Winning by Surrendering, part 3: Get the Log Out of Your Own Eye
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1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
We can’t see with the log in our eye.
Reconciliation is impeded when we have a log in our eye, while we are getting after someone who has only a speck in their eye in comparison to what’s in our eye.
Intro
As we try to work things out with the log still in our eye, we bang others in the face or head.
Other people can see better for us sometimes because we are so blinded by our own logs. That’s the role of the church board, parental intervention, the objective view of those not directly involved. In other words, even though the spirit is in our lives, we can fall down the slippery slope. We will fall. The spirit convicts and empowers us to heal and take the steps needed towards full reconciliation. And the spirit commissions the church leaders to help with individuals who are going through a tough patch.
This is part of the first steps of reconciling. Self examination. introspection. Getting the log out. Being honest with your opponent, the other side. Sometimes is takes surgery for both. sawdust, splinters in the eyes, it’s aggravating, and requires a certain amount of healing and recuperation before being able to see better again. Sometimes therapy, counseling, many prayer sessions. Same for the log. Major surgery, recuperation time is needed. Sometimes therapy, counseling, many prayer sessions.
Meanwhile ministry and mission goals and objectives go on around us, and in spite of us.
Paul and Barnabas had to do this among themselves concerning John Mark…They went on in a divided state to get the goals accomplished in spite of the logs and splinters that were impeding their reconciliation efforts.
We will focus on other people’s problems to avoid our own. That is the slippery slope of denial, defensiveness, smoke screen, etc.
It is not a passage with a core message indicating that we should ignore everything that is causing conflict or going against principles....The core is love god, on these hang law and prophets. From there we apply and make subset guidelines that get adjusted depending on circumstances.
[We have to help them see that we see a full picture.
It will take them to give up that view and to restore leadership and have to work with us.
List
Say, “We Need your help to create the leadership to not feel the need”
We can take a stand that every one who wants to go can go. We take a stand that families last. I’m inviting to take a a stand for peace. We are moving forward. Die with past. Something bigger. We are stuck with smaller plans from the Past. Invited to move to something Bigger than ourselves.
Clear the rubbish out
Pathway to reconciliation
They can clear name through reconciliation
Stop the talking
Taking stand for the children
Go never vexed]
Intro
Series reminder
Video
1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.
Matthew 7:1
This isn’t saying we shouldn’t judge at all. Is it not saying that we shouldn’t handle differences.
Conflict
Conflict
Conflict
Conflict is a difference in opinion or purpose that frustrates someone’s goals or desires.
We are using the Bible to guide us in how we handle conflict. That is what this passage from Jesus’ sermon on the mount is covering.
Me (How do I struggle with this?)
I struggle as everyday, there is a difference of opinion or purpose that frustrates me, from politics, to ministry plans and mission endeavours, to family financial decisions, to how to spend time.
We (How do we all struggle with this?)
In the church, together we
God (What does the Bible say about this?)
The Four Primary Causes of Conflict
God made us to live life to the fullest. ()
We are being called to a ministry of reconciliation.
When we face conflicts it is an opportunity to glorify God in how we handle them. Perhaps the reason we face so many unhealthy conflicts as a church is because we are being called to learn to be reconcilers so we can better reconcile with the community and lead people to Jesus. Because if we can’t settle conflict in the church, it will impede our effectiveness in working with those who are not yet followers of Jesus. For there is surely a going to be conflicts with them in terms of a difference of opinion or purpose.
When we face conflicts it is an opportunity to glorify God in how we handle them. Perhaps the reason we face so many unhealthy conflicts as a church is because we are being called to learn to be reconcilers so we can better reconcile with the community and lead people to Jesus. Because if we can’t settle conflict in the church, it will impede our effectiveness in working with those who are not yet followers of Jesus. For there is surely a going to be conflicts with them in terms of a difference of opinion or purpose.
Responses to Conflict
Slippery Slope
Biblical Ways to Deal With Conflict
Biblical Ways to Deal With Conflict
Surrender to Christ. ()
Surrender to Christ. () Surrender to Christ, the gospel of peace
Surrender to Christ, the gospel of peace
Make every effort to maintain peace. ()
We are careful, humble, prayerful.
Four G’s of peacemaking
Glorify God - ()
God says to glorify him in everything.
Get the Log Out of Your Eye. ()
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matt
We can’t see with the log in our eye.
Reconciliation is impeded when we have a log in our eye, while we are getting after someone who has only a speck in their eye in comparison to what’s in our eye.
LOOK HOW RIDICULOUS THIS IS....LOG IN EYE
As we try to work things out with the log still in our eye, we bang others in the face or head.
