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LEADERSHIP
Called to Unity; Part 2
loving one another above ourselves, we can overcome each of these following challenges.
A Teaching Newsletter of Pastor Gregg Johnson and The Mission Church Ministry Staff August 2001
www.missionchurch.com
der to the man according to his work. (Prov. 24:29). Rather than venting our anger toward those whove hurt In my experience as a pastor the us or even trying to exact revenge we most difficult aspects of church life are 1. WHEN YOU ARE PERSONALLY should keep our emotions in check and rarely doctrine or dogma, but rather the deal with things on a rational, logical OFFENDED stuff of relationships. This is usually Luke 17:1; Then He said to the disciples, level. Prov. 29:11 says, A fool vents all what drives people apartnot debate "It is impossible that no offenses should his feelings, But a wise man holds them over the Trinity or eschatological chrocome, but woe to him through whom they back. Prov. 19:11 says, The discretion nologybut how one person believes he do come! of a man makes him slow to anger, And was mistreated or how another was ofThe Greek word for offend comes his glory is to overlook a transgresfended by hurtful words. While most from the word skandalon. It originally sion. Prov. 14:29 says, He who is Christians agree that unity is Christs referred to the part of a trap to which bait slow to wrath has great understanding, desire for His body, the sad truth is many was attached. One commentary reads: But he who is impulsive exalts folly. of us have left churches because we were The rare noun skandalon describes a Second, maintain a spirit of love mad at the leaders, broken off fellowand forgiveness. The ship because were upset with people While most Christians agree that unity is Christs desire spirit in which we reor have been divided against one for His body, the sad truth is many of us have left spond to offense is another over personal offenses. crucial to a healthy This is not a new dilemma for churches because we were mad at the leaders, broken off resolution of differthe body of Christ. Paul addressed fellowship because were upset with people or have been ences. Eph. 4:31 says, division that existed in the church at divided against one another over personal offenses. Let all bitterness, Corinth. He urged them to be wrath, anger, clamor, perfectly united in mind and trapspecifically the stick of a trap to and evil speaking be put away from you, thought (1 Cor. 1:10). To the Ephesian which bait was attached. In classical with all malice. And be kind to one church he wrote, Get rid of all bitterGreek the noun often carries a metaphoric another, tenderhearted, forgiving one ness, rage and anger, brawling and meaning relating to the idea of being another, just as God in Christ forgave slander, along with every form of malyou. No matter how right your posicaught in a trap or offense. ice (Eph. 4:30-31). His concern was that If you ever try to catch a mouse, you tion, if your attitude is wrong, you are believers who allowed offenses to divide must have good bait. It doesnt matter how wrong. If we approach the offender with them were still carnal and acting out of fancy or elaborate the mechanism is, if it an over bearing, confrontational spirit, worldly principles. As a result, he delivdoesnt have good bait, you will never we are demonstrating a rebellious spirit ered a strong rebuke: For since there is snare your prey. The skandalon or of- which flows from Satan himself. This jealousy and quarreling among you, are fense is the bait that Satan uses to snare us will only aggravate an already volatile you not worldly? (1 Cor. 3:3). in a trap. John Bevere wrote, Offenses situation. Prov. 15:1 warns us, a soft Most churches do not die because are tools of the devil to bring people into answer turns away wrath, But a harsh people are fighting the devil. Most captivityAs I travel across the US minis- word stirs up anger. Conversely, if we churches die because people are tering, I have been able to observe one of approach the situation with the spirit of fighting one another. In fact, the Inside This Issue the enemys most deadly and deceptive Philippians 2:3 which says, Let nothing devils most effective weapon in traps. It imprisons countless Christians, be done through selfish ambition or stopping the advancement of severs relationships and widens the exist- conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each Featured Article Gods kingdom is to spark diviing breaches between us. It is the trap of esteem others better than himself, then The Call to Unity; part 2 sion. He understands what Jesus we will reflect the spirit of Christ which offense. Pastor Gregg Johnson said about his own kingdom: "If Many are on the hook right now. injects grace and mercy into the differa kingdom is divided against Faith Foundations The devil set a trap by using the bait of ence and turns away wrath. itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Hungering for Holiness Equally important to the preservaharsh words or hurtful actions of people And if a house is divided against Rich Langford and they took the bait. They have been tion of unity is a spirit of forgiveness. In itself, that house cannot To The Timothy snared by offense and are trapped in anger, most circumstances where unity has stand. (Mark 3:24-25) The Building a Healthy Youth Ministry resentment, unforgiveness and isolation. been shattered, it can usually be traced devil has done an effective job in Pastor Nikil Adwalpalker Fortunately, however, we dont have to be back to one person who is unwilling to causing believers to disqualify snared. The Word of God offers practical forgive. He wants to hold a grudge Family Focus: themselves from blessing by Marriage: The Foundation of Family grieving the Holy Spirit through guides to deliver us from these traps the much like the unforgiving servant in the parable of Matt. 18. In this story, the enemy sets. Tom Readyoff anger and contention. Ephesians First, control your emotions. Greek word for forgive means to cast says, Grieve not the Tearing Down the Walls Whether you hear about a criticism spoken away. But this servant was unwilling to There are five basic Darren Adwalpalker behind your back or are confronted by it cast away the debt owed to him. Inways that division can enter a The Role of the Anointing; part 4 directly, beware of knee-jerk responses stead he held onto the debt and required church. Serving as a pastor has or hasty reactions. Our tendency is rush in payment of what was owed. Mark Wright given me the unfortunate opporThis is exactly what we do when an defend ourselves but scriptures caution tunity of witnessing these dyus differently. Do not say, I will do to we refuse to forgive. We treat the ofnamics all too often. I believe, however, him just as he has done to me; I will ren(Continued on page 2) that if Gods people are committed to
