(Text and Audio)
Title: Who’s Your Ally
Luke 9:49–50 (NASB95)
49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”
50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
Followers of Jesus love allies of Jesus.
Back in 2008 or 9, I went to an annual OARBC conference.
The president of the ABWE was speaking.
He started his sermon off with a personal story of his mission work into the communist eastern bloc countries.
He told how all the missionaries worked together.
For security, no one knew anything about each other, not even their real names.
No matter where or what their background, they all worked as a team.
Then the wall came down. The east opened, and religion was free.
Now the missionaries could drop the façade… But the strangest thing happened, but not surprising if you know your 20th century church history.
They all found out what mission boards they each belonged to.
They found out what schools they went to.
They had names and backgrounds.
The unity… evaporated in an instant.
Now they could lay down doctrinal lines. Now they could implement separatism or prejudice.
The whole umbrella of evangelical missions broke down into factions. What a sad tale.
Are we any different than the disciples?
After hearing this story, a friend of mine was sharing with me about her own experience with her mission work. She wrote, “This is so true. I can’t tell you how many people will say they can’t support our organization because we are not Baptist. I do consider myself a baptized believer, but I guess that doesn’t count.”
Are we any different than the disciples?
After hearing this story, my Methodist Aunt wrote me this, that is a great story. I’m reminded of two theories that I learned in my organizational development class. The first is that people look for commonality in each other to create a sense of security. The second is that the first drive of any organization is the preservation of the organization. The missionaries in your story found their commonality in the work they were doing. And then when they found out what organizations they had been a part of, there was a need to protect the organization. Send me the link of your sermon I want to hear it. (I love you Auntie)
- Someone else’s success is a time for worship of God.
- Celebrate God’s grace
- Encourage the saint
- Learn from someone’s success
- Someone else’s success can be an opportunity for our lust to tempt us.
- A growing church story
- Back in 2009 or 10 I was at a pastor’s fellowship. I was sharing with a few of the men how one of the other Baptist churches was exploding with growth. One of the guys piped up immediately and suggested that they’re probably using popular music, and other seeker sensitive techniques to attract people.
- A growing church story
- A growing small group – people coming to faith in Christ. People growing in the faith.
- A Coaching success
- An ally’s victory over sin
- Lust conceives ugly sin.
- Envy – I wish I could be like them.
- Covetousness – I wish I could have what they have.
- Jealousy – I’m afraid of losing my position or reputation.
- Our heart sin will lead to external sin in words or actions.
- Slander
- Gossip
- Belittling
- Nitpicking
- Someone else’s success is evidence of true discipleship
Matthew 7:15–16 (NASB95)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
- We are to be winsome and welcoming, but we do not turn off our discerning minds.
1 John 4:1–3 (NASB95)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Show the Small Group questions.
Take questions from the floor.