“The Healing Church 2023”
Opening Remarks: Disclaimer on the screen – options for kids and teens to go to for this sensitive topic and message.
Pastor Marlon and I attended the AACC Convention in Nashville Tn. last week and I was pressed by the Holy Spirit to talk about us being a healthy and healing church – Why? Because we live in a world filled with the perversion of the truth, a world filled with pain and a world saturated with porn and distorted views of sex!
Yes, I said porn and sex! We live in a world saturated with perverted sex and a distorted view of what brings fulfillment in life! The purpose of life is seeking to be redefined by media and Hollywood.
But Jesus said in John 10:10: ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
We see the enemy stealing away people’s lives, minds and hearts as they are led into seductive sins which lead to addictions, bondage, isolation and destruction.
Mo states, “While society twists, perverts, cheapens, and idolizes it, (sex that is) we—the church—are relatively silent about it. Awkwardly stumbling around it. Running from it. Building desperate rule lists of dos and don’ts. And, as a result, allowing the sanctity of God to be stolen by the insatiable lust (for others). Somewhere along the way we’ve allowed ourselves to be drowned out of the conversation. In a halfhearted attempt to stay relevant and relatable, we’ve caved into the narrative that sex—the most prominent and overwhelming focus of our entire society—isn’t for us to really talk about. Right”
Isom, Mo. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot (pp. 11-12). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
I agree with Mo the church needs to lead the way in teaching our children and teens the proper view of sex, marriage and the dangers which will pervert a person’s mindset and heart in the wrong direction.
Personal Illustration: My first exposure to porn was when I was about 11 and me and my friends were out on garbage day walking the streets and we stumbled on someone throwing out all their playboy and penthouse magazines. We thought we found gold but as most of you know that is not gold but a path to bondage and deception.
At the AACC Convention – I listened to George Barna talk about the need for the church and for Christians to get into the battle for the minds and heart of our children. I agree – we think sports and busy-ness is the way to protect our child’s hearts and mind, but I am here to tell you it’s teaching them the truth of God’s Word – modeling it and protecting them from the Coming storm which is bombarding their morals and innocence.
George Barna Stated in Raising Spiritual Champions the following: “I came to realize that if we do not get it right with young children, the chances are good that we will never see those people mature into real disciples of Jesus.” (Barna, Dr. George. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child's Heart, Mind and Soul (p. 6). Fedd Books. Kindle Edition.
He added, “The research is very clear that the more biblically prepared a child is to address life, the more likely they are to embrace a Christlike approach to daily challenges. Conversely, the less biblically trained a child is, the less likely it is that they will ever become a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can instantly transform any life at any moment, but years of data suggest that such miraculous transformations are the exception, not the norm. Knowing this, I feel a sense of urgency to wake up people—especially the parents of young children as well as individuals who have significant cultural influence—to understand that time is of the essence in transforming how we raise children.” (Barna, Dr. George. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child's Heart, Mind and Soul (p. 8). Fedd Books. Kindle Edition.)
Barna went on to emphasize that “In the younger generation“especially, “In recent years, large and increasing numbers of Americans have been struggling with the purpose, meaning, direction, value, and joy in their life. Statistics from national studies by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University show that two out of every three adults under the age of forty (67%) say they are still trying to identify the meaning and purpose of their life. A mere 22% believe that life itself is sacred, which helps to explain why suicide rates have skyrocketed and abortion remains a popular option for an unplanned pregnancy. Further, most young adults (54%) admit that they often feel anxious, depressed, or unsafe.” (Barna, Dr. George. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child's Heart, Mind and Soul (p. 15). Fedd Books. Kindle Edition.)
So, we have a struggling younger generation lost and falling deeper into things like pornography, nonbiblical sex, addictions such as alcohol and drugs and isolationism.
He stated the problem is many young people are confused, have feelings of hopelessness, and have no direction or purpose for their life. The reason they were not trained to have a biblical worldview and or involved in a church in their formative years.
The church, our church and our school need to get into the battle for the hearts and minds of our children and teens. We need to get our heads out of the sand and address the need at hand and bring healing and health to our children’s hearts and minds. But parents have to see the importance of instilling a Biblical worldview in their children.
So, my question to this church – to this school – to you parents and to its leadership is this: “Do you believe we need to make our children and teens a priority and help them discover the true meaning and purpose for their life?” Do you believe that we need to actively protect our children from porn, distorted sex talks, misinformation, and lies from the enemy about sex, life, purpose and meaning of life?”
