Protecting our Fellowship

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  1. By EDUCATING the Flock.

    1. Educating our CHILDREN — Deuteronomy 6

      1. v 7 - "teach" = ENGRAVE

      2. v 20 - "the Lord OUR God"

      3. Primary responsibility lies in the HOME - 2 Tim 3:15

        1. Ephesians 6:4

        2. Luke 2:41-42

        3. 2 Timothy 1:5

      4. Responsibility of Bible classes:

        1. teach TRUTHS rather than tell TALES

        2. make application to those great Old Testament stories:

          1. Adam & Eve - God’s hatred & punishment of sin

          2. Cain & Abel - acceptable worship, power of example

          3. Noah (Gen 6-8)

            1. God’s answer to, "Everybody’s doing it."

            2. the ark = the church is the only refuge for salvation

            3. the water washed sin from the world = baptism

          4. Uzzah (2 Sam 6) - "God sweats the small stuff."

          5. David & Bathsheba (2 Sam 11) - "Your sin will find you out."

    2. Educating our ADULTS

      1. Deuteronomy 4:1-6

      2. Not all are at the same level of spiritual maturity

        1. 1 Peter 2:2

        2. Hebrews 5:12 we must GROW UP

        3. Hebrews 6:1-3 we must GO ON

  2. By EXPOSING Wickedness:

    1. False TEACHERS:

      1. Specifically:

        1. 1 Timothy 1:19-20

        2. 2 Timothy 2:16-18

        3. Titus 3:11-12

      2. Generally:

        1. 1 John 4:1-2

        2. 2 John 9-11

      3. Romans 16:17-18

    2. False PRACTICES:

      1. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

      2. Ephesians 5:11

Congregational Autonomy must be practiced and respected! No congregation has the right to impose legislation to another. So is what goes on at other congregations any of our business? YES!

      1. Because we are a brotherhood.

      2. Because what happens elsewhere eventually effects us all.

      3. Because of the picture painted for unbelievers.

Congregational autonomy has been used as a cloak to hide sins and deflect criticisms because of the same. But autonomy . . .

    1. does not grant freedom to disregard the Word of God.

    2. is not a shield against the criticisms of faithful brethren.

    3. is not a "free pass" for or guarantee of fellowship.

 

  1. By EXERCISING Church Discipline

    1. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

    2. 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15

 

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