Sermon Tone Analysis

I’ve been thinking about the process of decision making that this council has adopted.

What it means.

What it doesn’t mean.

Why it is important.

It’s potential weaknesses.

I’m in the process of producing a document that explains it’s biblical foundations, describes in detail the process that is used, and how to minimize its weaknesses and how conflict can be a good thing.

I’m not ready to distribute that document: I’m praying about how to teach that, and encourage us to continue with that practice.

I think discernment must take place before decisions can be made.

Sometimes that slows things down, but I would rather take time to discern, rather than rush to make a wrong decision that needs to be revisited.

I’m speaking from my experience as a Quaker.

My parents were going through a horrible divorce, and spending the weekends with my grandmother was my escape from that.

She went to a Quaker church, and that’s where I was first introduced to corporate discernment, or the consensus method of decision making.

There were many times on Sunday where there was no sermon: silence, until God compelled someone to speak.

Their group decision making wasn’t too different: prayer, careful discussion, listening, and deciding.

I want to give 2 examples of consesnsus: 1) The Quaker Church was considering a building campaign (not trying to sway our discussion, just telling a story) and most on the leadership team were in favor, but more than a few said, “I don’t support, but I’m not going to block this.”

That was enough to delay the vote, and they decided to continue in prayer and discernment.

One of the members who supported capital improvement noticed a vacant store, and wondered if the church should relocate there.

They did, and grew.

Another example, a UMC example: It’s another capital campaign: The parsonage was falling apart and the majority wanted to build a new house: One member continued to block the decision, but soon his motives were revealed: He confronted the pastor in the parking lot after the meeting and said, “You will get a new parsonage over my dead body.”

Want to guess what happened to that man in a matter of weeks?

I am drawn to , which gives us an excellent example of corporate discernment.

Exciting things are happening in the church: the Gospel is spreading, but where there’s a church, there’s a potential for conflict:

1 Corinthians 15;

What is the problem being faced by the church?

Why is this such a big deal?

How do we distinguish between essential and non-essential conflicts?

Acts 15:6-

What is the focus of Peter, Paul and Barnabas’ speeches?

How can Christ be the center of our process of discerning and deciding?

Acts 15:13-

What does the church finally decide?

What determines their decision?

What will determine ours?