The church and His word is GOD”S PLAN A to protect and raise a generation to with stand the storm blowing up against their Christian belief system and seeking to immerse them in sin and bondage.
Thesis: A church/ ministry that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News of Jesus and on making right decision in life. It’s a church which focuses on the positive dimensions of life revealed in Scripture. A church that brings healing accepts people “as is” and forgives people’s flaws but provides means of seeing people delivered and set free from their addiction’s. A Church that heals strictly follows the path of dealing with others with love and truth.
Scripture Text:
Philippians 2:1-5: 14, 15: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
Philippians 4: 8, 9: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Introduction:
Last week as I mentioned Pastor Marlon and myself attended the AACC Convention in Nashville Tn. I was reminded of a book called “Caring for People God’s Way.” The book is written by three people the president of the AACC - Tim Clinton, Archibald Hart and George Ohlschlager. The book is considered a guide for Christian Counseling and is designed to help Christian Counselors assist people in the healing process as God helps them through the healing process. The book paints a picture of how sick our current society is and the need – the importance of becoming Christians who care for the sick God’s way. They open the book with this thought:
When good King Josiah dies around 609 B.C. Israel was prosperous, strong, and safe in the world. Yet the people of Israel quickly declined both morally and spiritually, and their leaders grew corrupt. The whole nation refused to hear the prophets God sent, including Jeremiah, to call them to repentance and restoration. Amid the ongoing search for the good life, a great terror was about to befall them-the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the forced slavery of the Jews by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. – but they would not turn their hearts. Jeremiah 6:14 captures the essence of that day, “They have healed the brokenness of my people superficially, saying, ‘peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (NASB). Interestingly, as today’s prosperous generations search for purpose, meaning and value, many are experiencing a pervasive sense of emptiness and isolation. And why shouldn’t they? In a world flooded with distresses like father absence, abuse, violence, marital discord, and emotional problems there is a natural epidemic of escapism through consumerism, drugs, alcohol, sex, and suicide. Earnest Becker accents this thought concluding, “Modern man is drinking or drugging himself to death…or he is shopping which is the same thing.” Living in denial, today’s powerful and pampered generations have become ‘tranquilized by the trivial,’ though they find neither solace nor healing –crying “Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” Dallas Willard concludes, “Obviously, the problem is a spiritual one. And so must be the cure.” We agree. Our pressing concern at the inception of the 21st century is that people are hurting-and searching frantically for hope and new life. If there is ever a time for godly leadership, servanthood and biblical counsel, it is now” (Pages 3, 4).
The authors give hard evidence to back up there opening statement by sharing the following statistics from pages 4-7:
Marital Discord: Studies show 35% of people who marry get a divorce, and 18% of those divorced are divorced multiple times. It is estimated that the divorce rate among young people is between 40-50% of marriages and those who get married this year will experience this unless there is a wave of healing for marriages.
Fatherlessness: Each night, nearly 40% of children fall asleep in homes where their fathers are not present.
Sexual Abuse and Assault: The present evidence of widespread sexual abuse is daunting. By age 18, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by someone they love or should be able to trust.
Domestic Violence: Violence at the hand of an intimate partner occurs across all populations, irrespective of economic, religious, social, or cultural affiliation-and accounts for 20% of all nonfatal violent crime against women.
Suicide: A suicide occurs approximately every 20 minutes in the United States. According to a 2004 study, over 30,000 U.S residents commit suicide each year, and over 130,000 are hospitalized following a suicide attempt.
Alcoholism: In the year 2000 there were approximately 85,000 deaths in the U.S. attributable to either excessive or hazardous drinking –making alcohol the third leading cause of death.
Substance abuse: The results of a 2003 poll show that 8.2 % of persons 12 and older have used illicit drugs in the last month.
Depression: An estimated 20% of the U.S. population will experience clinical depression at some point in their lifetime…according to recent studies, depression appears to be on the rise-those born after 1950 are 10 times as likely to experience depression as compared to their predecessors. Currently, individuals between ages 25-45 occupy the greatest percentage of depression, though adolescent groups possess the fastest rate of depression growth.
Anxiety: Maladaptive anxiety has become a common plague that affects approximately 19 million U.S. adults or up to 25% of the general population-and is distinct in that it progresses to consume one with overwhelming irrational fear, panic and dread.
