Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts:21:26-40

Theme: Christ gives us 5 essential elements to witness well in dark days

Notes:

5 Essential Elements

* Christ gives us compassion

* Our motives our seen in our responses to our critics

* A right heart produces the right motives, which will produce the right actions

* Ephesians 4:26-27

* Do not allow righteous anger to become sinful anger

* Brashness <> bravery, bravado <> strength,  crassness <> courage

* Paul’s heart was filled with love for God and therefore for others–even though they hated him

 

1 Peter 2:19-23, “…Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example….”

If we are going to witness well in darkening days, we will have to give the truth of God with the love of God

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Galatians 6:1-5

Theme: Peacemakers Follow A Biblical Pattern to Resolve Conflict

Notes:

I.     Motivation: How do I Glorify God and do good in this situation?

Our motives and methods must be biblical in order to glorify God and do good to others. 

 

II.     Examination: How can I show Jesus’ transforming work by taking responsibility for my part? Mt. 7:1-5

Peacemakers let love cover as much as they can. 

Peacemakers apply God’s Word to themselves first. Matthew 7:1-5 

Peacemakers admit when they are wrong.

                    1.     They are honest with themselves and others. 

                    2.     Eight A’s of genuine confession. 

Address everyone involved 

Avoid “if, but, and maybe” 

Admit specifically 

Acknowledge the hurt

Accept the consequences

Alter your behavior (Change your attitudes and actions)

Ask for forgiveness: this is an act of humility that shows real heart change. 

Allow time. People need time to process emotions. 

 

III.     Restoration: How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take the responsibility for their part?  Galatians 6:1–5

Be Compassionate. 

                    1.     Affirm the relationship: let them know you care and want reconciliation. 

                    2.     Listen well

                    3.     Speak truth in love: the words you say and the way you say it ought to communicate love. 

                    4.     Be patient. 

 

Be Constructive. 

                    1.     Be Truthful: speak the truth in love. be honest about the situation. Don’t exaggerate their wrong or your right. 

                    2.     Be Transparent: let them see your heart. 

                    3.     Talk in person whenever possible. Too much can be misunderstood in text and email. 

                    4.     Talk as peers. Don’t use come across as condescending or superior. We can inadvertently use God’s Word as a hammer to beat someone instead a scalpel to help them. 

                   ...

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Micah 6, Hebrews 12, Ephesians 2

Theme: Peacemakers respond well to conflict so that God’s purposes are accomplished

Notes:

Responses to Conflict

* Some people run: escape, denial, separation, suicide

* Some people rage: verbal, physical, legal attacks

* Some people seek reconciliation: overlooking offenses, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and accountability

 

Conflict is inevitable–therefore learning to handle it rightly is important.

Micah 6:8, “…what does the LORD require of you but

to do justly,

love mercy, and

walk humbly with your God?”

Peacemakers want God’s purposes accomplished

* Conflict is an opportunity to see what is in your heart and what youtrust in

* Trust is not the same as simply not worrying

* Trust is not an absence of fear and doubt

* Trust is actively acting by faith in spite of those fears

* Conflict is an opportunity to be like Christ (by acting justly)

* Hebrews 12:1-17

* Conflict is an opportunity to serve others (by loving mercy)

* Conflict is an opportunity to glorify God (by walking humbly)

 

Live It Out: When Conflict Comes…

* How can I glorify God in this matter?

* How can I show Jesus’s transforming work by taking personal responsibility for my part of the conflict?

* How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take the responsibility for their part?

* You can forgive unilaterally

* Reconciliation is bilateral

* Some relationships may never be repaired

* But you can do your part

* How can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution?

 

Ephesians 2:4-7

Preacher: Bruce Miller

Text: Matthew 14:22-33

Theme: Focus

Notes:

The record of Scripture and the history of the church display over and over what God can do with ordinary people willing to serve Him.

14:30, as Peter was beginning to sink he cried out ‘Lord, save me.’

How deep do you have to sink before you cry out to God?

When I go throughout my day do I focus on God, or do I focus on the tasks at hand?

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: James 4:1-

Theme: Peacemakers see conflict as an opportunity to examine their heart and draw closer to Christ

Notes:

Outward Causes of Conflict

* Misunderstandings caused by poor communication

* Joshua 22, making assumption vs. engaging in conversation

* Differences in goals, values, gifts, callings, priority, opinion, or expectations

* This is regarding things that are simply different

* We sin when we judge simple differences as moral failures

* Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas

* Competition over limited resources (time, money, energy, opportunities, attention, etc)

* Genesis 13, Abram and Lot

* Hurt–intentional and unintentional

* Often what is attributed to intentional hurt is in fact unintentional

* Sinful attitudes, words, or actions

* These are beyond mere differences, and are clearly intentional

 

Inward Causes of Conflict

* Unmet or wrongly ordered desires or expectations

* In chapter 4 of his epistle, the apostle James confronts believers about conflict in their midst.

* James 4:1, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?”

* James 4:4, you love yourself more than you love God or love others.

