Sunday Sermon Review - March 10, 2013
( from my home church I attend regularly )
We are continuing on in our Lent series. This is the 4th Sunday of Lent. Today our topic was "Sin and Addictions". Pastor Ben was our speaker today. Next Sunday Mike will be speaking on the topic of "sickness" in our Lent series.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Today we had a student from SBC share about his recent missions trip to Mexico. He spoke of the work that the missionaries are involved with there and the ministry opportunities that the SBC team had to share with the people of Mexico. Seventeen Mexican people came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour during this time. Praise God!
The Thought for the week : "The wages of sin is death....Repent before payday."
Pastor Ben was our speaker today. His discussion was about stepping in to help people who are living in sin and addictions. This includes the homosexual issues that are surfacing around us including in our schools.
Here is some of what he said:
As Christians, we are God's representatives in this world. We are all broken in some way.
As we walk together, speaking to sin and addictions we will find things getting messy.
* A broken relationship with God is the primary problem.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
First Love
We are to speak the truth in love. Both love and truth.
What is our goal in speaking?
Is it to create morally responsible citizens? - That is great but it is not the calling.
Matthew 28:19 says Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
A disciple pursues Jesus. Becoming morally responsible will happen as a result of being in right relationship with Jesus. Therefore a broken relationship with the Lord is the primary problem.
We need to see people with the eyes of Jesus
- you are not your sin
- you are desperately loved by God
- you have been created in the image of God
The Holy Spirit plays a part
- God's Spirit is very active
- He has not abandoned us
- trust He is here, PRAY
What does " speaking in love" mean?
- love is action
- love is not merely words or feelings
- love is taking action
- do we really care about this person who is living in sin, caught in addiction?
- do we want what is best for him/her -( for life now and eternally speaking )
How are we doing this?
- what is the action we are going to take?
- do they know that I love them?
- if they don't, then why not?
- what should I be doing differently
- love is fundamental, they need to feel that you love them
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We have messed this one up.
Sometimes we have turned our backs to the problem.
LOVE DOES NOT IGNORE things - pretending everything is alright is not an option!
Now Truth
What does it mean to speak the truth?
- this means we are speaking about things that are destroying and ruining lives
some examples include - any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage, greed, lying, habitual lying, gossip, unforgiveness, bitterness and more
It is not OK for these to continue
- admit these are problems
- pray, pray for wisdom
- remember our purpose as God's representatives is to rescue and restore
- to draw people into close relationship with God
Excuses we give for not speaking up
- we are nervous, scared to talk about these things
- maybe the person we are confronting will not like us anymore after this
- we don't want to hurt people's feelings
- they will think we are intolerant
People might become offended but we still need to speak up - out of compassion because this is ruining the person's life!
We need to go humbly remembering that we also do not have it all together. We may be more messed up than we ourselves realize. Are we willing to also accept and be ready to be challenged for what we are doing?
Jesus is not saying we should not challenge others but we must admit our own brokennesss as well.
Take care of the stuff in our own lives and then go help others.
When do we intervene?
- no three step answer
- each situation is different
- pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you
( from my home church I attend regularly )
We are continuing on in our Lent series. This is the 4th Sunday of Lent. Today our topic was "Sin and Addictions". Pastor Ben was our speaker today. Next Sunday Mike will be speaking on the topic of "sickness" in our Lent series.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Today we had a student from SBC share about his recent missions trip to Mexico. He spoke of the work that the missionaries are involved with there and the ministry opportunities that the SBC team had to share with the people of Mexico. Seventeen Mexican people came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour during this time. Praise God!
The Thought for the week : "The wages of sin is death....Repent before payday."
Pastor Ben was our speaker today. His discussion was about stepping in to help people who are living in sin and addictions. This includes the homosexual issues that are surfacing around us including in our schools.
Here is some of what he said:
As Christians, we are God's representatives in this world. We are all broken in some way.
As we walk together, speaking to sin and addictions we will find things getting messy.
* A broken relationship with God is the primary problem.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
First Love
We are to speak the truth in love. Both love and truth.
What is our goal in speaking?
Is it to create morally responsible citizens? - That is great but it is not the calling.
Matthew 28:19 says Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
A disciple pursues Jesus. Becoming morally responsible will happen as a result of being in right relationship with Jesus. Therefore a broken relationship with the Lord is the primary problem.
We need to see people with the eyes of Jesus
- you are not your sin
- you are desperately loved by God
- you have been created in the image of God
The Holy Spirit plays a part
- God's Spirit is very active
- He has not abandoned us
- trust He is here, PRAY
What does " speaking in love" mean?
- love is action
- love is not merely words or feelings
- love is taking action
- do we really care about this person who is living in sin, caught in addiction?
- do we want what is best for him/her -( for life now and eternally speaking )
How are we doing this?
- what is the action we are going to take?
- do they know that I love them?
- if they don't, then why not?
- what should I be doing differently
- love is fundamental, they need to feel that you love them
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We have messed this one up.
Sometimes we have turned our backs to the problem.
LOVE DOES NOT IGNORE things - pretending everything is alright is not an option!
Now Truth
What does it mean to speak the truth?
- this means we are speaking about things that are destroying and ruining lives
some examples include - any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage, greed, lying, habitual lying, gossip, unforgiveness, bitterness and more
It is not OK for these to continue
- admit these are problems
- pray, pray for wisdom
- remember our purpose as God's representatives is to rescue and restore
- to draw people into close relationship with God
Excuses we give for not speaking up
- we are nervous, scared to talk about these things
- maybe the person we are confronting will not like us anymore after this
- we don't want to hurt people's feelings
- they will think we are intolerant
People might become offended but we still need to speak up - out of compassion because this is ruining the person's life!
We need to go humbly remembering that we also do not have it all together. We may be more messed up than we ourselves realize. Are we willing to also accept and be ready to be challenged for what we are doing?
Jesus is not saying we should not challenge others but we must admit our own brokennesss as well.
Take care of the stuff in our own lives and then go help others.
When do we intervene?
- no three step answer
- each situation is different
- pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you
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