Brotherhood Transparency and accountability

Greeting: Goodevening to all and greetings in the worthy name of Jesus. It is a true blessing and a priviledge to be gathered with you all here at South Ninth St.

Im exited to be here, and im looking forward to getting to know you all as friends.

2. Introduction: Im here with my wife, Emily and our four children: Avalon -7 Evander -4 Sequoia-3 Rivera-10mo. ( Next Friday we will be married 10 yrs.)

3. Backround: Grew up in East Earl. My Parents are Elam & Arlene Sauder. My dad owned Sauder’s Nursery. WIFE: She grew up in Perry County, her parents are Bill/Janice Martin who now live in SC.

We began attending PV in our late teens and got married there. After that we ended up moving out to the Midwest. Some of my family and Emilys family is now out there as well.

After sharing the lot for minister in 2018 and then deacon in 2019. God called us to the ministry in a double ordination the summer of 2020.

God has been faithfull , as he is to each one of us. (Here we are today..first time)

Id like to thank you for your prayers and encouragement..and covet them as we go through the week.

What will this week look like? Im not 100% sure, but i do have a direction that i believe the Lord has been leading me towards. And it has to do with God’s calling for his people to a life of HOLINESS.

Message title: Vessels of transparency and Accountability Question: What was it that brought you here to this this church...and what keeps you coming back? (Drawing power)

* Something i hear among us fairly consistently.... I love the openess, closeness.. transparency...the unity ect…

These are all things that attract and have drawing power..

WHY: Because they speak real life...the speak of humility and genuine brotherhood.

* These are great things for a church to posess, But i think its like alot of other things...it needs to be minded of and effort put towards..or it gets lost… (Individualistic world that is affecting our conservative cirlces)

Since the fall of man(Sin) its not natural for a person to be that way...it takes effort.

I often ask myself and look at..what is the purpose, focus, and goals of the church? In a short answer i think it would be safe to say...to promote and further the kingdom of God. (wether inside the church with decipleship of our own or outside with evangelism to the world.. In order for the church to do that effectively, i believe we have hold these characteristics. Ephesian 4 Paul: a perisoner in Rome AD62

4:1-3: Exortation to unity: Here hes saying there is a vocation/calling that you have been called to(Salvation and a life with Christ and also the union within the body) He then goes to say we are to walk worthily...or contuct ourselves in a manner that is worthy to that calling.

* How to do that? VS 2 Fruits of the spirit.. * Reason: Vs 3

4: 4-6 Explanation of Unity He then explain what this spirit of Unity looks like. One Body: We are all in a body here this morning… Other Christains One Spirit: The Holy Spirit..that is given to all that are saved One Hope: We all have the same hope regarding our future with God and our eternity.. Read 5-6 That is what the spirit of unity looks like.

He goes on to tell how we all have gifts and are fitly joined together for the edification of the body and the work of the ministry...that we no longer get tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine but rather a mature man unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ… * So this body is made up of individuals like me and you playing our part and being used as God desires.

As we think of a transparent vessel id like to look at what that looks like in an individual.

Psalm 26.The heart condition: Great example of heart.

So as we read this what is Davids heart saying here?...Its crying out saying Examine me...Prove me....Try my heart...I have walked in thy truth..my foot standeth in an even place.. Its a great example of a open heart that i believe we all need.

Transparent: Means to be able to see through or into without anything blocking or hidden. Full exposure.

* Its a broad term that can be applied many different forms and resonates in the brotherhood in various ways. (The inner heart)

* There are a number of things that can affect or hinder the transparency of an individual: Pride..(fear of reputation and others Distrust: (Not feeling anyone is trustworthy) Character/Personality (someone that is naturaly more closed and reserved

* Transparency can have both posative and negative affects In the right way it can bring healing, stability and that realness in a church that is often desired.

* In the wrong way improper exposure can bring shame and tear down and promote distrust.

The Bible doesnt realy use the word transparent, however the concept of it throughout scripture. (David and the Psalm we read)

1. Transparent and Accountable to God A. Scripture is clear that our lives are transparent to God and that we as an individual are accountable for the way we live our life. 1 Corinthians 4:5 No matter how we are trying to be in the brotherhood or within our selves...All things are exposed to father God and when he comes...everything will be brought to the light. (Intents of the heart...thoughts...motives desires..)

* How would it be if one by one all of our things would be listed in writing here on the wall...for all to see this morning.. I dont know about you but I dont think i would realy like that..

* But God knows...and that will all come to the light.

