The Separation of Church and Hate Series | Week 4 [Chad Simpkins]

Am I willing to put my FAITH filter ahead of my POLITICAL filter?

Our cognitive bias creates cultures of contempt.

Division is EASY

Unity is HARD

John 17:9-10

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.

John 17:11

Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

John 17:20-21

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will ​all​ be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so ​that the world will believe you sent me. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Jesus’ prayer is about Mission

Next Steps for Unity:

1. Get Out of Your Box

2. Talk

3. Pray

4. Ask for Forgiveness

Jesus prayed that we would be unified; that we would be ONE

This only happens when we have: Civility - Dignity - Humility - Unity

The Separation of Church and Hate Series |

Week 3 [Chad Simpkins]

Can I put my FAITH filter ahead of my POLITICAL

filter?

Power OVER People

 

Matthew 20:22

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup of suffering I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.

Matthew 20:23

Jesus said to them, “You will certainly drink from my cup. But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to those my Father has prepared them for.”

Matthew 20:24

The other ten disciples heard about this. They became angry at the two brothers.

Matthew 20:25

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

 

Matthew 20:26-27

Don’t be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. And anyone who wants to be first must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Power UNDER people

Will you choose the sword or the cross?

 

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in HUMILITY consider others as more important than yourselves.

 

Colossians 1:27

Christ is in you. He is your hope of glory.

Are you driven by your FAITH filter or by your POLITICAL filter?

The Separation of Church and Hate Series

| Week 2 [Chad Simpkins]

Last week was about civility. We asked: Are you willing to put your FAITH filter ahead of your POLITICAL filter?

This week is about dignity. How do we ACT & RESPOND to those who think or believe differently than me?

Acts 10:13-11:3

Galatians 2:11-14

Galatians 3:28: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in

Christ Jesus.

Are you more driven by your faith filter or your political filter?

How can we see instead of remaining blind? How can we put our faith filter first?

#1: IDENTIFY YOUR PREJUDICES

All of us prejudge! Prejudice is not as much the presence of hatred as much as the absence of love.

#2: INTENTIONALLY BUILD BRIDGES

Are you building BRIDGES or are you building WALLS in your relationships with others?

We can disagree politically but are called to LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.

Identify your prejudices

Build bridges not walls

Show dignity to all people

Love Unconditionally

Let Jesus Lead You

The Separation of Church and Hate Series

| Week 1 [Chad Simpkins]

Are you willing to put your faith filter ahead of your political filter?

James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

No one’s opinion was ever changed by your social media post.

We Have to Listen to Understand

Anger is a Result and a Decision

James 1:20 - Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

3 agendas at work during conflict: YOUR agenda - THEIR agenda - GOD’S agenda

James 1:21

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

Are you putting your faith filter ahead of your political filter?

4 Questions to be CIVIL & Christlike with others:

1. Is what I’m going to say TRUE?

2. Is what I am going to say HELPFUL?

3. Is what I’m going to say PERSONAL?

4. Is what I’m going to say LOVING?

John 13:34-35 - So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES.

Are you willing to put your faith filter ahead of your political filter?