The Chastening of the Church 1 Peter 4:17-19
Introduction: What is the church? The called out ones!
. Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 11:32
. Not condemnation, but purging and purifying.
a. The Body of Christ - Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13; 5:23-28
b. The Building of Christ - Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:5
1 Corinthians 3:9-10
c. The Believers of Christ - Colossians 1:27
1. Unlived Morality - truth; Acts 17:11
2. Unholy Merger - worldliness; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 John 2:15-17
a. Destroys the influence of truth - Matthew 13:22
b. Deludes into a state of false security - Matthew 24:38-39
c. Dominates with unearthly concerns - 1 Corinthians 7:32-33
d. Deep in apostasy - 2 Timothy 4:10; Demas
3. Unscriptural Methods - Matthew 5:21 = you have heard…
. Never done it like this before; Everybody else is doing it!
. Tradition, programs, denominations, not willing to change
. Matthew 15:1-9; 22:29
. The standard = 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17
4. Unconcerned Members - John 21:15; Ephesians 2:4
5. Uncommitted Majority - Numbers 13-14
6. Unpaid Money - tithes and offerings!
. It’s the thermometer of the Christian life!
a. Give Concurrently - as you have been blessed; accordingly; Deuteronomy 16:17
b. Give Charitably - freely; Matthew 10:8
c. Give Covertly - in secret; Matthew 6:3
d. Give Consistently - regularly; 1 Corinthians 16:2
e. Give Cheerfully - gladly and willingly; 2 Corinthians 9:7
7. Unbending Men & women - kneeling in prayer
. The only way the church can stand before the world, is to have knelt before God.
. When I get on my knees, God helps me to stand up to anything.
8. Unconfessed Misconduct - sin; Unclean Mistakes; Missteps
a. Confession = agree, admit; Psalm 32:1-5; Psalm 51
b. Contrition = adjustment; repentance; change; Acts 26:20
c. Cleansing = amnesty, forgiveness; 1 John 1:9