Our world is spinning out of control and sin is devouring our society. Ask anyone today and they will tell you that we are headed in the wrong direction as a nation. We are a nation of hurried, stressed, confused, mentally injured, emotionally drained, hopeless, and hurting people. We have lost our way and our health, and we are desperately searching for places that can help us heal and find hope for the future. This help is to be the church of Jesus Christ – that is our main mission and purpose as the Body of Christ.
Murren helps us to see a clear picture of a healthy and a healing church by reminding us what the Bible says we as the Body of Christ should be literally doing:
The Believers are devoted to one another and give preference to one another (Romans 12:10).
They love one another (Romans 13:8).
They refrain from judging one another (Romans 14:13).
They edify one another (Romans 15:14).
They serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
They don’t hurt one another (Galatians 5:15).
They don’t provoke one another through conceit (Galatians 5:26)
They help carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
They are patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2).
They are kind and forgiving toward one another (Ephesians 4:32).
They submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
They esteem one another (Philippians 2:3)
They stimulate one another to do good works (Hebrews 10:24).
They don’t slander one another (James 4:11).
They don’t complain against one another (James 5:9).
They confess their sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16).
They extend hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
This is what a church that heals looks like and acts like according to God’s Word.
T.S. – Here are some more characteristics of a church that heals. The following thought’s are gleamed from Doug Murren’s book, Churches That Heal.
I. The church must be a place that focuses on children and teens:
i. I sat through a seminar last week called “The Healing Church” hosted by Sam Black and Troy and Melissa Haas.
1. Their message was “We need to create a healthy view of sex in the context that God laid out in Scripture and deal with the problem of porn in the church.”
a. Mo states, “Sex. I don’t think we’re talking about it enough. (In Church) Sure, our culture is saturated with it. Our computer screens are pumped full of it. Our televisions ooze it. Our radios scream about it. Magazines and books and apps and social media outlets stream it down our throats. Lust, body ideals, pleasure, foreplay, porn, adultery. We’re obsessed with it. We’re fixated on it. We’re entertained by it.”
i. Isom, Mo. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot (p. 11). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
b. But an improper view of sex is weakening and even destroying Christian marriages and Christian lives within the church.
i. Today 56% of marriages are failing because of porn addictions! According to Sam Black who works with Covenant Eyes.
ii. Black states that 93% of boys and 70% of girls have accessed pornography online today! (ages 8-12) He warns - This will distort their view of good Godly sex within the context of marriage.
iii. This porn trap will warp their minds toward others and distort their future relationships. It will seek to undermine their future family units. Porn addiction will create distorted views of the opposite sex. Porn will not protect the family unit but destroy it.
iv. Our position as parents and church leaders is the protecting of the family unit from all forms of hurt, pain and abuse.
v. The truth is porn dehumanizes others as objects of sex but not as a real living person who Jesus died for and loves.
vi. Porn feeds “The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…” (I John 2:16).
2. In our seminar the presenters revealed that most children are exposed to porn between the ages 8-12 today!
a. The biggest exposure to porn comes thru the wolf in their pocket (cell phones) and thru the internet!
i. Chris Martin stated in his book “The Wolf in Your Pocket” this statement, “social media likely shapes the people you love and it disciple’s them more than you do. What are you going to do about it?”
1. In Jan 2022 a social media research group said, “The average internet user spends about two-and-half hours on social media a day.”
2. Which increases the odds of them being exposed to things like porn, sex, and the like.
3. The porn industry is using social media to target your child and your teen!
4. Social media changes how we think, feel and believe – it’s focus is entertainment, attention (on self) and seeks to tell you what your identity is.
ii. This platform is impacting your children and teens – because they are targeted on the internet to buy into distorted views of sex, porn, gender identity, sacred life issues, and if we passively ignore the social media platform’s power to influence - it will rob your child’s mind and heart and steal it away from Jesus and a biblical worldview!
ii. David Wilkerson predicted this was “The Coming Storm” back in the early 70”s – In his book “The Vision” he prophesied that porn would invade the church and bring right into Christian homes and churches – this is long before the internet by the way.