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LEADERSHIP
Darren Adwalpalker
Instead, Jesus taught that if one is offended, the only person with whom he is to speak about his offense is the one who offended him. Matt. 18:15 tells us, "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. If this doesnt resolve the conflict, we can go to the spiritual authorities to seek fair restitution. Interestingly enough, my experience as pastor often mediating such conflicts revealed that the person who was accused of offending someone had absolutely no idea they had done so. In fact, they were grieved to know that they had done anything to hurt someone and couldnt apologize enough. This demonstrates that most people never intend to hurt otherstheir motives are pure. More often, the offended party has wrongly perceived their heart and misinterpreted their remarks or actions.
3. WHEN YOU TAKE UP SOMEONE ELSES OFFENSE Heb. 12:14,15; Pursue peace with all people, and holiRegardless of how innocent or uninformed we be- ness, without lieve ourselves to be, when we are aware that some- which no one will see the Lord: one is upset with us, we have a scriptural responsi- looking carefully bility to go to that person with the intent to reconcile. lest anyone fall short of the grace could have done. Regardless of how of God; lest any root of bitterness innocent or uninformed we believe springing up cause trouble, and by ourselves to be, when we are aware this many become defiled. An offense is to a church that someone is upset with us, we have a scriptural responsibility to go to that as an infection is to a body. It rarely stays in one place, but spreads to the person with the intent to reconcile. Too often I have heard people closest members. Very often when a say, Well I didnt do anything wrong. person close to us is offended, rather If he has a problem, its his problem. than go to the one who hurt him or 2. WHEN YOU HAVE OFFENDED This is an affront to the biblical man- her, they will come to us for sympaSOMEONE. date to preserve unity. Many rifts thy. This has the unfortunate effect of Matt. 5:23-24; "Therefore if you bring between people have further widened defiling us with prejudice and your gift to the altar, and there remem- because both people thought the other poisoning our opinions with unfair ber that your brother has something should be the one to initiate resolution. (Continued on page 5)
against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. The phrase, has something against you, indicates that an individual has perceived something in you that has hurt or offended themeven though you have no idea what you
But the bible is clear. As soon as you are aware of an awkwardness between you and another, you are called to initiate a dialogue and seek resolution.
LEADERSHIP
(Continued from page 2) tongues, standing before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and crying out with a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:9,10). What a sight John beheld in heaven! What a sight the world will see when our churches begin operating in the design that God has for His church -His house of prayer for all nations. (Mark 11:17). To assist this happening, we must ask ourselves the following questions: 1. What dividing walls are separating us from other people? 2. How can Christ break down the dividing walls? 3. How has our culture shaped our understanding of God and the way we read the Bible? 4. How can we learn from how other cultures view God? Are you ready to take the challenge Peter faced when confronted with his unrighteous attitudes towards other groups of people? We must let the message of the Gospel, which transcends culture and prejudice, be our driving motivation to reach the people of different ethnicities who live and work around us. Allow the power of Christ Jesus to destroy the dividing walls of hostility that stand in your heart. May He set you free to minister the Gospel message of reconciliation.
Rich Langford
chair that made it any different from other chairs, but because of whom it belonged to, it was special. In fact, even after it became old and worn, it was still considered special because, for our family, it shared the specialness of my father. I can still remember the great feeling I had when my father gave me permission to sit in his chair. In the same way, things that belong to God are holy because He is holy. God actually shares His holiness with that which is His. (Heb 12:10) My holiness does not depend on anything in me; it depends entirely on Gods ownership of me. Another interesting aspect of holiness that we learn from scripture is that it is relative. We read in Exodus 26:33 about the veil that separates the place in the tabernacle called the Holy place from the place called the Most Holy place. Similarly in Leviticus 21:22 we read that there are
Darren Adwalpalker is Pastor of Ethnic Ministries at Garden Grove Church of God in California, USA
www.missionchurch.com
QUOTEABLE LEADERS
"To be thrown upon one's own resources, is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previously unsusceptible." Ben Franklin When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal. Napolean Hill "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." Thomas Jefferson "On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation." Robert F. Kennedy No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his wellbeing, to risk his life, in a great cause. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him." Booker T. Washington Its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog.
