Pastor's Connect Blog
Pastor’s Connect Blog
“I Will”
“I Will Avoid the Traps of Churchianity” (chapter 8)
“I Will Make a Difference (chapter 9)
August 19, 2018
This post is meant to help direct your Connect study … These are some of the pastor’s thoughts and insights … ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth, speak to you and through you ….
Chapter 8 “I Will Avoid the Traps of Churchianity”
GET STARTED: Read Rainer’s definition of Churchianity (p. 93, para 1) and discuss what it means.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 and discuss the biblical description for church membership.
Discuss the Five major symptoms of churchianity:
1. Symptom #1: Church is a spectator sport
Attendance absent involvement except to complain
2. Symptom #2: Church is about me
Driven by personal preference; inward focused rather than outward focused. More concerned about what I want rather than what others need.
HOW DOES MARK 10:45 ADDRESS THIS ATTITUDE.
Jesus taught His disciples that if they would be great in the Kingdom of heaven, then they would have to become servants.
“Biblical church life is about serving, about sacrificing, about giving, and about putting others before our own desires and needs. Churchianity is about being served, receiving, getting your way, and insisting on our needs and wants before others.”
3. Symptom #3: Church is about dwelling on its flaws
Consistently seeing, and seizing upon the flaws, the imperfections of the church.
Are you a critical church member, constantly complaining …?
Discuss how this attitude might affect the pastor, and/or ministry staff.
4. Symptom #4: Church has low expectations
A church without requirements for the members is practicing churchianity.
Read the bullet points on page 102 and answer the question: How can FBC Atkins do a better job of sharing/showing our expectations for church members?
WHAT are FBC’s present expectations for church membership?
Symptom #5: Church has cliquish membership
Usually see the church as “theirs.” This is “my church.” Nothing gets done apart from their approval.
Describe what you would call the church’s “power panel”
For some churches, maybe ours, we are afraid to place expectations upon the membership for fear no one will join. Which is better: (1) more members who are less active, or (2) less members who are more active.
Pastor, “Better to have more players than more spectators who are often critical about the way the players play.”
READ AND RELATE the bullet points on page 98
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Chapter 9 “I Will Make a Difference”
GETTING STARTED: Relate Joshua’s challenge to the Nation of Israel (Joshua 24:14-16).
Every challenge brings with it a choice … throughout this book we have been challenge to be different and make a difference.
What can God do with a group of believers who choose to be obedient to Him?
How do you feel about Rainer’s description of the state of the church, “it’s not a pretty picture ….” (p.106).
What will it take to change the course of the church? Self-sacrifice and obedience.
Discuss “It is time for church members to become a part of a movement where self is sacrificed and the body of Christ is strengthened” (p. 109).
Describe a 1 Corinthian 12 church member (members together in one body).
Have each member review the eight “I wills” found on pp. 111-12, and encourage them to pray and commit to God to be an “I Will” church member.