* Tests for Idolatry:

* What will you do to get it?

* What will you do if you can’t get it?

* Unbiblical thinking

* Conflict reveals what is in your heart

* Handling conflict in ungodly ways is basically functional atheism

 

Live It Out!

* Recognize that your desires and thinking are wrong

* Repent of pride and selfishness

* Run to Jesus and he will help you

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 21:1-25

Theme:

Notes:

Hospitality:

* Opening our hearts and opening our homes is part of the DNA for the Christian

* Acts 2

* Worshipping together as believers

* Fellowshipping together as believers

* Some people make a false distinction between teaching and preaching

* Both proclamations of God’s word carry an expected response

Humility:

* We are called to set aside our personal desires for the unity and health of our church family

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 21:1-25

Thesis: The local church is worthy my courageous, costly commitment to its spiritual health and unity.

Notes:

Thomas Helwys, Baptist who fled England in the 1600s to flee persecution by the state church.

He later returned to England knowing what it might cost him–he was imprisoned and died in prison 8 years later.

* Health

* We are called to dedicate ourselves to the spiritual and physical health

of our church family at great personal cost.

* C. T. Studd, “…I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell.”

* Every family is messy–and  each local church family is no different.

* John Knox, “Give me Scotland or I die.”

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Joshua 4:1-24

Theme: The Importance of Remembering

Notes:

Many times throughout history God gave His people memorials so that they might remember things.

Remembering God’s past faithfulness will give us courage for the future.

The Israelites under Joshua’s leadership setup the memorials in the land they were going to inhabit.

Remembering is important–but it can be misused:

* Reminiscing–things used to be great in the past, but they aren’t any more

* Regretting–failing to let go of sins and mistakes that God has already forgiven

 

* Remembering refocuses our hearts on what matters

* Remembering communicates God’s faithfulness to future generations

* Remember keeps us humble

* Remembering inspires awe

* Remembering prepares us for greater works

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Romans 16:1-2

Theme: The Power of a Godly Woman

Three Principles from the Life of Phoebe

* She was a sister worthy of recognition

* She was a servant worthy of commendation

* The best way to prepare for doing great things for God

is to serve where you are with what you have now

–no matter how small the task

* Phoebe was most likely a deaconess in her church in Cenchrae

* Character qualities modeled by Phoebe

* Courage

* Consistency/Faithfulness

* She was a supporter worthy of cooperation

* Phoebe financially supported several of those who labored in the gospel

* Serving starts right now and right here

–not when you eventually get to the mission field you have been called to

 

Live It Out

* Earn your influence by loving and serving others

* Live a life that others can imitate

* Live for something that lasts forever

 

Let us seek to produce godly women and then give them the honor

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Philippians 1:27-2:4

Theme: A church is most like the church when it’s a family

Notes:

“If you want to travel fast, go alone.

If you want to ravel far, go together.” –African Proverb

Why We Should View the Church as Family

* The Bible refers to believers as ‘family’ over 200 times

* The command to love like family

* God refers to His people as a household

* The images the Bible uses

* a body

* The Bible describes our ‘sonship’ as part of a larger family group

* Hebrews 2:11-12

* Romans 8:29

* Galatians 4:5

* There are no ‘only children’ in God’s plan

* “The more disconnected we are from a local church the more confused we will be about who we are and what God created us to be. We find our true individual selves in relationship to others.”  –John Piper

* “Whereas independence is an important value to … interdependence is the way of most societies of the world.” –Duane Elmer

* Paul’s pastoral instruction to Timothy

* 1 Timothy 5:1-2

* Philemon 1

* Jesus’s teaching on his followers being family

* Matthew 12:46-50

* Genuine, active love is a proof of real faith

* 1 John 2:9-11

* 1 John 3:14

* The early church functioned like a family

* James 2:14-17

* 1 Timothy 5:3-9

* The command for unity

* Philippians 1:27-2:$

* John 17

* Ephesians 4

* “In America, we celebrate independence in a myriad of ways…In its extreme form, society encourages individuals to cast off tradition, church and even family in pursuit of self-expression. ”–Amy Medina

* The command to “bear with one another”

* Colossians 3:1-17

* aka, putting up with one another’s faults and frailties

* It teaches the world something–and it teaches us something as well

* “I will not room with that person”

* Realize that you are that  person for someone else

* Pastoral qualifications to lead their home

* 1 Timothy 3

* The leadership of elders

* 1 Peter 5

* 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

* The command for pastors to shepherd and oversee

* Acts 20:28-31

* 1 Peter 5:1-4

* The command to discipline

* Matthew 18:15-18

* How did the apostles understand this commandment, and how did they apply it?

* 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

* 2 Thessalonians 3

* Galatians 6:1-2

 

How Can We Live This Out?

* We should devote ourselves to one particular church family

* We should love our family with actions, not just words

* We need to work hard for family unity

* We have to be “in this together”

* We have to be willing to do the hard things

* We should absolutely care about believers outside our fellowship