The Power ofThe Power ofLike-MindednessLike-Mindedness

Philippians 2:1-11Philippians 2:1-11

How to obeyHow to obeythe Bible’s words:the Bible’s words:“Be like-minded”“Be like-minded”

Bible StudyBible Study

What factors makeWhat factors makelike-mindedness possible?like-mindedness possible?The encouragement we have in The encouragement we have in

ChristChristThe difference love has made in The difference love has made in

our livesour livesThe fellowship produced by the The fellowship produced by the

SpiritSpiritOur own tenderness and Our own tenderness and

compassion towards otherscompassion towards others

What traits makeWhat traits makelike-mindedness work?like-mindedness work?Mutual LoveMutual LoveMutual PurposeMutual PurposeHumilityHumility

What traits work againstWhat traits work againstlike-mindedness?like-mindedness?SelfishnessSelfishnessEmpty ConceitEmpty Conceit

None of Us AreNone of Us AreSinners EmeritusSinners Emeritus

Galatians 6:1-4Galatians 6:1-4Philippians 3:12-16Philippians 3:12-16

Why many of usWhy many of usare scared ofare scared of

true fellowship—true fellowship—and what to do about itand what to do about it

InterviewInterview

““Suddenly it hit me: Suddenly it hit me: That’s what’s wrong That’s what’s wrong with the church in with the church in our time … you put our time … you put on your best clothes on your best clothes … but you don’t … but you don’t bring your life! You bring your life! You leave behind all leave behind all your pain … your your pain … your hopes, even your hopes, even your joys.”joys.”

Bruce LarsonBruce LarsonBruce LarsonBruce Larson

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God asks…God asks…

Will you trust me with your life?Will you trust me with your life?Will you entrust yourself to a part Will you entrust yourself to a part

of my family?of my family?Will you get out and be involved Will you get out and be involved

someplace in the world?someplace in the world?

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What does it mean to “bring our What does it mean to “bring our lives” to church?lives” to church?

Do you agree with the phrase, Do you agree with the phrase, “We need models who fail?” “We need models who fail?” Explain.Explain.

What is positive about the What is positive about the fellowship in our church? What fellowship in our church? What could we do to enhance it?could we do to enhance it?

DiscussDiscuss

10 Rules for Respect10 Rules for RespectProverbs 25:9-15Proverbs 25:9-15

Ephesians 4:15-16Ephesians 4:15-16

A communication A communication covenant to helpcovenant to help

leaders build trust.leaders build trust.

AssessmentAssessment

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1.1. If I have a problem with another person, I If I have a problem with another person, I will go to him privately.will go to him privately.

2.2. If someone has a problem with me, I If someone has a problem with me, I want him to come to me privately and want him to come to me privately and will try to be open when he comes.will try to be open when he comes.

3.3. If someone has a problem with me, and If someone has a problem with me, and comes to you, send the person to me. comes to you, send the person to me. (I’ll do the same for you.)(I’ll do the same for you.)

4.4. If someone hesitates to come to me, say, If someone hesitates to come to me, say, “Let’s go together. I’m sure he’ll see us “Let’s go together. I’m sure he’ll see us about this.” (I’ll do the same for you.)about this.” (I’ll do the same for you.)

5.5. Be careful about how you interpret me—Be careful about how you interpret me—I’d rather do that.I’d rather do that.

Do you follow these rules?Do you follow these rules?

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6.6. I will be careful about how I interpret I will be careful about how I interpret you.you.

7.7. If it’s confidential, I won’t tell. (Unless If it’s confidential, I won’t tell. (Unless someone is harming himself or someone is harming himself or someone else.)someone else.)

8.8. I won’t send or pay attention to I won’t send or pay attention to unsigned letters or notes. Information unsigned letters or notes. Information should always travel with a person’s should always travel with a person’s name so it can be cleared up if name so it can be cleared up if necessary.necessary.

9.9. I will not manipulate; I will not be I will not manipulate; I will not be manipulated.manipulated.

10.10. When in doubt, I will bring up my When in doubt, I will bring up my concern or question.concern or question.

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Which of these rules do we Which of these rules do we generally live by? Which do we generally live by? Which do we need to observe more closely?need to observe more closely?

What rules would you suggest we What rules would you suggest we add to this list? add to this list?

How can we improve our How can we improve our communication as leaders?communication as leaders?

Willing to Be HonestWilling to Be HonestZechariah 8:16-17Zechariah 8:16-17Colossians 3:9-10Colossians 3:9-10

Winning the struggleWinning the struggleto open up.to open up.

AssessmentAssessment

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1.1. We think people won’t love us if We think people won’t love us if they know what we’re really like.they know what we’re really like.

