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• Building, Maintaining, And
Nurturing Good Relationships
• "ATTITUDES NEEDED IN CONGREGATIONAL WORK"
• Introduction
• As Christians work together in a local congregation, the right attitudes
are necessary...
• All the talent in the world cannot make up for wrong attitudes...
• With the right attitudes, our efforts in service to the Lord are enhanced
and live up to their full potential...
• We must remember that we are all in this together, and it is better to
get along than to be constantly fighting each other.
• There are many ways in which we are considered to be fighting each other.
• Obviously, physical violence is not right, and I doubt if anyone here
would engage in such.
• But we must also realize that feelings can be hurt, and animosity may
develop for various reasons.
• Some of those reasons may be petty in nature, yet enough to rile someone
up against another.
• Some of us may be the cause of these differences, and some may enhance
these differences by taking sides.
• That should never happen.
• We should all work to resolve conflict.
• In what areas should we be concerned about our attitudes?
• Our attitude toward God...
• Our attitude toward ourselves as individuals...
• Our attitude toward our brethren...
• Our attitude toward the work we do together as a church...
• In a least these four areas, we must be sure to maintain the proper attitudes.
• And what are the proper attitudes?
• Let's begin with..
• ATTITUDES TOWARD GOD...
• LOVE...
• We must have the right kind of love toward God...
• Jesus defined that kind of love in Matthew 22:37...
• Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
• -- Do we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind?
• FAITH AND TRUST...
• Faith is a strong conviction and trust in things one doesn't see...
• Hebrews 11:1 ...Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.
• Hebrews 11:6 ...But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.
• -- Do we have the kind of faith which pleases God?
• Romans 10:17 ...So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God.
• THANKFULNESS...
• Every Christian should have "the attitude of gratitude"...
• Colossians 3:17 ...And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
• Ephesians 5:20 ...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• God's righteous indignation is toward those who have become unthankful...
• Romans 1:18 ...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it
to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
• -- An attitude of thankfulness for the blessings we have will help allay
the bitterness that often destroys the spirit in any congregation...
• If our relationship with God is right, it increases the likelihood that
our relationship with others will be smooth as well.
• Proverbs 16:7 ...When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his
enemies to be at peace with him.
• ATTITUDES TOWARD OURSELVES...
• HUMILITY...
• A humble estimation of one's self is very important...
• Romans 12:3 ...For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who
is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but
to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith....16 Be of
the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate
with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
• Humility includes a willingness to serve, even to do "menial"
tasks...
• John 13:12 ...So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and
sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13
"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If
I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as
I have done to you. 16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater
than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
• Matthew 25:21 ...His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter
into the joy of your lord.'
• -- Are we humble enough to serve our fellow brother?
• TEACHABILITY...
• To be teachable is to be wise...
• Proverbs 15:31 ...The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among
the wise. 32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds
rebuke gets understanding.
• Teachability includes:
• An eagerness to learn and grow...
• The ability to learn from correction, to profit from advice and criticism...
• The old as well as the young need a teachable attitude:
• -- How teachable are we, when it comes to opportunities to study God's
word?
• HONESTY TOWARD OUR MISTAKES...
• This includes a willingness to admit our mistakes...
• James 5:16 ...Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed.
• And a willingness to correct them...
• -- Everyone makes mistakes;
• a congregation that functions well and grows is one filled with people
who learn from their mistakes!
• The attitudes of humility, teachability, and honesty will certainly prepare
us to be useful to the Lord.
• They will also have a bearing on our relationship with others in the congregation.
•
• ATTITUDES TOWARD OUR BRETHREN
• LOVE...
• Jesus taught us the necessity of loving our brethren...
• John 13:34 ...A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
• We have been born again that we might love one another fervently...
• 1 Peter 1:22 ...Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
• -- If we truly love one another, how can we not work together?
• APPRECIATION FOR OTHERS AND THEIR WORK...
• We need to appreciate what others are doing
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12 ...And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those
who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to
esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
• True appreciation for others will eliminate destructive criticism, gossip,
divisiveness...
• -- Expressing appreciation is like grease on the gears of a machine...it
makes others do their work much better!
• SUBMISSIVENESS...
• We are to submit to one another...
• Ephesians 5:21 ...submitting to one another in the fear of God.
• And we are to submit to those in positions of leadership (e.g., elders)...
• Hebrews 13:17 ...Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for
they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so
with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
• -- Too many chiefs, not enough Indians...that is a common problem in many
organizations!
• PEACEABLENESS...
• Peace among brethren is something that we must pursue...
• Romans 14:19 ...Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace
and the things by which one may edify another.
• It is part of walking worthy of our calling...
• Ephesians 4:1 ...I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to
walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
• -- The true children of God are those who are peacemakers, and sow their
deeds of righteousness in the atmosphere of peace...
• James 3:17 ...But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those
who make peace.
• HOSPITALITY...
• Christians are to be hospitable...
• Hebrews 13:2 ...Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some have unwittingly entertained angels.
• This includes both hospitality to strangers and to brethren
• -- A factor in the rapid spread of the church in the first century was
the hospitality extended by the Christians...
• 3 John 5 ...Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren
and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If
you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do
well,
• WARMTH, FRIENDLINESS, OPENNESS...
• We see this expressed by those in the church at Jerusalem...
• Acts 2:44 ...Now all who believed were together, and had all things in
common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as
anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of
heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily those who were being saved.
• It continued with the saints in Antioch...
• Acts 11:27 ...And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there
was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability,
determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also
did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
• GENTLENESS, MEEKNESS...
• Especially necessary in dealing with the spiritual weak...
• Galatians 6:1 ...Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you
who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted.
• But also in dealing with those who oppose us...
• 2 Timothy 2:24 ...And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle
to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition,
if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26
and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having
been taken captive by him to do his will.
• FORGIVENESS, FORBEARANCE, PATIENCE, LONGSUFFERING...
• All of these attitudes overlap, and are very important...
• Ephesians 4:2 ...with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love....32 And be kind to one another, tender- hearted,
forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
• They help smooth out the bumps and obstacles that Satan will put in our
way in his effort to destroy the local church...
• ATTITUDES TOWARD OUR WORK...
• GRATITUDE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF OUR WORK...
• 1 Timothy 1:12 ...And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me,
because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
• ---Do we appreciate what an honor it is to offer service in the kingdom
of our Lord?
• ENTHUSIASM, EAGERNESS...
• Might we also add the word “ZEAL”?
• Remember, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)...
• Nothing is so easy but that it becomes difficult if done with reluctance...
• But nothing is so hard that it cannot be made easier with enthusiasm!
• INDUSTRIOUSNESS, DILIGENCE, ENERGY...
• 2 Timothy 2:15 ...Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
• Ephesians 4:3 …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
• 2 Peter 1:5… Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,
in your faith supply moral excellence… (10) Therefore, brethren, be all
the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you, for as long
as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
• CONCLUSION:
• Ideal attitudes make for ideal working conditions among the members of
a local church...
• Certainly the attitudes described in this lesson will help the cause of
Christ in any congregation...
• They will improve our relation with God, ourselves, our brethren, and
our work...
• They will make us "useful to the Master, prepared for every good
work"...
• 2 Timothy 2:21 ...If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall
be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every
good work.
• Are we developing the right kind of attitudes that prepare us for the
work of the Lord?
By Carey Scott from a sermion by Ron Lehde
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