Other people can see better for us sometimes because we are so blinded by our own logs. That’s the role of the church board, parental intervention, the objective view of those not directly involved. In other words, even though the spirit is in our lives, we can fall down the slippery slope. We will fall. The spirit convicts and empowers us to heal and take the steps needed towards full reconciliation. And the spirit commissions the church leaders to help with individuals who are going through a tough patch.
West, R. F., Meserve, R. J., & Stanovich, K. E. (2012). Cognitive sophistication does not attenuate the bias blind spot. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(3), 506-519.
A study by a couple of researchers at the University of Toronto and at James Madison University in Virginia proved something that we may already know. The study, provocatively called "Cognitive Sophistication Does Not Attenuate the Bias Blind Spot," concluded that we cut ourselves more slack than we give to others. No surprise there, right. But writing about this study in the New Yorker, Jonah Lehrer explains why we do this. He claims that we all have "bias blind spots" because there's a mismatch between how we evaluate others and how we evaluate ourselves. Lehrer writes:
When considering the irrational choices of a stranger, for instance, we are forced to rely on [how they behave]; we see their biases from the outside, which allows us to glimpse their [errors]. However, when assessing our own bad choices, we tend to engage in elaborate introspection. We [study] our motivations and search for relevant reasons; we lament our mistakes to therapists and ruminate on the beliefs that led us astray.
As an example, if we drive crazy through traffic it's because we have an important meeting or we don't do it that often, and so forth. But if someone else cuts us off in traffic there's one simple, observable explanation: he's a jerk. Lehrer concludes "[our bias blind spots] are largely unconscious, which means they remain invisible to self-analysis and [resistant] to intelligence." In other words, being smarter won't help you see your own junk. As a matter of fact, more intelligence may add to the problem.
Let us listen to those who are better able to see what’s going on from a different seat, perspective. They can help us get the log out. the impediment.
Go in reverse of above steps to close out…then note that “while you do this we will be patient with each other as we reach out and help one another up the slope whenever we find one another sliding down.
You (What should you do about this?)
We (How can we all live this out together?)
Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, we will trust in God’s mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts— confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.
we will trust in God’s mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—
we will trust in God’s mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—
confessing our sins to those we have wronged,
asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict,
and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.
Getting to the point that this can be applied in our lives takes a process and time.
if there is injury caused by all those logs swinging around, this may be an opportunity for healing and recuperation.******
There is room for moving on and addressing other issues later after healing or when a better time arrives. As in the case Paul and John Mark in Bible....
36 Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.
38 Paul insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work.
39 Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40 Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace.
41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul and John Mark...
Paul and John Mark...
Paul wasn’t healed enough, sure enough to reconcile with John Mark. Barnabas was more sure and had reconciled things with John Mark apparently. Paul wouldn’t have any of it. Evidently the principles and rules he had didn’t have room for John Mark.
The result was a division. Two groups with the same goal, the same journey, to foster experiences with Jesus, spreading the gospel.
It was a solution to the problem that not all things were reconciled at that time between them.
Though there was division on the parameters rules and guidelines of the missionary journeys and who qualified to take part, they were clear that the work and purpose was of utmost importance.
Later on, eventually things got worked out and Paul and John Mark
reveals that Paul once more received John Mark as a fellow worker (), and Paul learned to recognize in John Mark one who was “profitable” to him “for the ministry” ()
Hellenist or Greek speaking Jews
Acts 6:1–7 Hellenistic Jewish Christians were Greek-speakers from birth, hailing from the Diaspora but now, out of “Zionist” fervor, residing in Jerusalem. Formerly they congregated in their own native-language synagogues, but since coming to faith in Christ they have met with the church, though probably with their own ethnic subgroup within the church.
The fact that it is Grecian Jews who complain against Hebraic believers shows that cultural tensions probably lie behind the oversight. Pious widows, having been removed from the temple dole—the weekly poor basket of foodstuffs—are now dependent on the church’s daily distribution. But the apostles, Hebraic Jews, are not making sure the Grecian widows receive their share.
The fact that it is Grecian Jews (Hellēnistoi; Longenecker 1981:327–29 for a cogent discussion of the options for understanding this term) who complain against Hebraic believers (Hebraioi; see Longenecker 1981:332) shows that cultural tensions probably lie behind the oversight. Pious widows, having been removed from the temple dole—the weekly quppâh, or poor basket of foodstuffs (m. Pe’a 8:7)—are now dependent on the church’s daily distribution (NIV specifies it more precisely than the Greek by adding of food; see Kistemaker 1990:221). But the apostles, Hebraic Jews, are not making sure the Grecian widows receive their share.
Hebraic Jews had a prejudicial sense of superiority over Grecian Jews, because of their own birthplace and language. Lack of communication between the groups also fostered suspicion. In fact, human diversity will always bring with it opportunities for prejudicial division and injustice.