2.2. We’re afraid people will think We’re afraid people will think we’re not “good Christians.”we’re not “good Christians.”

3.3. We think people don’t care.We think people don’t care.

4.4. We’re afraid of gossip.We’re afraid of gossip.

Why we wear masks…Why we wear masks…

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1.1. We are called to honesty in our We are called to honesty in our relationships.relationships.

2.2. We can’t receive help if others We can’t receive help if others don’t know we need it.don’t know we need it.

3.3. Our honesty frees others to be Our honesty frees others to be honest.honest.

4.4. Our honesty gives God the glory.Our honesty gives God the glory.

Reasons to unmask…Reasons to unmask…

What’s Your What’s Your Encouragement Encouragement

Style?Style?1 Thessalonians 5:10–151 Thessalonians 5:10–15

Hebrews 3:13Hebrews 3:13

How to uplift andHow to uplift andaffirm one anotheraffirm one another

in a variety of ways. in a variety of ways.

AssessmentAssessment

Speaking

Writing

Touching Being

Present

ShowingHospitality Helping

Praying Giving

8 Ways to Affirm Others…8 Ways to Affirm Others…

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What encouraging things have What encouraging things have other believers done for you? other believers done for you?

What things don’t seem to work What things don’t seem to work when we’re trying to encourage a when we’re trying to encourage a hurting person?hurting person?

Have you accepted and thanked Have you accepted and thanked God for your encouragement God for your encouragement style?style?

DiscussDiscuss

Healing from a Healing from a Painful PastPainful PastPhilippians 4:2-3Philippians 4:2-3Romans 15:1-7Romans 15:1-7

How can a congregation How can a congregation move beyond the timesmove beyond the times

of difficulty?of difficulty?

Case StudyCase Study

Visitors to Pine Point Church could Visitors to Pine Point Church could sense a cliquishness among the sense a cliquishness among the

congregation, subtle though it was.congregation, subtle though it was.

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A spirit of distrust of boards has A spirit of distrust of boards has pervaded Parkway Churchpervaded Parkway Church

Several people have said, “Our Several people have said, “Our church doesn’t know what it church doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up”wants to be when it grows up”

There is nagging criticism of the There is nagging criticism of the pastorpastor

At a retreat, leaders wept as they At a retreat, leaders wept as they remembered the pain of a church remembered the pain of a church split 22 years agosplit 22 years ago

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Can a church split from twenty-Can a church split from twenty-two years ago be a source of two years ago be a source of problems now?problems now?

What is the value in bringing up What is the value in bringing up the past? The danger?the past? The danger?

What would you recommend to a What would you recommend to a church board in this situation?church board in this situation?

DiscussDiscuss

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On church’s 40On church’s 40thth anniversary, anniversary, pastor preached on “learning pastor preached on “learning from history”from history”

Service on Good Friday to bring Service on Good Friday to bring healing; members who left were healing; members who left were includedincluded

The church has become “safer, The church has become “safer, warmer, more open”warmer, more open”

DiscussDiscuss

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What things can a church’s What things can a church’s leaders do now to help a church leaders do now to help a church heal from its past?heal from its past?

What has caused pain in our What has caused pain in our church’s history?church’s history?

What have we done, if anything, What have we done, if anything, to bring healing? What could we to bring healing? What could we do?do?

The God Who The God Who Shares Your PainShares Your Pain

Matthew 1:21-23Matthew 1:21-23John 1:1-14John 1:1-14

““God-with-us” is our best God-with-us” is our best and deepest comfort.and deepest comfort.

DevotionalDevotional

““We have lost the simple but We have lost the simple but difficult gift of being present to difficult gift of being present to each other.each other.

We have forgotten that it is often in We have forgotten that it is often in ‘useless,’ unpretentious, humble ‘useless,’ unpretentious, humble presence to each other that we feel presence to each other that we feel consolation and comfort.”consolation and comfort.”

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——Henri J. M. Nouwen,Henri J. M. Nouwen,Douglas A. Morrison,Douglas A. Morrison,and Donald P. McNeiland Donald P. McNeil

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When has someone comforted When has someone comforted you by simply “being there” you by simply “being there” during a tough time?during a tough time?

When did you realize that God When did you realize that God really is present with us?really is present with us?

How can we encourage people in How can we encourage people in our church to support each other our church to support each other even when they think they don’t even when they think they don’t have anything to offer?have anything to offer?

DiscussDiscuss

Why Join a Church?Why Join a Church?Acts 2:41-47Acts 2:41-47

Ephesians 5:29-32Ephesians 5:29-32

Defending anDefending anold-fashioned idea.old-fashioned idea.

