Now, before you ask: the Vineyard?? You mean that place you left?? Why the heck are you going back?? ... let me explain my mission(s):
1.) following from my previous post about community, one of my goals is to go and see who from there God might highlight for me to connect or reconnect with. Although I did say hi to a few folks, there wasn't really anyone that hit my radar in this regard. Nonetheless, I feel inside myself this urge to expand my community, not only for myself, but also for my love. We have both been limited regarding our community, over the last few years in my case, and over her entire lifetime in her case.
1.) following from my previous post about community, one of my goals is to go and see who from there God might highlight for me to connect or reconnect with. Although I did say hi to a few folks, there wasn't really anyone that hit my radar in this regard. Nonetheless, I feel inside myself this urge to expand my community, not only for myself, but also for my love. We have both been limited regarding our community, over the last few years in my case, and over her entire lifetime in her case.
2.) on the off-chance that there would be another decent sermon preached, I thought it might be helpful to hear and capture some notes. That I did, although due to different distractions, I left home late and entered the sanctuary even later after arriving.
One thing about the below sermon is that a.) it was exactly what I wanted and needed to hear regarding a difficult situation at the present with another person, and b.) this is also a challenge to myself. It is so easy for us to want to apply the below verses to "that other person," but Jesus made it clear that this is for everyone. That includes me as much as it includes "that other person."
One final note: further down, there are three questions I listed as "Regular Question #1," "Regular Question #2," and "Regular Question #3," that I think could provide an excellent framework to some of the check-in conversations I have.
Church 11/5/2023
Thesis: Fixing broken relationships with others in our walk with Christ.
Point #1: Be a gracious assessor.
Matthew 7:1-2
Thesis: Fixing broken relationships with others in our walk with Christ.
Point #1: Be a gracious assessor.
Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Jesus doesn’t mean we can’t evaluate or assess. It’s important to evaluate right vs wrong. It is important to make judgments for ourselves regarding others around us. We need to exercise wisdom.
But, don’t pass sentence on someone. Do not assume something about someone based on your preconceived notions or because of other people’s whispers.
Use the same scales of judgment that you would want others to use against you.
Romans 14:10
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
Don’t throw the person out with their actions.
Point #2: Work on your own stuff.
Matthew 7:3-5
Jesus doesn’t mean we can’t evaluate or assess. It’s important to evaluate right vs wrong. It is important to make judgments for ourselves regarding others around us. We need to exercise wisdom.
But, don’t pass sentence on someone. Do not assume something about someone based on your preconceived notions or because of other people’s whispers.
Use the same scales of judgment that you would want others to use against you.
Romans 14:10
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
Don’t throw the person out with their actions.
Point #2: Work on your own stuff.
Matthew 7:3-5
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
This will give you the requisite humility to engage with others regarding their sin.
2 Corinthians 13:5A
This will give you the requisite humility to engage with others regarding their sin.
2 Corinthians 13:5A
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Check yourself. Are you honoring God with your life? Are you truly walking with the Lord in all your ways?
Important question to ask yourself: What is your blind spot? What are your blind spots?
Important follow-up question: Is it possible to live your best Christian life in isolation? (No.)
Important follow-up question: How can you know about your blind spots if you are living and walking in isolation?
Three questions to ask in your inner circle:
Check yourself. Are you honoring God with your life? Are you truly walking with the Lord in all your ways?
Important question to ask yourself: What is your blind spot? What are your blind spots?
Important follow-up question: Is it possible to live your best Christian life in isolation? (No.)
Important follow-up question: How can you know about your blind spots if you are living and walking in isolation?
Three questions to ask in your inner circle:
Regular question #1: How is your relationship with Jesus right now?
Regular question #2: How are your relationships in your life right now?
Regular question #3: What have you done to advance the kingdom of God since we last talked?
A really good accountability check.
Point #3: Understand who we are working with.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Wrong actions to wrong people can lead to really bad results.
Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
You don’t need to be everyone’s judge. Don’t judge everyone. Be wise on who you judge. Where is the other person at? How well do you know them? Ask questions about them to know them better. Is the Holy Spirit nudging me to them? Have I done this before with them? If so, and they haven’t responded, maybe back off.
The first category is the wise. They may not like it at first but they will ponder it.
The second category is the fool. They bend the truth. They go into shame and beat themselves up.
The third category is the attacker/mocker. They accuse you in response.
Learn to interact differently with the wise vs with the fool or the mocker.
Wrong actions to wrong people can lead to really bad results.
Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
You don’t need to be everyone’s judge. Don’t judge everyone. Be wise on who you judge. Where is the other person at? How well do you know them? Ask questions about them to know them better. Is the Holy Spirit nudging me to them? Have I done this before with them? If so, and they haven’t responded, maybe back off.
The first category is the wise. They may not like it at first but they will ponder it.
The second category is the fool. They bend the truth. They go into shame and beat themselves up.
The third category is the attacker/mocker. They accuse you in response.
Learn to interact differently with the wise vs with the fool or the mocker.
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