1. He warned of how people would fall prey to the bondage and twisting of their hearts and minds.
2. He noted it would be like it was in the day of Israel – God would send prophets to warn the people, but they would not listen to them, and they would tell them to lighten up.
a. Biblical History revealed God tried warning the people, but they refused to listen to His Word.
i. See 2 Chronicles 24:19:
1. 19Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.
ii. Case in point Isaiah 30:10-11:
1. 10They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”
2. In other words tell us what we want to hear and forget the other stuff – we want pleasant messages and messages that don’t convict us.
3. Isaiah and other prophets of God – were rejected as well as Ezekiel and Jeremiah but they were faithful to declare and warn the people of the coming storm.
ii. Sam black in his book shares the extent of this epidemic among children and many parent’s myth about their child and pornography:
a. From a Covenant Eyes seminar with home school parents, they discovered the following truth:
i. I heard repeated stories of six- to eight-year-olds being exposed to porn. In a follow-up email survey with parents who had visited our booth or attended a speaking session, I found that: 40 percent of these homeschool parents knew their child had seen porn. Of those kids, - 2 percent were ages two to four. - More than 21 percent of kids were ages five and eight. - 37.3 percent of the kids were nine to twelve years old. - 31 percent were thirteen to fifteen. There is another caveat to this scenario. A 2012 Tru Research survey found that 71 percent of kids hide portions of what they do online from their parents.123 So if 40 percent of these homeschool parents were aware their child or teen had been exposed to porn, how many more kids had been exposed without their parents’ knowledge? Did children see porn earlier than their parents’ discovery? While 26 percent of these parents said their child was exposed by a peer or family member, about 60 percent of these parents said their child found porn on their own.
ii. Sam adds this sad reality:
1. I often find that parents believe five myths about their child and porn.
a. My child is a good kid and wouldn’t be curious about sex and would never look at porn.
b. If my child saw it, he would just look away.
c. The measures I have in place are good enough. (This typically means occasionally looking over a shoulder to see what is on a screen.)
d. Boys are the only ones who struggle. I don’t need to worry about my girls.
e. If I talk to my child about pornography, they will become curious and search for it.
2. Share the story of Sarah and following stats – age 15
a. Only 39 percent of parents use parental controls to block, filter, or monitor their teens’ online activities.
3. Dr. Richard Blankenship said that compulsive pornography use among teens is becoming prevalent and the ages are becoming ever younger. “I have treated children as young as five,” Blankenship said. “A five-year-old was brought to treatment with me after charging $700 to the family credit card.”
a. Black, Sam. The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It (pp. 262-263). Morgan James Publishing. Kindle Edition.
4. Sam black makes it clear that pastors nor parents have to figure this out on their own. A strong contingent of resources is available to help parents train their kids and more are becoming available, including books and websites. In this chapter’s opening story, a mom described how her son learned to turn, run, and tell. She used a book that I highly recommend for four-to seven-year-olds. It’s called Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr., and it has three awesome attributes.
a. The three:
i. Turn
ii. Run
iii. Tell
1. Black, Sam. The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It (p. 267). Morgan James Publishing. Kindle Edition.
b. The above from Black, Sam. The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It (p. 258- 260). Morgan James Publishing. Kindle Edition.
iii. I was convicted when the presenters shared that only 7% of the churches are addressing this problem in the church and with their church family – we are talking Christians!
1. The church is God’s plan A to address this issue and create a healing and healthy church which in turn creates healthy family units.
a. It creates a place that protects its children and teens!
b. I know we have addressed the subject in our Men’s group – Jeromie has seen to that – Brennan has with the youth too.
c. Albert Einstein once said, “Doing nothing is very destructive.”
iii. We have case in Scripture of a man after God’s own heart who feel prey to the lust of the eyes and brough destruction to two families:
a. 2 Samuel 11:
i. 1In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
ii. 2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
iii. 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
iv. 4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then£ she went back home.
v. 5The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
vi. 6So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David.
vii. 7When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going.
viii. 8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
ix. 9But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.
x. 10When David was told, “Uriah did not go home,” he asked him, “Haven’t you just come from a distance? Why didn’t you go home?”
xi. 11Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
xii. 12Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
xiii. 13At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.
xiv. 14In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.
xv. 15In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
xvi. 16So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were.
xvii. 17When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
xviii. 18Joab sent David a full account of the battle.
xix. 19He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle,
xx. 20the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?
xxi. 21Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth£? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”
xxii. 22The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say.
xxiii. 23The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate.
xxiv. 24Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”
xxv. 25David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”
xxvi. 26When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.
xxvii. 27After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
1. There are over 900 verses speaking of David but these 27 show how he ruined his legacy!
b. Remember David had 7 wives at this point in his life!
i. The opening line says it well: when he should have been somewhere else as most kings where he was in the wrong place looking at wrong thing!
