Elephant VI
Elephant VI “Slow Fade of the Church”
Rev 2:3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. Rev 2:4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
5 things that kill church growth and the solutions-
Traditions of men
Problem- Everyone wants change but nobody wants to change (change creates incompetence- Atlas (Definition of insanity)
Solution- marry the mission but date the method
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
2. Avoidance of conflict
Problem- Church discipline is avoided, hard conversations are avoided. (some people want to be offended so they will not confront)
Solution- Be bold in your obedience and faith as well as follow to the letter the Word
Mat 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Mat 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Mat 18:18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
3. Debt
Problem- Finances hinder the movement from church and individuals
Solution- Live with freedom and generosity
Those that manage their money have a better situation in society but debt keeps the poor poor
Pro 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender
4. Congregational polity
Problem- Unspiritual decision makers
Solution- Accountable decision makers
5. Success
Problem- Treadmill of the glory days
Solution- constantly stretch and reach further, dream big, pray big and risk (faith)
Conclusion: Are you holding back growth in the church? How are you accelerating it?
Elephant in the Church VI - "Slow Fade of the Church"
07/28/19
July 28, 2019 • Paul Barnard
The Elephant in the Church
June 23, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Context: Jews in Rome- Law -Gentiles *Your Conviction Framework is brought about through teaching, experiences, and all by Holy Spirit itself* Understanding this greatly impacts your part in the kingdom advancement Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. You can do this in any ways- Music, Language, Movies, Dress code (church illustration), Order in church, politics Rom 14:14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. Convictions will vary Rom 14:15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. Rom 14:16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. Two sides of the coin : Love Legalism Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Missing the point. Rom 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Rom 14:20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is about love and unity not convictional legalism. Rom 14:21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Rom 14:22 The faith that you have,* keep between yourself and God*. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. This passage is about love Conclusion Rom 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Listen to you heart- Who are you hurting by your action? 1- You 2- Others 3- Spirit
Elephant in the Church Sermon Series Questions
August 4, 2019 • Paul Barnard
1) What does the Bible say about tobacco use? 2) Is it wrong for some of us in the church that have never been addicted to alcohol, to get together and have a drink while we are hanging out? 3) I have a past with alcoholism. I have friends at OFC that occasionally have a drink when they get together. I would love to be able to hang out with them. What should I do? 4) Many people have been divorced and remarried. Isn't that a sin unless adultery has been committed? What does one do, continue to live in sin by the re-marriage or get another divorce? Matthew 19:3-11
Elephant in the Church V - "Addiction"
July 21, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Elephant V “Addiction” Intro: Addiction is no respecter of person. Because we all have addictions, we tend to come against the minority of addictions (Drugs etc.) and embrace the majority (food, money, sports). *Rom 7:15* For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. *Rom 7:22* For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, *Rom 7:23* but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. - Paul basically says he is an addict. He does things he does not want to do and this is by definition the essence of addiction. *Isa 44:9* All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. - We agree with this until we put it into context *Isa 44:14* He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. - Addictions starts as a good thing, a normal expected thing. *Isa 44:15* Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also *he makes a god and worships it*; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. *Isa 44:16* Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” - Notice the shift in a good thing becoming a bad thing. * *1Co 6:12* “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. * All things are made for our good until… *Isa 44:17* And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “*Deliver me*, for you are my god!” - Something becomes an idol when we abuse it and then it becomes something we turn to and obey. *Isa 44:18* *They know not, nor do they discern*, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. * We think its no big deal- “It’s just a pastime” “It’s just a donut” “It’s just a little something to get me by”, “I don’t have a problem” *Isa 44:19* No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? *Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”* * From the outside looking in, it would seem foolish that something so simple would control our lives. *Isa 44:20* He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” - Nothing will change until we see the truth and confront it. If not, we will only go lower.