* Somewhat ironic how we dont mind as much when the very Creator of the universe ,the almighty God, the one that has the power to cast judgement on our lives and destine us to an eternity...when He knows about those things in our life....

But just dont let the people around me know....dont let the people that are prone to sin just as i am...that face the same things i do..just dont let them see that in my heart...( Myself with Porn)

2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all apear before the judgement seat of Christ: That every one may recieve the things done in his body, according to that he hath done , wether it be good or bad.

* I think if we are going to value and develop transparency in the brotherhood i think we need to understand and learn to develop an awareness of our lives and hearts before God. That it is all there, and that its an open book before him...

B. However we may be more transparent than what we think. (Even those that are reserved and more inward) Matthew 7:16-20

* Here hes saying every tree(person) is giving off some type of fruit at all given times...and if that tree has some type of corruption or defect inside, its bound to give bad fruit or yeild poorly... However if the tree is completely healthy and a good root system...free from any hinderance, it can bear good fruit…

What is inside..eventualy makes its way out.. (Dad &Root Girdle)

So if we want to have good fruit continualy coming out of our lives, we need to seek the truth...which scripture says will set us free. John 3:19-21

He that is genuine and authentic...who doesnt want to hide anything anymore, in his own power, cometh to the light.

* This idea of transparecy in the brotherhood i dont believe is something that we should try and force or command...but rather a natural tendancy or desire to come to the light or have that light that the fruit can be proven good before God and man. (Best Transp

* That all can be done because of Jesus in the core of our heart.

C. Is Transparecy always good? Or can it be misused? (Problem with a bro) ( Maybe a sister sending a message to another) Nothing wrong with being open or honest with a concern...but we cant use transparancy as an excuse for anger or degrading or venting

Transparency goes hand in hand with Integrity...

2. Accountable to one another: We looked at how we will be accountable before God for our actions and how transparency should be in the brotherhood.. But what about acountability within and amongst the brotherhood.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a reighteous man, availeth much.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron...So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend...

Proverbs 27: 5-6 Open rebuke is better than concealed love..Faithful are the wounds of a friend: But the kisses of an enemy are decitful.

Acts 2: 42-47 I feel like as a smaller congregation that we have here, we have an awesome opportunity to have the same atmosphere that the small eary church groups had. V.44 They had all things in common… V.46 They continued daily in one accord. V 47 The Lord added to the church (There was a drawing power)

* I imagine they were a close and open brotherhood that im sure were accountable for eachother.

Accountability: One Christian submitting to the Christ-centered admonition of another Christian in one or more areas of life.

* The verse in Galations comes to mind of bearing one anothers burders...

* Accountability isnt just to find the faults or struggles of an idividual and then merely hold that in the spotlight, but rather a bigger picture of that persons overall spiritual growth…

Accountability is work...so there needs to Love among the brotherhood.. Do we truly love and care for oneanother to the point that we are able to set SELF aside for the well being of the brother or sister. Agape Love(Highest level..unconditionl John 15:12-13

* An accountability partner is different than just a Christain relationship. There is a huge element of trust that comes into play when this kind of transparency and openess happens.

The person that you are being accountable with should have spiritual maturity and show an interest in your spiritual life.

Someone that knows what confidentiality is… (No better way to shut someone down when they have exposed..)

* Can you be a trusted source when being accountable for some1*

* Accountability can bring healing: Not necesarily in itself, but when a person is being accounted for it gives them the oportunity to share things, that maybe have never been brought to the light.

When that sharing happens is when the healing and sanctification begins..

-- I would like to look at one negative or caution in accountability—

* Confessional Complacency: The idea of getting so used to being transparent and confessing our faults that we soon get complacent and repetitious, and the sin itself loses its seriousness.

Feeling good about confessing, but thats as far as it goes. (Young pe

Back to James 5. Healing needs to happen. Victory is the goal Those things need to come before the Lord and be put at the foot of the cross.

* Humility comes with accountability… (you may not have been raised and brought up sharing and being open...so it may seem difficult...but we are called to set aside self and follow Christ.

Closing: As we serve the living Christ.... We all are under spiritual attack...do we as a body see the importance of brothers and sisters coming together out of their best intrest for eachother to help and protect and be accountable… ( What happens when part of our body experiences pain or trauma..the rest of the body does what it can to help it) It works together This body is the same...fitly joined

* When transparecy and accountability are lost...i believe is when the devil can realy work....and strongholds are built...

* I trust most of us are in accountability groups already...if you are not, i recomend finding someone trustworthy to be your partner.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore encourage eachother together: and build up one another, as also ye are doing. Let us Continuee worthy name of Jesus