A Restorative Church
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Introduction:
Introduction:
We are drawing nearer to the end of our study in the book of Galatians — we have about five or six messages left to go. I’ve certainly been enjoying this study. I’ve drawn these outlines from a resource written by another preacher. I’m sure you realize by now that not everything I use originates with me, there’s 2000 years of preachers behind me after all. I’ve had to make these messages my own, and have done my own study in preparation for these messages, but through the use of that resource we’ve been able to stay right on track. It’s been a great help to me, and I hope it has blessed you.
That of course brings us to Galatians chapter number six. We finished chapter five, we’ve been challenged to live our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit, by walking in the Spirit, every single day.
We will focus our study tonight on the first verse of chapter six:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
It’s in this verse that we shift from our personal walk with Christ, to our responsibility to have a ministry with others on behalf of Jesus Christ.
This passage of Scripture can help every Christian, every teacher, every home, and of course, every local church.
We all deal with people, every single day. We all seek to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Much of our week should be spent helping to reconcile a lost world to Christ.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
But some of our time inevitably will be spent helping to restore other believers when they fall (not from salvation, but from fellowship).
The local church is a body of believers. It is not God’s will that we sin, but He teaches us our proper response in times when church members fail.
None of us are above falling prey to temptation or error. None of us are at all perfect, in any area.
The Bible, knowing our weaknesses, makes it clear how we should treat one another when those imperfections and weaknesses trip us up and sometimes even become public knowledge.
How can we help one another when we fall into sin?
The assumption of this passage is a repentant sinner. The church cannot restore an unrepentant sinner.
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
When you fall, don’t make excuses, own it, admit it, and change it. Because, whether you think so or not, you can and will make mistakes.
The Reality of Failure
The Reality of Failure
The Affronts of Satan
The Affronts of Satan
Statement: The word overtaken means “overwhelmed by or caught in.”
Statement: Satan is always looking to bring harm to God’s people by overwhelming them in temptation or catching them in a vice.
Statement: Satan is always looking to bring harm to God’s people by overwhelming them in temptation or catching them in a vice.
Statement: The Bible makes it clear that we are up against the “wiles of the devil.” That means Satan has ingenious strategies. He’s crafty, he’s deceitful, he’s a schemer, and he’s always building a better mousetrap.
ILLUSTRATION: Monkey Trap
Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Catching Ringtailed Monkeys
Catching Ringtailed Monkeys
Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.
Statement: The Devil knows our weaknesses, he knows the right bait to set out in his trap, and in one moment of weakness, we can find ourselves caught.
(The Affronts of Satan)
(The Affronts of Satan)
The Aftermath of Temptation
The Aftermath of Temptation
The word fault means “a lapse or deviation from the truth; a character flaw.”
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Statement: Notice, that the sin besets us, it ensnares us, entraps us, and entangles us, so easily. And we must pick ourselves up, lay that sin aside, and continue the race with patience — with endurance, and steadfastness.
(The Reality of Failure)
The Restoration of Forgiveness
The Restoration of Forgiveness
The Requirement
The Requirement
Ye which are spiritual
Ye which are spiritual
We as Christians fall into one of two categories: we are either spiritual or carnal.
The spiritual Christian is strong in the Lord.
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
The spiritual Christian is known by his fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In a spirit of meekness
In a spirit of meekness
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus restored Peter even after Peter had denied Him in a crucial moment.
It is not the church’s place to bring chastisement upon a fallen Christian. Judgment is done only by God.
Quote — The Christian army is the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded. — Unknown
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus restored a woman who had fallen into adultery. There was no doubt that his woman was guilty because she was caught in the very act. However, Christ forgave her and restored her through His compassionate love.
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And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
It is not our job as Christians to add more guilt to a sinner.
Only the Holy Spirit can convict someone of sin. Our job is to love and restore.
However, sometimes in restoration there is a time someone may need to step down from a ministry or be placed off a team for a while.
We cannot always choose or avoid the consequences that follow someone’s actions, but the goal is to see fruit and to ultimately restore this person.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations When Christians Fight …
When Christians Fight …
A recent issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC included a photograph of the fossil remains of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat. To quote the article: “One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other, a thrust that trapped both in a common fate. The cause of the death of the two cats is a clear as the causes of the extinction of their species are obvious.
When Christians fight each other, everybody loses. As Paul put it, “if you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal. 5:15).
Peter A. Alwinson
ILLUSTRATION: When Christians Fight …
When Christians Fight …
An issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC included a photograph of the fossil remains of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat. To quote the article: “One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other, a thrust that trapped both in a common fate.
When Christians fight each other, everybody loses. As Paul put it, “if you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” ().
