I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires
Notes
Transcript
Introduction and Review
Introduction and Review
Make sure everyone has their book and a pen/pencil.
Remember, the goals of this study are:
to critically examine what it means to be a church member from God’s point of view
to discuss and generate ideas that will help us become more involved in the church ministry
to find and discuss obstacles of effective church membership
Last week we talked about being a unifying church member.
We learned that it is our duty as members to be unifying forces within our church. It is not simply an implied duty, but it is a command from God that we are to be united with one another.
We also discussed that unity does not mean uniformity. We are all different, we have all been given different gifts, talents, personalities, and such, but we are all to use these together, not against each other.
Does anyone remember the foundation of unity? Love
We are to love Jesus, and as we love Him, we will also love each other. We are drawn together in unity by a common goal, to serve in our local body as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. We are united in Jesus. The moment we stop following Jesus closely, the moment we begin to be disjointed from the rest of the body. The moment that I put myself and my wants and my preferences above Jesus and above others is the moment I begin to lose unity with the rest of my church.
We also discussed two major “unity-killers.” Does anyone remember what they are? Gossip/negative talk and unforgiveness.
Who remembers what are the two defining things that determine whether I am gossiping or not? Intention and the type of information shared. (Intention: building myself up/tearing others down; type of information shared: faults and failings, revealing potentially embarrassing details without the knowledge or approval of that person.
A third thing that can help determine if I am gossiping is the person I am sharing the info with. Are they able to help? Does it pertain to them?)
Love, on the other hand, seeks to build up, strengthen, and unify the church. God demands that we be unifying church members. Church attendance is not enough to measure spiritual growth; spiritual growth in the church will be seen by how we treat each other, how we love each other.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Who read this chapter?
Let’s start off with a discussion question:
What do you believe are the main reasons why people in church aren’t more willing to help others?
I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires
I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires
This chapter has a long title, like the other one, but if you were to summarize the chapter into a shorter phrase, what would it be?
What are things that stood out to you as you read this chapter? Regardless of what section it was in, let us know what you underlined, highlighted, or took notes about.
P.33-36
P.33-36
Anything specific that you took notes of from this section?
I thought it was funny and sad at the same time that he points out that even though it may look different, selfishness is as hard to fight as an adult as it is when we are children. Sadly, church members can easily fall into being selfishly demanding within the church. (p.35)
What will help us remember about how to respond correctly in church is that we give up our preferences when we join. I like when the author says, “Don’t get me wrong; there may be much about your church that you like a lot.” And as a pastor, I hope there is a lot that you like about Good News. But we should remember that that is not our primary reason for joining or staying in a church. We are here “to meet the needs of others… to serve others… to give… to sacrifice.”
Then the author points out the passage in Mark 9:33-35 where the disciples are arguing about who is going to be the greatest in the kingdom.
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Thom Rainer, the author of the book describes it as a “me first” fight among the closest followers of Jesus. (p.35)
And as he points out in the next page, when we read that, we may shake our heads and chuckle a little bit thinking, “How petty of the disciples,” but that text and and Jesus’ instructions in verse 35 are there for each of us too.
Our motivation in church “should not be to get our preferences to the top of the list. We are supposed to be last, not first.” (p.36)
If we are seeking the fulfillment of our preferences and desires to be carried out at church, then we are seeking to be served instead of seeking to serve.
The Servant Motif
The Servant Motif
p35-36
Any comments or questions?
It stood out to me the amount of times that the word “servant” appears in the New Testament. Depending on the version you use, that word may appear more or fewer times, sometimes being replaced by words of similar meaning like “minister.” But I found, a few years back, that the words “serve,” “minister,” “service,” and their different variations are found over 130 times in the New Testament! (p.36)
What does this tell us? Serving is important to the Lord.
7 Whereof I was made a minister [servant], according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Paul was a servant of the Lord and other Christians. Everyone has preferences, even Paul did. But our preferences cannot come first, as Paul was willing to understand. In Acts 16:6-9, we see that Paul had his heart set on preaching in Asia Minor, but God did not allow him to go. When he made his way toward that region, the Holy Spirit told them “no,” and when they tried to go to Bithynia, a Roman province in Asia Minor, the Holy Spirit once again forbade them to go. How God resisted their efforts to go, I do not know, but we understand that this was Paul’s desires, his preference, and God said “no.”
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Paul later tries to go to Mysia and Troas, both areas in Asia Minor, seemingly looking for a route that God will allow him into that region. But then, while in Troas, he receives a vision to go to Macedonia.
When he does go to Macedonia, there he witnesses to a family that gets save, and from that family, we later find references in Paul’s letters that the Christians of Macedonia were strong and mature, seeking and studying the Scriptures making sure that what was being preached actually lined up with the truth of God’s revealed word and His character.
My takeaway from this section is that when we let go of our preferences as we serve in the church, God can use the direction He is leading the church in to do great things for Him and for His Kingdom.
“We cannot find joy in church membership when we are constantly seeking things our way.” (P.36)
A Survey That Said a Lot
A Survey That Said a Lot
p.36-39
Any comments or questions regarding this section?
This survey was of of inward-focused churches. We want to be an outward reaching church.
P.38 underlines
The Mind of Christ
The Mind of Christ
p.39
Comments or questions?
We find Philippians 2:5-11 being referenced here, so let’s take a moment to read it. We’ll read verses 5-8
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
“This is our example to follow. We are to do whatever it takes to keep the unity in our church… We are to always ask first what we can do for the church. Then we will have discovered the joy of being last.” p.39
The Third Pledge
The Third Pledge
P.40-41
Questions or comments?
my notes and underlines
Read and sign pledge.
Questions for Study
Questions for Study
1. Show from key Bible verses the difference between church & country club membership from the perspective of personal preferences and desires.
1. Show from key Bible verses the difference between church & country club membership from the perspective of personal preferences and desires.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 tells us about how we are part of the church to serve others together. We cannot be upset that we do not have the position or the function that another has. As members of the body, we understand that it is the head that guides the body, not the other body parts.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
2. Find and explain key passages in the Bible that talk about Christians being like servants.
2. Find and explain key passages in the Bible that talk about Christians being like servants.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
How would you describe a servant as it applies to being a member of the church?
How would you describe a servant as it applies to being a member of the church?
3. Why do many churches have “worship wars”? What does that have to do with the right or wrong attitude about church membership?
3. Why do many churches have “worship wars”? What does that have to do with the right or wrong attitude about church membership?
4. Describe someone in your church that best fits the description of having the mind of Christ and a servant attitude.
4. Describe someone in your church that best fits the description of having the mind of Christ and a servant attitude.
I am curious as to your answers!
5. Go verse by verse through Philippians 2:5-11. Explain how the attitude of Christ in each verse becomes a pattern for us as church members.
5. Go verse by verse through Philippians 2:5-11. Explain how the attitude of Christ in each verse becomes a pattern for us as church members.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Homework
Homework
Read Chapter 4 (p.43-51)
Read and sign the pledge on p. 52
Read 1 Timothy 3
Answer questions on p.52-53