1. Why was he looking at another man’s wife in the realm of lust!
c. Covenant eyes researchers stated “We have a problem in the church that must be addressed, and they revealed the statistics to prove the extent of the problem within the church: The statistics of the church on porn:
i. Of Christian men 18 to thirty, 77 percent said they watch porn at least monthly. Within this group, 36 percent said they watch it daily!
ii. Overall (men of all ages) two-thirds of Christian men watch porn at least monthly, and 37 percent say they seek porn several times a week.
iii. Among women eighteen to thirty in the same age group, 34 percent said they watch porn at least monthly.
iv. But Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-30:
1. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ a 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
a. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Mt 5:27–30.
d. If we want to help our kids, we need to get help from Jesus today and others like counselors – support groups and deal with our sin.
i. Yes, it is a sin – it is not healthy for you or for your family! Places to get help:
? Covenant eyes:
? https://www.covenanteyes.com
? Focus on the family.
? https://www.focusonthefamily.com/
? Celebrate Recovery
? https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
? AACC website
? https://aacc.net/resources
? Associates in professional counseling
? https://counseling-apc.com/
? Chicago Christian counseling:
? https://www.chicagochristiancounseling.org/locOrlandPark.html
? Pick an accountability partner!
o James 5:16: Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
? Reference book “The Healing Church” page 193-194 (read other places for help)
? Read places on back of card!
iv. If we want to help our children/teens, then we must be intentional and start with ourselves! Revival always starts with us then spreads outwards.
1. We need to have conversations with our children and teens.
a. We need to get them into classes – we as parents need to attend help seminars.
2. We need to read books about the problem and plague. Show the books!
3. We need to teach our kids right from wrong!
a. Barna says we need to be intentional teaching our children and teens a Biblical worldview to look at life through!
b. This means bringing them to church, involvement in kids ministry and youth groups.
v. The first step to being set free from any addiction is moving out of the denial realm and into taking responsibility for your addiction.
a. No denial!
i. Black states: As Christian leaders, we know the only power that frees, washes, and restores us from sin is the blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself up for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)
ii. Many people have shared stories of being set free from porn – I heard them this week at the AACC convention.
iii. You too can be one of those stories!
iv. Pastor Marlon’s Story!
II. The church people must emphasize the good news and not the bad news.
a. To create a healing church, we must focus on the good going on in the church and not the bad.
I. We must build thoughts and words of hope not negative and critical thoughts of despair.
1. Philippians 2:1-5: 14, 15: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:… 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
2. Philippians 4: 8, 9: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
a. We need in the church to grab a hold of the positive attitude of Jesus and then learn to approach things from this positive angle in life.
b. We need to look at the wounded with the right mindset and heart of Jesus Christ.
c. We need to think positively instead of negatively – we need to look for the good in people not the bad.
II. The truth is we should have 7 positives for every negative thought in our lives so that we seek to keep one another encouraged in the healing process.
1. Too many people come to church and all they here is negative critical comments and they then decide “I don’t need this!”
a. Would you want to return to a place where all you heard were complaints and criticism?
b. Do you want to go to church to be uplifted or torn down?
2. Doug Murren states, “They really don’t care how badly the church budget is doing. And even if they did, we should be sensitive enough to know that that’s not what they need to hear…Do you find yourself taking care of dirty laundry in public services? If so, you are detracting from a more positive healing environment in your congregation” (173).
a. Jesus told us to forgive others or we ourselves face the reality of not being forgiven by Him!
i. Read Matthew 6:14, 15: “14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
b. To create a healing church means we must guard our tongues.
I. The church people (The Christians) must emphasize the affirming good news of the Gospel to one another – we are told not to gossip and to be reckless with our remarks.
II. Proverbs 12:18: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
1. Do you want to hurt people with your words or do you want to bring healing to Christian Hills?
III. James 1:26: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
1. Catch what James says, “Be reckless with your tongue and it will make your religion worthless!”
a. Quote from leading pastor of a great revival: He said revival will come to the church when the people of God get the revelation of the tongue. He stated, “When people begin to curve their tongue and the curses stop against their church, their ministers, their choir, their leadership, and other peoples families and homes then God will unleash the revival of the revelation of blessings.” But I add not before we receive the revelation of the tongue and repent and change.”