When Christians fight each other, everybody loses. As Paul put it:
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Peter A. Alwinson
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
(The Requirement)
The Restoration
The Restoration
The word restore means “to mend.” This same word was used of James and John when they were mending their nets. The connotation of this word is that we should mend things with a fallen Christian so that he is useful once again.
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
ILLUSTRATION:
A few years ago, a crazed man ran into a museum in Amsterdam and came to Rembrandt’s painting The Night Watch. He took a knife and slashed it. A few months later a man entered St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He took a hammer and smashed the Pieta. What did officials do? Did they throw the works away? No, they got the best artists of the day and paid a great price to have the works restored.
Help the sinner recognize the sin.
Help the sinner recognize the sin.
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
JAMES 5 19-20
Help restore the sinner to fellowship.
Help restore the sinner to fellowship.
Help restore the sinner to fellowship.
Help restore the sinner to fellowship.
ILLUSTRATION:
Author and teacher Dr. Howard Hendricks tells the story of a young man who strayed from the Lord but was finally brought back by the help of a friend who really loved him. When there was full repentance and restoration, Dr. Hendricks asked this Christian how it felt to be away from the Lord. The young man said it seemed like he was out to sea, in deep water, deep trouble, and all his friends were on the shore hurling biblical accusations at him about justice, penalty, and wrong. “But, there was one Christian brother who actually swam out to get me and would not let me go. I fought him, but he pushed aside my fighting, grasped me, put a life jacket around me, and took me to shore. By the grace of God, he was the reason I was restored. He would not let me go.”
Note — There is a difference between fellowship and ministry. Sometimes we can restore a fallen Christian to fellowship, and even to ministry, but not to pastoral ministry.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
(The Reality of Failure)
(The Restoration of Forgiveness)
(The
The Reasoning of the Faithful
The Reasoning of the Faithful
Consideration
Consideration
The word consideration means “to put the scope on yourself.”
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
We must all continually be diligent to guard our own purity.
(Consideration)
Caution: “Lest thou also be tempted”
Caution: “Lest thou also be tempted”
Pride goeth before destruction,
And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The reality is that we all will fail at one point in our Christian walk. While we walk in the Spirit, we must also fight the flesh and its many temptations.
Because of this, we should be quick to restore and forgive those who have fallen around us. We must love them and mend them so that they can once again be useful to the cause of Christ.
And even in the process of restoring others, we must be cautious of our own personal walk with God, considering that we will also be tempted to sin.
It does none of us any good to act like it never happens, like we never hit the wall in this race.
ILLUSTRATION: No Memorial
Memorial
10,000 Sermon Illustrations No Memorial
No Memorial
“You don’t go look at where it happened,” said Scott Goodyear, who starts 33rd [speaking of race-car drivers who have been killed in crashes at the Indianapolis 500]. “You don’t watch the films of it on television. You don’t deal with it. You pretend it never happened.” The Speedway operation itself encourages this approach. As soon as the track closes the day of an accident, a crew heads out to paint over the spot where the car hit the wall.
Through the years, a driver has never been pronounced dead at the race track. A trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Racing Museum, located inside the 2.5-mile oval, has no memorial to the 40 drivers who have lost their lives here. Nowhere is there even a mention.
“You don’t go look at where it happened,” said Scott Goodyear, who starts 33rd [speaking of race-car drivers who have been killed in crashes at the Indianapolis 500]. “You don’t watch the films of it on television. You don’t deal with it. You pretend it never happened.” The Speedway operation itself encourages this approach. As soon as the track closes the day of an accident, a crew heads out to paint over the spot where the car hit the wall.
Through the years, a driver has never been pronounced dead at the race track. A trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Racing Museum, located inside the 2.5-mile oval, has no memorial to the 40 drivers who have lost their lives here. Nowhere is there even a mention.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations No Memorial
No Memorial
“You don’t go look at where it happened,” said Scott Goodyear, who starts 33rd [speaking of race-car drivers who have been killed in crashes at the Indianapolis 500]. “You don’t watch the films of it on television. You don’t deal with it. You pretend it never happened.” The Speedway operation itself encourages this approach. As soon as the track closes the day of an accident, a crew heads out to paint over the spot where the car hit the wall.
Through the years, a driver has never been pronounced dead at the race track. A trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Racing Museum, located inside the 2.5-mile oval, has no memorial to the 40 drivers who have lost their lives here. Nowhere is there even a mention.
Statement: We are none of us perfect, and we should not be surprised when we make mistakes. And because we are all imperfect people, we should be able to rally around those that become ensnared in one of the many traps laid all around us. If there is no help for a struggling sinner in church, where exactly do you expect him to go?
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.