Monday, November 22, 2010

A fresh way to look at LDI from Jon Neal

Message – Biblical Teaching and Training (content of our message – atonement, sanctification, the gospel, etc.)
Messenger – Christ-like Character (qualities of the of the messenger – surrender, holiness, humility, etc.)
Methods – Ministry experience (the practicals of how the messenger takes out the message – small groups, outreaches, etc)

“The methods always change, the messenger is in the process of change, but the message never changes.”

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Confronting sin

#1 - Before dealing with sin in another, deal with it in yourself (See: Romans 2:1-3; Matthew 7:1-5).

#2 - If you have checked your heart (#1), ridded yourself of unhelpful/unhealthy emotion (Proverbs 29:11) because you were the one on the receiving end of the person's sin, and truly desire them to grow closer to God as a result of confronting them seeing their sin as a hindrance to this growth (Proverbs 24:11), pray for God to prepare their hearts to receive this (Proverbs 12:1) and take it to them in love and humility (2 Timothy 2:24-25, Ecclesiastes 7:5, Proverbs 25:11).

#3 - Trust God to grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

I think the most important thing is motive. Too often Christians approach a brother or sister who is in sin not with a motive of restoration, but with a motive of pride, indignation, and "lording it over" those in the wrong. This is antithetical to the Gospel. Let me say that again. It is ANTITHETICAL to the Gospel!

So I think the most important step is step 1: a major gut check, with a prayer for God to search your heart and reveal any impure motives within you. (Psalm 139) And this is an ongoing thing. Throughout the process of confronting a brother or sister with sin it can be so easy to slip into self-righteousness.

And ultimately, the most important piece is not that you or I are deemed right, but that the brother or sister is walking with Christ and killing sin in his/her own life. We are motivated to confront others out of love for them.