2. This verbal force has destroyed more marriages and families than the bombing of the World trade Center.
a. It is a deadly force and each of us needs to understand how lethal our tongues can be when they are out of control.
3. The tongue has the power to start wars and to stop wars!
IV. I have personally watched and observed the tongue literally destroy people’s lives.
1. With statements like these:
a. “You are worthless!’
b. “You are stupid!”
c. “Your lack of faith has made you sick!”
d. “Your lack of faith has made you poor!”
e. “You must be perfect or God does not love you!’
f. “You are a loser!”
g. “You cannot do anything right!”
h. “It’s your fault!”
i. “I wish you were never born!”
j. “I hate you!”
k. “It’s their fault that I am angry!”
l. “Our marriage takes so much work. We must not be right for each other.”
m. “You are the one responsible for all our problems!’
n. “You will never change!”
o. “You should never have been born!”
p. “You don’t need to go to church!’
q. “You don’t have to tithe!”
r. “You don’t have to obey the Ten Commandments!”
s. “You can’t do anything right!”
i. Proverbs 12:18 “…reckless words pierce like a sword.”
1. How about your words?
V. I have heard and read stories of people committing suicide because of the force of another person’s tongue.
1. I have watched others use their tongues to lead people away from Jesus and his word. All the time saying, ‘I speak for God!”
2. I have observed people misquote Scripture and deceive people and eventually I have seen them lead others to their destruction.
3. I have watched and observed people misuse the name of the Lord with their evil tongues way to often in the church.
a. All the time breaking one of the 10 Commandments.
i. “Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord thy God in vain!”
ii. Remember this Commandment applies to saying things like “God told me do something that is contrary to his word!”
iii. This does not just apply to cursing!
VI. Don’t underestimate the power of your tongue. It’s usually quick to destroy and slow to build others up. The Bible states that this should not be – especially in the Body of Christ!
1. Friends we need to take a reality check and check our tongues and evaluate if they are building others up or tearing others down.
c. To create a healing church means you commit to affirming others.
I. The truth is when people come to church they want to be affirmed.
1. They want to know that they are doing the right thing and they want to be encouraged to keep on doing the right things in life.
II. The truth is we can deliver the message of Jesus in a positive way without always beating people up with the Bible and with twisted tongues.
1. People want to know that others can see what they are doing right and they want to be affirmed for it.
2. We are not to primarily focus on the areas they are doing wrong but see the things they are doing right and point it out for encouragement.
3. You will never shame someone into healing. It does not work that way!
d. To create a healing church means we communicate what we are “for” not always what we are “against”.
I. The church people must learn to share why they are pro-something.
1. We need to tell people why we are pro-life.
2. We need to tell people why we are pro-marriage.
3. We need to tell people why we are pro-Bible.
4. We need to tell people why we are pro-conservative.
5. We need to tell people why we are pro-giving.
a. We need to tell others why we are pro something instead of just talking about why we are against something. This approach to the good news will impact and heal more people.
b. We need to approach things in this life from the positive angle more so than from the negative angle in life.
e. To create a healing church means we commit to sharing our testimonies with others.
I. We must tell people about how we have been healed and transformed.
1. We need to tell people about our testimony and share others testimony’s.
a. Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
i. In today’s culture and society people want to hear true to life stories about others not just word studies or hermeneutics they want real life dramas with miracles endings.
2. They want reality life stories.
a. Share Paulleta’s story, BJ’s story, Waynes’ story – reference the New Life Testimony book.
II. They want to hear that Jesus still heals today and here is proof – look at this real life person.
1. 1 Corinthians 5:17: 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
T.S. – To create a church with a healing environment means we must emphasize the good news and cut out the bad news which is associated with gossip and divisionary statements. The church must make the “As is” welcomed in this place!
III. The church must make the wounded and sick feel welcomed, accepted and they must give them hope.
a. For healing to take place at church means we all must feel welcomed and accepted.
