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Elephant in the Church (Summer Sermon Series)

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 VI - "Slow Fade of the Church"

July 28, 2019 • Paul Barnard

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 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.

Elephant in the Church IV - "Sex and the Believer Part II"

July 14, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Elephant IV “Sex and Believers” 1Co 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 1Co 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The Church and Sex Major two stances in the church : worship or evil Worship in that we obsess in an unhealthy way Evil in that even the thought or desire for it is a sin Paul says not to avoid sex but yet embrace it in the right context It is a gift if used in the right context (exclusivity). a curse if not If we use this gift out of the context in which it was designed it becomes a curse 1Co 7:3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 1Co 7:4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. The wrong approach Its about protection from infidelity This thinking can lead do a feel of duty for the spouse instead of a privilege Sex is for you too, not just your spouse 2. Its a weapon Using sex as a negotiating tool is not true connection. It is one sided 1Co 7:6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.1Co 7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 1Co 7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 1Co 7:9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Elephant in the Church III - "Sexual Immorality Part I"

July 7, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Elelphant III “Sexual Immorality - Part I" ELEPHANT III “Sexual Immorality” 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. 1Co 6:13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 1Co 6:14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 1Co 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 1Co 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 1Co 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1Co 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 1Co 6:20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Forms Of sexual Immorality Unnatural Against creations design Pre-marital and extra marital Cohabitation- Practicing Divorce Pornography- Rewiring of the brain, fake Lust- Turning thoughts into action of any kind Anything that does not promote oneness in the marriage Overcoming Sexual Immorality Fasting Exclusivity Impossible situations Draw near to the Word of God.

Elephant in the Church II - "Homosexuality"

June 30, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Elephant II “Homosexuality and the church” ELEPHANT II “Homosexuality” Intro: Sensitive Subject Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, Gen 3:3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Fractured Universe Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. I’ve got this. I don’t want You, just Your stuff Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, Rom 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. This is why worship of idols happens More about me than God. Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; Rom 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Rom 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done Two Letter Answer from God: O. K. Passive wrath _*Arguments heard about Homosexuality:*_ *Jesus never talks about it* *Other animals do it why would we* *If I desire it, It must be ok* _*Christian response:*_ *Love and Patience* *Stop Gauging Sin* *Truth and Love* Podcast: -Why is this subject so sensitive in the church? -What are some ways the church has handled this wrongly in past and even today? -Talk about the arguments for homosexuality. -What should be our response?

Elephant in the Church I - "Can I Drink Alcohol?"

June 23, 2019 • Paul Barnard

Elelphant in the church Part I “Can I Drink Alcohol?” 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 many 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 Podcast: Paul & Brad discus the message https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kyx8nmu12t8z9yqyh3mjkalxhyff7rjn Podcast notes / Questions What is the context and basis of this scripture? Dig deeper into conviction framework. So what do you think the Bible says about drinking alcohol? Why is this so important for us to understand?