. Rebuke
iv. Encourage
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Acts 6:4
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Self-righteous legalist
They think they are Jesus 2.0
i. In them is no humility or repentance
Galatians 5 – run the good race
i. People will try to tell you that you must do something to prove yourself to God
2 Corinthians 1:21
i. Taking credit for their righteousness
ii. Council of leaders Vs. a single leader
iii. Confidence and humility
1. All things in Christ
Someone who promotes a false gospel
Galatians 1:6-10
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
The glory of the Lord is at stake
Sincere but deceived
2 Corinthians 11
i. Satan will masquerades as an angel of light
ii. Be sure to know who Jesus is
iii. Be sure to know the true gospel
Legal Issues
1 Corinthians 6:1-8 – This covers the legal dispute between two believers.
Sin not crimes
i. Romans 13 – This deals with crimes, God has placed laws and authorities over us with government
Responses for church leaders and members
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey leaders and submit to authority.
2 Thessalonians 3:14,15 – A person counseled by a leader but refusing the council
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Someone leaves the church to pursue sin and heresy
1 John 2:19 – They went out from us (you assume they never were a Christian to begin with)
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Someone who is consistently not in community
Hebrews 10:25 – Don’t forsake gathering together – we need to encourage these people
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
When a teacher is in moral sin or doctrinal error
James 3:1 – they will be judged more strictly
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
1 Timothy 5:1 – They should be treated with respect
i. Listen to those who bring a credible charge
1. witnesses
2. evidence
3. investigate
ii. Rebuke publicly
1. 1 Timothy 3
2. Titus 1
a. These speak of the qualifications for an elder, if they disqualify themselves then they are fired
b. There are disqualifying issues and rebuke issues
iii. There is no room for partiality and favoritism
iv. Pastor needs to set example of coming under authority
Confidentiality
There is no confidentiality as that means keeping things in the dark.
Waiver of confidentiality
i. This covers sin issues (i.e. adultery) and legal issues (i.e. rape)
Need a good insurance rider from frivolous lawsuits
i. May need restraining order for some people.
Registered sex offenders – need a policy, should they be allowed in the church? To someone’s house? Background checks on nursery workers?
We welcome all people, but that doesn’t mean we trust all people
This is different than gossip
Justification
Justification – What does it say?
This is the expression we use to say you are “justified” or declared righteous in God’s eyes. In a works based gospel this will not occur until you perform certain acts. These acts would be good deeds, communion, or anything that would “earn” your way into heaven. The reformation in the 1500’s was primarily to restore the true idea of justification as presented in scripture, mainly Paul’s letters of Romans and Galatians that you are justified by faith alone.
Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
However, the main proof of this concept came from Jesus hanging on a cross beside a thief who he told the thief on the cross next to Him that he would be with Him today in paradise (Luke 23:42-44)
Today most mainline evangelical churches believe in this concept, however many have taken it to the extreme and pushed the boundary of what “faith” means. They have taken it to mean that it is enough to simply believe in Christ and accept that you’re a sinner. The problem with this is that the devil would agree with that statement, most of us would agree that the devil will not be in heaven. So what is the faith they are speaking of? What does this faith look like? Well, it is putting your whole trust in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation. You demonstrate this through repentance, a turning from sin and through a change of your heart to a love for everything God loves.
This means you are still guilty of sin, but you are washed clean through the blood of Christ.
Reading through Romans, Galatians, and 1 John reveals many of the details of how you determine if you have truly repented and put you faith in Christ. Each of us should feel perfectly comfortable in answering questions about our salvation, the answers are easy if you’re saved.
The criteria is fairly simple and laid out first by Jesus when he was asked by the teachers of the day; what is the greatest commandment? In response He said, Love your God and Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40)
You are born again – See John 3
You love to worship God – Deuteronomy 6:13, Revelation 19:10, 22:9 (among many others)
This is not just listening to music and feeling good. This is your every thought, word, and deed being dedicated to the glory of God. You thank Him daily for simply allowing you one more day and giving you air to breathe,
You love to read God’s Word – Same as above, the Bible reveals God’s character and plan.
Every day you read the Bible, you love reading God’s Word and any other books which speak of interpretation or application of scripture.
A new heart that hates sin – Romans 6:14, 1 John 2:3-4
This doesn’t mean you don’t like the consequences of sin, you hate the sin itself. It doesn’t mean you will never sin again, but that you have a new heart towards sin, you hate it and do everything you can to remove it from your life.
· People count on God’s grace to get them through, they lean on only the promises of God to forgive them and as a result they continue to sin counting on God’s grace.