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LEADERSHIP
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer too much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. "
-- Theodore Roose-
Foundation #1: An Atmosphere of Love. Love is intentionally doing something in The primary focus of our youth ministries Jesus name, regardless of must be the development of disciples that love the cost or consequences to Jesus and share that perfect love with others. oneself! Pg.12 Teenagers need in your students friends. love. A familiar proverb simply states, People dont care how much you Foundation #2: A Biblical know until they know how much you Group Image: A solid, biblical care. For too long youth ministry has group image is the by-product of been about programs and not about intentional, Spirit empowered love relationships. A youth ministry that is and leaders who understand Gods focused on building God centered rela- vision for the group-including a tionships is a ministry that will be healthy expectancy of what God can healthy and grow. In America, many do among you and th rough youth leaders have substituted technol- you! (Garda, pg. 36) ogy, programs and gimmicks designed Our goal is not to tell to entertain in the place of real relation- students everything weve learned ships. The result is a room full of im- about Christ; it is to teach kids how mature Christians that are spiritually to apply that love to every aspect of starving for the love and attention they their lives. In building a biblical desperately need to make it through group image we simply mean, creatlife. ing an environment that fosters sharThe single biggest thing ing biblical love with everyone that lacking in our global youth culture is an comes into the youth ministry. The absence of genuine love. You can see it resulting group image pictures bewhen you turn on the news to find lievers committing their energy to increases in violence, promiscuity and helping one another grow and work hopelessness in teen culture. Teenagers together to impact their friends and need to feel that they are accepted no community (Garda, pg.36). matter their social or racial back round, Garda suggests many appearance, and/or problems. Too solutions to practically build group many churches try to tell young people image. One is through icebreakers. that they must look a certain way before Icebreakers are informal means of they can be accepted. However, Christ communication that get everyone has not called us to reach the healthy, involved and break down walls. but instead the sick and rejected. Icebreakers usually are no more than One of the most important things that 5 minutes long and come in the form you can do to show a young person that of an exciting game, mixer or conyou care is to listen to them. In church test. A second is interaction. By we preach to them. In school we lec- interaction, we mean bringing stuture them. At home, we assign them dents together. Some examples that chores, but do we ever stop to listen? foster interaction are praying and Young people have heard too many affirming each other, worshipping people tell them that they love them together with music, discussion without showing them that they are questions, small cell groups (covered indeed loved. Listening is not waiting later), role play (object lessons), live for your turn to speak. Listening is dramas etc. Remember that as patiently sitting through the sobbing, students interact they form relacomplaining and frustration that many tionships that lead to strong of the hurting generation of teens dont friendships. A third solution is get to express. Before offering advice, group activities. Group activities listen to the teenager talk so that you such as missions projects, fellowship may gain understanding as to how to outings, fundraisers, and weekend minister to their needs. Listening retreats all help to bring the group
LEADERSHIP
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LEADERSHIP
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. The boss drives people; the leader coaches them. The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will. The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The boss says "I"; The leader says "WE". The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown. The boss says, "GO"; the leader says LETS GO!"
H. Gordon Selfridge
LEADERSHIP
Called to Unity; cont
(Continued from page 5) reap. The same attitude we take toward our authorities is the same attitude our future followers will take toward us. What we do now are like seeds being planted in the field of our life. Those same seeds will eventually sprout into either a good or bad harvest that we will eventually reap. CONCLUSION: Unity Requires a Relational Covenant It must be stated that none of the above information will do the body of Christ any good unless believers have a heart to resolve their conflicts with one another and remain reconciled through the ongoing challenges of unity. Eph. 4:3 tells us that we must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Unity does not come easy. It is hard work and can even be painful. But if unity is to survive, we must be willing to plow through all the stuff of relationships and make it work. A Relational Covenant between believers in a corporate setting can be likened to a marriage covenant between two people. They are basically saying divorce is not an option. We will not discard our relationship but will make every effort to fulfill a pledge like the following:
Tom Readyoff
under that roof of authority and form a new unit, ready to submit to one another. So Gods intent for marriage was to show us that He placed an emphasis on relationships, one with another and one with God. When sin entered the world, not only was the relationship with God broken, but also the relationship between Adam and
We
will talk directly to those with whom we experience conflict rather than talking about them to others. We will talk to people, not about people. in our discussions about others.
We will be edifying We
will hold each other accountable when we violate this commitment. This means we will direct others to the person they have spoken about and
Rev. Gregg Johnson is Senior Pastor of The Mission Church in New York, USA.
"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well."
- Dr. Martin Luther
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Phone: 845.878.3380 Fax: 845.878.3316 email@missionchurch.com pastorgregg@missionchurch.com
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