I. John Ortberg wrote the book, “Everyone is Normal Until You Get To Know Them.”
1. John stated on pages 13, 14:
a. In certain stores you will find a section of merchandise available at greatly reduced prices. The tip-off is a particular tag you will see on all the items in that area. Each tag carries the same words: “as is.” This is a euphemistic way of saying, “These are damaged goods.” Sometimes they’re called slightly irregular. The store is issuing you fair warning: “This is the department of Something’s-Gone-Wrong. You’re going to find a flaw here: a stain that won’t come out; a zipper that won’t zip; a button that won’t butt-there will be a problem. These items are not normal. “We’re not going to tell you where the flaw is. You’ll have to look for it. But we know it’s there. So when you find it-and you will find it-don’t come whining and sniveling to us. Because there is a fundamental rule when dealing with merchandise in this corner of the store: No returns. No refunds. No exchanges. If you have received fair warning. If you want this item, there is only one way to obtain it. You must take it as is” (13, 14).
i. The same is true when working with and associating with other people in life – we all have flaws – irregularities and we come with a tag from God “As-is!”
ii. The reality check is the Bible tells us that everyone has fallen short and everyone has sinned –everyone on this planet has flaws! The truth is no one is perfect but Christ alone.
iii. John Ortberg adds: If you were looking for perfection, you’ve walked down the wrong aisle. We are tempted to live under the illusion that somewhere out there are people who are normal” (Page 14)
1. But the truth is there is no such thing as a perfect person! They don’t exist!
2. But here is our reality check according to John from page 15:
a. He states: Of course, the most painful part of this realizing that I am in the “as –is” department as well. Throughout history human beings have resisted owning up to that little tag. We try to separate the world into normal, healthy people (like us) and difficult people. Sometime ago the title of a magazine article caught my eye: “Totally Normal Women Who Stalk Their Ex-Boyfriends.” The phrase that struck me was “totally normal women.” What would one of these look like (or a totally normal man, for that matter)? And if obsessive stalking of a past lover is not just normal but totally normal, how far would you have to go to be a little strange?”
b. For healing to take place at church requires that we be honest with ourselves and others and let people know that we are not perfect.
I. We need to assert the truth that God uses imperfect people to do his perfect will and I am one of the imperfect ones!
II. The truth is the Bible is filled with less than perfect people and the truth is this normality: The following thoughts are taken from John’s book from pages 15-17 and I have inserted some of own examples as well:
1. Cain is jealous of Able and kills him.
2. Lamech introduces polygamy to the world.
3. Noah the most righteous man of his generation gets drunk and curses his own grandson.
4. Lot offers his own daughters up for sex to protect a group from rapping the angels who have visited him.
5. Lot’s daughters get him drunk and then have sex with their own father and one gets pregnant.
6. Abraham plays favorites with his two sons and they end up hating each other.
7. Abraham lies and denies that Sarah is not his wife so another man takes her.
8. Abraham has sex with his wife’s servant, impregnates her and then sends her off into the wilderness with his own son by the request of his wife.
9. Isaac and Rebekah fight over which son gets the blessing.
10. Isaac plays favorites with his kids and they become bitter enemies.
11. Jacob marries two wives and ends up with both maids as his concubines and a battle over fertility between them all.
12. Jacob plays favorites with his kids and the others try to kill Jospeh his favorite one.
III. Bierly in his book How to Thrive as a Small Church Pastor adds to the list:
1. “Even in the Bible, the only true, consistent hero is God:
a. Jacob was a liar and a cheat.
b. Moses was a hot-head
c. Jeremiah acted like a manic-depressive
d. Mary tried to dissuade Jesus from the ministry
e. Peter was braggart and a coward
f. John who wrote “God is love” wanted to call fire down on unbelievers, he also wanted to be a big shot in the Kingdom of God.
g. Paul broke up with his friend and advocate, Barnabas, when they had a major disagreement.
IV. I add to the list:
1. David a man after God’s own heart steals another man’s wife and then has him killed to conceal his getting her pregnant. He also could not manage his family very well!
V. The reality check is these are not the Walton’s nor is this the town of Mayberry!
1. These people are sick and they need Jesus to help them!
2. So don’t miss one of the main points of the Bible “Everyone is flawed, everyone is imperfect, everyone sins and everyone needs a healing!”
3. John Ortberg says it best, “Everybody’s weird” (page 16)!
4. Beirly states, “The stories in the Bible are told, not so we will sit around moping because we’re not apostles, but rather so we can say, “If God can use sinners like them, he can use me, too!” (Page 145).