· You can numb your conscience because you think that you can sin then just simply repent and be forgiven or worse lean a theology that says that all sins are forgiven past, present and future. The scriptures do not say this, in fact they say much the opposite Romans 3:25, 2 Peter 1:9)
You will want to fellowship with other believers – Hebrews 10:25
You will want to be around like minded people and talk of the things of God. This will be a focus and a love.
You will have a desire to reach out to the lost
This is two fold, one it is a commandment from your king (Mark 16:15), but it also a reflection on your love for other people. You want to see them inherit the kingdom of heaven.
You will extend grace towards others as an outpouring of the grace you have been extended.
See James 2:24, an often confused text. This is a natural outpouring of the grace given to you by God; you will want to pour it out into others.
The reality is that wide is the path to destruction and Christ will say to many on the day of judgment that He never knew you. This should fill us with fear if we can see none of the above manifesting in our lives. It is not a simple thing to believe, you must change your heart. However the good news is that Christ will meet you halfway, when you turn from your sin and put you full trust in Christ He will respond through the Holy Spirit and give you a new heart with new desires.
If this hasn't happened to you, then search your heart and get into the Word.
This is the expression we use to say you are “justified” or declared righteous in God’s eyes. In a works based gospel this will not occur until you perform certain acts. These acts would be good deeds, communion, or anything that would “earn” your way into heaven. The reformation in the 1500’s was primarily to restore the true idea of justification as presented in scripture, mainly Paul’s letters of Romans and Galatians that you are justified by faith alone.
Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
However, the main proof of this concept came from Jesus hanging on a cross beside a thief who he told the thief on the cross next to Him that he would be with Him today in paradise (Luke 23:42-44)
Today most mainline evangelical churches believe in this concept, however many have taken it to the extreme and pushed the boundary of what “faith” means. They have taken it to mean that it is enough to simply believe in Christ and accept that you’re a sinner. The problem with this is that the devil would agree with that statement, most of us would agree that the devil will not be in heaven. So what is the faith they are speaking of? What does this faith look like? Well, it is putting your whole trust in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation. You demonstrate this through repentance, a turning from sin and through a change of your heart to a love for everything God loves.
This means you are still guilty of sin, but you are washed clean through the blood of Christ.
Reading through Romans, Galatians, and 1 John reveals many of the details of how you determine if you have truly repented and put you faith in Christ. Each of us should feel perfectly comfortable in answering questions about our salvation, the answers are easy if you’re saved.
The criteria is fairly simple and laid out first by Jesus when he was asked by the teachers of the day; what is the greatest commandment? In response He said, Love your God and Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40)
You are born again – See John 3
You love to worship God – Deuteronomy 6:13, Revelation 19:10, 22:9 (among many others)
This is not just listening to music and feeling good. This is your every thought, word, and deed being dedicated to the glory of God. You thank Him daily for simply allowing you one more day and giving you air to breathe,
You love to read God’s Word – Same as above, the Bible reveals God’s character and plan.
Every day you read the Bible, you love reading God’s Word and any other books which speak of interpretation or application of scripture.
A new heart that hates sin – Romans 6:14, 1 John 2:3-4
This doesn’t mean you don’t like the consequences of sin, you hate the sin itself. It doesn’t mean you will never sin again, but that you have a new heart towards sin, you hate it and do everything you can to remove it from your life.
· People count on God’s grace to get them through, they lean on only the promises of God to forgive them and as a result they continue to sin counting on God’s grace.
· You can numb your conscience because you think that you can sin then just simply repent and be forgiven or worse lean a theology that says that all sins are forgiven past, present and future. The scriptures do not say this, in fact they say much the opposite Romans 3:25, 2 Peter 1:9)
You will want to fellowship with other believers – Hebrews 10:25
You will want to be around like minded people and talk of the things of God. This will be a focus and a love.
You will have a desire to reach out to the lost
This is two fold, one it is a commandment from your king (Mark 16:15), but it also a reflection on your love for other people. You want to see them inherit the kingdom of heaven.
You will extend grace towards others as an outpouring of the grace you have been extended.
See James 2:24, an often confused text. This is a natural outpouring of the grace given to you by God; you will want to pour it out into others.
The reality is that wide is the path to destruction and Christ will say to many on the day of judgment that He never knew you. This should fill us with fear if we can see none of the above manifesting in our lives. It is not a simple thing to believe, you must change your heart. However the good news is that Christ will meet you halfway, when you turn from your sin and put you full trust in Christ He will respond through the Holy Spirit and give you a new heart with new desires.
If this hasn't happened to you, then search your heart and get into the Word.
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