Church Relationships That Are Hurtful And Unchristian
Series: Relationships That Rock
INTRO: Four weeks ago I started a series I call, “Relationships that Rock.” We can have good relationships if we put the effort into them. Relationships with God, family, friends and our business contacts are important. They can be great. We must put forth the effort. We need to have a desire for better relationships in our lives.
If we desire better relationships, one of the first steps is for us to call out to the Lord for them. We must then pursue them by right actions and reach out for them when we have the opportunity.
Today, I want to look at our church relationships. Relations inside the church should be some of the most satisfying, rewarding, and desirable that we have in this life. Ideally they should be the envy of the lost world.
Having said that, we know that they are not trouble-free, and they do require just as much maintenance as any relationship in life.
Common servitude
Corporate worship
Companions of unity
So it is easy to see when we do not serve together, worship God together, and stand together it is harmful to the cause of Christ.
Surely all we have to do is just come together on Sunday morning and sing a few hymns, listen to Brother Gary complain a lot and exhort a little and go home and do as we please until the next Lord’s Day.
After all is not that what the early church did?
Acts 2:46-47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, {47} Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: {15} That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
That may be enough for many, but I need to look closer.
I need to look into Ephesians 4 and 5 today.
First we see that we have…
Unworthy walking – 4:1
Unmannerly – 4:2-3
Youthful outbursts and actions – 4:14-
Vanity and pride – 4:17
Unbridled anger – 4:26
Often…
Petty differences
Personal differences
But too often…
Purposeful, vengeful harm
Unchristlike actions – 5:1-8
These are…
Sinful actions
Full of…
Selfish yearnings and living
Often brought on and encouraged by…
Ungodly influences – 5:6-8
Unkind thoughts and actions towards each other – 4:32
Unprofitable talk – 4:22
Untruthful conversation – 4:25
Unneeded communication – 4:29
Gossip and rumor mills
Crude and coarse talk
Talking down to each other
Sarcastic and derisive speech
Even…
Mean-spirited and cruel comments are tossed about
Another influential aspect in the church is…
Unfilled positions of ministry – 4:11-16
Unwilling to help
Unasked to participate
Unity is lost or sacrificed - 13
Unclaimed strength within the church is lost
Exacerbated by…
Untrained actions – 4:14,
Unbiblical ideas and actions – 5:17-27
Why God’s Word so important
Wrong choices – 17b
Poor practices (fail to follow accurate teachings) – 19-20
God is left from arrangements - 20
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church - 042008