rick warren, purpose driven life: section 21

Protecting Your Church

Section 21(pages 160-167)

Saturday 16 October 2010

Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond

of peace.

Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.


It is your job to protect the unity of

your church


NT gives more attention to unity than to heaven or hell.

Unity is the essence of how God intends us to experience life together in the church.

Modeled by the Trinity – exemplifying sacrificial love, humble other-centredness and perfect harmony.


Jesus in the final moments before his arrest prayed for unity in the church (Jn 17:20–23).

God paid the highest price for his church – Jesus – it is very valuable to him, and he wants it protected.

Jesus calls us all to work hard for unity.

How should we do this?

Make every effort to keep the

unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace.


Focus on what we have in common, not our differences

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.Believers share; one Lord, one body, one purpose, one Father, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one baptism, one love, the same salvation, life and future - things which are more important than any differences we might mention.


God give us different personalities, backgrounds, traits, races, preferences etc. - which are to be valued and enjoyed - unity is desired by God not uniformity.We must focus on what matters most - learning to love one another as christ has loved us, and fulfilling his purpose for the church.

Conflict usually signals that the focus has changed to

less important things – such as what, what causes

churches to argue most often?


Warren lists personalities, preferences, interpretations, styles, methods - when we focus on these then division appears.1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.


Be realistic in your expectations

There is a serious gap between what God intends for fellowship and what really happens! Do not get disillusioned.Longing for the ideal yet criticising the real = immaturitySettling for the real without aiming for the ideal = complacencyMaturity lives with the tension


Other believers will let you down - get over it.We can understand things that disillusion us - conflict, hurt, hypocrisy, neglect, legalism etc. - but the church is made up of sinners, who do hurt one another (deliberately or otherwise).Take time and work problems out properly.


Forget looking for a perfect church - admit your, and others imperfections - then work towards accepting and expressing grace in community.Warren suggests a church sign, “no perfect people need apply. This is a place for those who admit they are sinners, need grace, and want to grow”


Choose to encourage rather than to criticise

It is easy to criticise people who are trying rather than to make a contribution yourself. Consider the following verses,


Rom 14:13 ...let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another.Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listenAnd finally, Rom 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.


Rom 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.4 Things happen when you criticise a fellow believer;1. I lose fellowship with God2. I expose my own pride and insecurity3. I set myself up to be judged by God4. I harm the fellowship of the church


The devil is called “the accuser of the brothers”, why do his job for him?Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.


Refuse to listen to gossipDo not listen to gossip if you want to protect your church - it is like accepting stolen property, you then become guilty of a crime too.What might you say if someone wants to tell you some gossip?


Stop!I don’t need to hear thisThis doesn’t concern meHave you talked directly to that person?Prov 17:4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.Gal 5:15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.


Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.Prov 26:20


Practice God’s method for conflict resolutionSee the Principles mentioned in section 20Matt 18:15-17 -"If your brother sins against you,go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


Support your pastor and your leaders

Leaders are not perfect - but God has given them authority - and dealing with conflicts involves massive pressure, including trying to make everyone happy.Remember Hebrews 13:17


Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.We honour church by respecting leaders


Warren suggests pastors should deal withdivisive people in church by;•Avoid arguing•Gently teach them whilst praying they will change•Warn argumentative people•Plead for harmony and unity•Rebuke people who are disrespectful of leaders•Remove divisive people from church if they ignore two warnings


Do you put 100% effort into protecting your church unity?Do you do what is best for the body?Do you think of ‘we’ not ‘I’What do you do to make the fellowship more warm and loving?1 Cor 10:24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.


Point to Ponder:It is my responsibility to protect the unity of my church


Verse to remember:Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.Rom 14:19


Question to consider:What am I personally doing right now to protect unity I my church family?


rick warren, purpose driven life: section 21

Spiritual

perfect unity

church jesus

focus personalities

unity of thevery valuable

protectingyour church

church jneffort to17

bond of peace

future things