Messy Ministry

Sinners Saved by Grace

Always been ‘Messy Sinners’ in the Church!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Implications:

On Me: Hard to be a Servant!

Matthew 11:28-30

On ‘Them:’

Situational:

Volitional:

Personal:

Truth Point: We are all a MESS!

Isaiah 59:12-13, 1 John 1:7-9, etc.

Clean-Up on Isle 1!

Illustration – Big Chunks, Little Chunks, Soak Up, Wipe Up, Clean Up, …… Still Marked up!

Question: Who is the one doing this clean up?

Judgmental Approach – “You are _________!”

“Fix Yourself!” Trust God More!

Indifferent Approach – “Whatever” “Not my

Problem” “God will fix them” (Sgt. Schultz Syndrome)

Self-Centric Approach – “I must ‘Fix This’” “It’s up to me to ‘Change This’”

Holistic Approach – YOU, ME, and GOD!

Galatians 6:1-5

‘Messy’ Analysis:

Types of Mess:

Personal Messiness

‘Obvious Mess’

‘Subtle Mess’

2 Aspects – ‘present’ messiness and ‘past’ messiness

Testimonies of God’s grace!

‘Extra’ Personal Messiness

‘Out of Chaos’

‘Out of Control’

Out of Crisis’

Remember ‘Messy’ Redemption Stories of Grace – Hebrews 11 and Matthew 1:1-17.

Questions: What is God doing here in this? What ways do I need to comfort? What ways do I need to correct with truth? What ways can I support them personally in doing what is right?

C’s for Messy Ministry

Compassionate Care: Titus 3:1-11

-Error on the side of Grace: Romans 14

-Error on the side of Truth: 1 Corinthians

Confident Dependence: 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:13-26, Phil. 1:6

-Patience……Persistence…..Perseverance! Ps. 37:7-9

Connected Personally: Pray…Pray…Pray!

-Evaluating Foundations

Gospel Priorities (Sinners saved by Grace –Soul), Centrality of Repentance / Submission to Christ (Heart), Discipleship (Process of Growth – Will - Commitments), Truth (Mind - Knowledge).

-With ‘Them’as Ourselves –

Transparency and Personally – Together 1 Thess. 2:5-8

Careful Honesty:

- Asking Questions: Establish Facts. Proverbs 18:17

- Boundaries of Truth: Biblical or Personal? Rom. 14

- Truth in Love: We must share both! 1 Pt. 4:8; Gal. 5:9, 6:1; Eph. 4:2, 15; Rom. 12:12; Jm. 1:3-4; Col. 3:12-13,

-Wisdom: Priorities, Boundaries, Directions, etc.

Rom. 11:33, 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 1:12; Eph. 5:15-17; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:10, 2:8, 2:22, 3:16, 4:5; 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Jm. 1:5, 3:13-18

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Ephesians 4:15-16