VI. People need to know that when they come to Christian Hills they will be cared for and loved in spite of their flaws.
1. Acceptance is what they want not rejection. They receive enough rejection on a daily basis in a loveless world. So they want to come to church and experience the wonderful feeling of acceptance.
a. It becomes imperative when we minister to each other and to people who are less than perfect that we resist the urge to fix them our way!
b. We need to make sure that we try to pretend we are healthier than we really are – we need to be genuine and willing to face the truth – “We are all flawed!”
2. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of the day because they tried to present themselves as perfect and flawless. Listen to his thoughts in Matthew 23; 23, 24: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
a. The Pharisees did not help the hurting instead they rejected them because of their wounds while they themselves put on a good exterior show and lived with contaminated twisted hearts on the inside.
i. Their sin – unforgiveness, lack of grace toward others, lack of mercy, no empathy or compassion for the lost.
b. Murren states, “Rejection is a common experience in today’s fast moving world, where sexual experience so often replaces love, and the quick fix replaces any attempt to alter one’s lifestyle in a disciplined way. Ours is a world where marriages are easily terminated, kids are shuttled between homes, and employees are laid off after giving the best years of their lives to the company. This compounding of rejection has created a crying thirst for acceptance” (174, 175).
c. Jesus demonstrated to us that we are to accept the hurting into our arms and help bandage their wounds and lead them along the path of healing.
i. This means we open our arms to the lost and to one another in the church.
ii. Jesus showed what love was when he opened his arms to allow the soldiers to put nails into them so that we could be free!
VII. To create a healing environment we must express transparency to one another and not be phony’s.
1. When we present ourselves as perfect and flawless then people’s radar perks up and says, “They are liars!”
2. People know that no one is perfect or flawless in this life. We all fall short and have flaws. These flaws may be masked with a lot of makeup or religious talk but they can see the bulging flaw under the disguise we wear.
3. Roman’s tells us that we have all have fallen short and the truth is we must be willing to admit it to ourselves and also be willing to forgive the imperfections of others.
c. When the searching and the hurting enter a church they come looking for hope, forgiveness and acceptance. They want to know that there is a better way.
I. When Nicodemus came to Jesus to talk theology and truth. Jesus threw at him this phrase, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
1. Max Lucado describes this scene this way:
a. “Nicodemus inhabits a land of good efforts, sincere gestures, and hard work. Give God your best, his philosophy says, and God does the rest. Jesus response? Your best won’t do. Your works don’t work. Your finest efforts don’t mean squat. Unless you are born again, you can’t even see what God is up to. Nicodemus hesitates on behalf of us all. Born Again? “How can a man be born when he is old?” (v. 4). You must be kidding. Put life in reverse? Rewind the tape? Start over all over? We can’t be born again. Oh, but wouldn’t we like to? A do-over. A try-again. A reload. Broken hearts and missed opportunities bob in our wake. A mulligan would be nice. Who wouldn’t cherish a second shot? But who can pull it off? Nicodemus scratches his chin… (3:16, page 5).
2. The truth is people want the opportunity to try to do things the right way! They know they have blown it-their life reflects all their poor choices.
a. They look at their families and they are a mess!
b. They look at their bodies filled with wounds and scars and they say “I am tired of hurting myself show me a better way!”
c. They cry “Help me!”
3. We as Christians as believers in Jesus are to show them the better way by our lives, our families, our actions, our attitudes and our love for God!
Conclusion:
Murren states, “It’s true: A church that is consciously pursues a healing environment by encouraging optimistic, hope-filled thinking will positively affect the physical health of its members. According to scientific studies, the body’s T cells (the kind that drive the immune system) actually increase when optimistic thinking is applied. In a positive environment, the immune system works better, and overall health is approved” (177).
When love is central in the church a healing environment rolls in and it mends the broken hearts. So we must commit to do our part as the Body of Christ to see to it that our church is known as a place that brings healing.
Let’s recall some of the character traits of a church that brings and creates a healing environment:
1. The church must focus on our children and teens and teach them a proper view of sex and marriage.
2. The church people must be committed to promoting the good news and overlooking the bad news for the sake of healing.
3. The church people must be willing to love the “as-is people” and show them where their hope for new life comes from – Jesus.
Altar Time: Have elders and staff pray with others for healing-forgiveness and restoration!
