The Chastening Of The Church Series

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