Part 2: Dealing With Church Hurt
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Bottom Line
Bottom Line
If you stick around long enough, the church will hurt you, but God’s grace can heal you, and help the church become better.
Opening Line
Opening Line
Every year, about over 2 million church members drop from church membership because the church hurt them.
Some form of abuse, disillusionment, or from feelings of abandonment and neglect.
Introduction: My Story
Introduction: My Story
Grew up in and out of church
How my mom claims she was treated (not married, with a kid; celibacy)
I sought community; mom grew bitter
Main Point
Main Point
If you don’t forgive, you will become bitter and walk away from community.
Why Does It Matter?
Why Does It Matter?
Bitterness perpetuates the problem you are frustrated about; your problematic faith community will stay the same.
Power In The Text
Power In The Text
Acts 6:1-7
(Verse 1) “The Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”
Greek names in verse 5 - the hurt people group was part of the solution.
Moving Toward Application
Moving Toward Application
If something bothers you, that may indicate that you should be part of the solution to the problem. God may be giving you unique insights into how your local church could improve.
Application
Application
Rather than complaining about how a place could be better, humbly consider how you could make it better, and do it!
Why Does This Matter?
Why Does This Matter?
This matter because you are either going to let bitterness turn you into what you hate, or you will let God’s love grow compassion in you for the people that hurt you.
The old saying is true: “Hurt people hurt other people.” Hurt is never personal. It comes out of a deficit in one’s own soul. This is why Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Our enemies are broken people that need healing and restoring. If we can love our enemies, we can at least show some patience to our fellow Christian brothers and sisters who hurt us.
Closing
Closing
If you stick around long enough, the church will hurt you, but God’s grace can heal you, and help the church become better.