DevotionalDevotional

““It is true that a name on a It is true that a name on a membership roll makes for nothing membership roll makes for nothing in itself. But how seriously can we in itself. But how seriously can we take a person who says he wants take a person who says he wants to be part of the church but to be part of the church but doesn’t want to sign his name doesn’t want to sign his name publicly?”publicly?”

——Ben PattersonBen Patterson

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How is church membership a How is church membership a form of Christian witness?form of Christian witness?

What does your own What does your own “membership card” mean to you?“membership card” mean to you?

What message would we like to What message would we like to send about membership in this send about membership in this church?church?

6 Ways to Care6 Ways to CareLuke 10:25-37Luke 10:25-37

Ephesians 4:11-13Ephesians 4:11-13

Every church wants to be Every church wants to be known as a church that known as a church that

cares. But how?cares. But how?

How toHow to

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FriendshipFriendship– Any program that develops relationships increases the Any program that develops relationships increases the

availability of careavailability of careShepherdingShepherding

– The congregation is divided into care groups (often The congregation is divided into care groups (often geographically)geographically)

CounselingCounseling– The relationship is therapeutic andThe relationship is therapeutic and

well-definedwell-definedBody LifeBody Life

– Care is offered in public, community settingsCare is offered in public, community settingsSupport GroupSupport Group

– Care is offered by people who share the struggleCare is offered by people who share the struggleTeamTeam

– Teams respond to care for specific needsTeams respond to care for specific needs

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Which strategies have we tried? Which strategies have we tried? Which have worked best for us? Which have worked best for us?

Which support groups seem most Which support groups seem most needed?needed?

How would you suggest we How would you suggest we improve our approaches to caring improve our approaches to caring for people?for people?

When MembersWhen MembersCry for HelpCry for Help

2 Corinthians 13:7-102 Corinthians 13:7-10Ephesians 4:26-27Ephesians 4:26-27

How to recognize and How to recognize and respond when peoplerespond when people

are about to dropare about to dropout of church.out of church.

How toHow to

““95 percent of inactive church 95 percent of inactive church members have experienced a members have experienced a cluster of ‘anxiety-producing cluster of ‘anxiety-producing events’—a snub, a lack of care events’—a snub, a lack of care when needed, a moral lapse by a when needed, a moral lapse by a church leader.”church leader.”

——John S. SavageJohn S. Savage

Verbal statementsVerbal statementsLeaving worshipLeaving worshipLeaving committeesLeaving committeesLeaving Sunday schoolLeaving Sunday schoolPulling the kids out of Sunday Pulling the kids out of Sunday

schoolschoolSending a letter of resignationSending a letter of resignationDropping their pledgeDropping their pledge

Recognize cries for help…Recognize cries for help…

““We took fifteen minutes at the We took fifteen minutes at the end of every board meeting for end of every board meeting for board members to report who, in board members to report who, in their estimation, was crying for their estimation, was crying for help. We gave the names to a team help. We gave the names to a team of trained callers.”of trained callers.”

——John S. SavageJohn S. Savage

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Why is listening so important with Why is listening so important with people who are about to drop people who are about to drop out?out?

What has worked best to What has worked best to encourage inactive members to encourage inactive members to return to our church?return to our church?

What first step could we take to What first step could we take to reach out in a more effective way?reach out in a more effective way?

““Oh…pardon my familiarity.Oh…pardon my familiarity.I thought you were new.”I thought you were new.”

The face-to-face groupThe face-to-face group– When a group grows beyond seven members, When a group grows beyond seven members,

the benefits begin to erodethe benefits begin to erodeThe “overgrown” small groupThe “overgrown” small group

– The most common size for a choir, youth The most common size for a choir, youth group, or church council, with 8-17 membersgroup, or church council, with 8-17 members

The middle-sized groupThe middle-sized group– As a group moves toward 40, most As a group moves toward 40, most

techniques and principles for strengthening techniques and principles for strengthening cohesion in a small group lose their valuecohesion in a small group lose their value

The large groupThe large group– The focal point tends to be the leader or the The focal point tends to be the leader or the

task, not the relationshipstask, not the relationships

What size should church What size should church groups be?groups be?

When groups level off at 24-36 people:When groups level off at 24-36 people:

1.1. Be content with the status quoBe content with the status quo

2.2. Expand the number of small and Expand the number of small and middle-sized groupsmiddle-sized groups

3.3. Introduce large-group procedures to Introduce large-group procedures to enable some groups to growenable some groups to grow

What should church leaders What should church leaders do when groups level off?do when groups level off?

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Read Philippians 1:3-8 togetherRead Philippians 1:3-8 togetherExpress your thanks for one anotherExpress your thanks for one another

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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society

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