Hebraic Jews had a prejudicial sense of superiority over Grecian Jews, because of their own birthplace and language. Lack of communication between the groups also fostered suspicion. In fact, human diversity will always bring with it opportunities for prejudicial division and injustice.
This is part of the first steps of reconciling. Self examination. introspection. Getting the log out. Being honest with your opponent, the other side. Sometimes is takes surgery for both. sawdust, splinters in the eyes, it’s aggravating, and requires a certain amount of healing and recuperation before being able to see better again. Sometimes therapy, counseling, many prayer sessions. Same for the log. Major surgery, recuperation time is needed. Sometimes therapy, counseling, many prayer sessions.
There was an underlining issue that was not addressed here. There were some splinters and logs getting in the way of relationship. There was a division. separate groups. Yet they didn’t deal with that part at this time. The reasons why they were being overlooked by the Hebraic jews. They should have not overlooked them without getting help from outside their own group. Yet, they chose to find Christians from among the Hellenists to work with these widows.
Perhaps it wasn’t the ideal time to tackle segregation and cliques.
Meanwhile ministry and mission goals and objectives go on around us, and in spite of us.
As we go about not addressing these issues for too long, as we go about with splinters and logs in our eyes, we can lose sight of many things...
Mission
Ministry
Purpose
Goals
Perspective
The casualties can pile up around us.
5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things.
7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things.
8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language.
9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices
10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it.
11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.
12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.
14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
col
Let us take a stand to remove impediments to reconciliation.
Let us take a stand to remove impediments to reconciliation.
Let us commit to living new lives as peacemakers who are patient, tolerant, forgiving, and loving. ()
Let us commit to living new lives as peacemakers who are patient, tolerant, forgiving, and loving. ()
Let us a commit to working with one another while surgery is being performed, while people are recovering from eye surgery.
Even as others get nursed back to health to be able to be a candidate for surgery.
You know, sometimes other symptoms are treated until the patient is healthy enough for the major surgery that needs to take place.
And those surgeries can be a series of surgeries, a process, a team gets involved, sometimes a trauma team.
So we take a stand as a church, as a board, as leaders, as your pastors to Be patient with one another. When you are healthy enough, you will be empowered to reach out your hand as we lend a hand to help you up the slippery slope into the realm of operating within the peacemaking responses and not the escape and attach responses.
As you recover from your eye injuries from splinters and logs, it will ease the rest of the process. This process we will unpack in other installments of this summer series.
Let us all take a stand and keep leading people to Jesus.
Let us take a stand to Go out of way to help one another experience Jesus.
Let us take a stand To go out of our way to be patient and graceful with each other as we fall down the slope and need help getting up.
Take a stand to help others experience sermons
Take a stand to help others experience Powerful events
Evangelistic series
Our children to experience Evangelistic events like Oshkosh
Children to experience Adventurers camps
Children to experience Adventist Christian schools
To experience Sabbath school
GLOW
outreach through community service
We take a stand that families can last
That relationships can be restored
Taking as stand means we stop holding on to tradition, for tradition sake,
We stop holding on to rules for rules sake,
We stop holding on to precedent for precedent sake,
We stop holding on to bitterness until someone says they are sorry
We stop going the easy way of sliding down the slope to escape or attack...because that is what we are used to and working at getting stronger requires effort...
I’m inviting to take a a stand for peace. to be a peacemaker.
To be
I’m inviting to take a a stand for peace. to be a peacemaker. We are moving forward. Die with past. Something bigger. We are stuck with smaller plans from the Past. Invited to move to something Bigger than ourselves.
We are moving forward. Die with past. Something bigger. We are stuck with smaller plans from the Past. Invited to move to something Bigger than ourselves.
take a stand that the worst of us still has a place and a part in our church family.
We can take a stand by helping when things aren’t working out in time through reconciliation, the surgery is taking a while, the log is too deep, the splinters causing too many tears, we intervene to make a new way.
Let us commit to end complaining, grumbling, gossiping, pointing fingers, accusing.
Attend the seminars, sessions, development opportunities that will be offered beginning at the end of the summer.
Join with upper leadership as we prayerfully intervene and offer help for the difficult matters that come up in conflicts.
And together we will see less unhealthy conflict, and a safe and healthy church that will be one God will entrust with the divine commission to make disciples. We will get back on mission. The best times are ahead of us. Let’s go for it.
13 Those who hide their sins won’t succeed, but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.
; ; ; ; ).
1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.
2 You’ll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you.
3 Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when there’s a log in your eye?
5 You deceive yourself! First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye.
; ; ; ; ).
; ; ).
8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”
5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things.
7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things.
8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language.
9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices
10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it.
11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.
12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.
14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
8 If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.
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