Loving On Jesus Series

The vow I’m going to ask you to make this morning is this:

If you get angry with the preacher, Sunday School Teacher, Elder, or just the person sitting next to you in the pew – you PROMISE you won’t talk about them behind their back. You will go to them and do everything in your power to restore a loving relationship with them.

If you are prepared to take this vow, I want to stand where you are.

(once they stood) Realize that I’m going to hold you to that vow.

You may all be seated.

One last thing: loving one another means having one another’s backs.

· When I first hired on here I told the Elders that – unless there was moral or doctrinal reason why I shouldn’t - I would back them in their decisions. In return I told them I expected the same respect for me.

· When we hired our part time children’s minister, our part time youth minister, and our part time young adult minister I told each of them that the Elders and I would protect them and their ministries. Unless there is a moral or doctrinal problem we have their backs. And we expect them to treat each other the same way.

· And that is our pledge to you as well. As the leaders of this congregation the Elders and I intend to protect you and guard you to the best of our ability.

· And of course we expect you to show that same courtesy to each other. If you are out in the community and you hear someone spreading gossip or maligning the character of someone within this congregation – you stand up for your sister and brother in Christ. This doesn’t mean you should defend immorality or heresy on anyone’s part, but most of the time that isn’t what is at stake.

ILLUS: Years ago I was talking with a person who began to say some particularly nasty things about someone I’d been friends with years before. I turned to that gossip and said “The person you’re speaking of was a friend of mine and you will not speak of them that way in my presence. If you insist on continuing in this fashion then I’m leaving.”

There are times we Christians need to take that same stand when it comes to listening to gossip about brothers and sisters in Christ.

We need commit ourselves to these things because – if we love Jesus - we will obey Him/ we’ll do what He commands. And Jesus said “Love one another”. When we do that, the world will know that WE are His disciples because we love one another.