Ministry is Messy
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ministry is messy
It is a mess because we are all messed up by sin.
“if church is supposed to be _____ but the people are actually ______ then I dont want to be a part of it.”
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Example #1: Ministry was Messy at Ephesus
Sexual Impurity:
Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ...19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Lying:
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Anger:
Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Stealing:
Ephesians 4.28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Dirty Mouths:
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And there is more:
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
All of these things involved real people who not only sinned but in doing so in the church hurt each other and their testimony to the world.
For every failure and sin, there was a victim who got hurt!
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Example #2 Ministry was Messy Around Rome
- Guilty: Going to church and not applying the word
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
- Guilty: Cant keep their mouths shut, to know when to stop talking, talking about each other, gossip, etc
James 1:26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ∙
James 3:9-10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing
3 . Guilty: A few fights, sure!
James 4:1-2 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
- Guilty: Treating the wealthy special in church?
James 2:2-3 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
- Guilty: Doubleminded hypocrites
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Example #3 Ministry was Messy in Cornith
- Guilty: Division among the people
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[a]”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
- Guilty: Immorality – Incest
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
- Guilty: Suing each other!
1 Corinthians 6:5-8 "Is it possible that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between believers? Must you go to the courts of unbelievers? Brothers and sisters, I am ashamed to say that you are acting this way. Shouldn't one Christian be able to judge another? Or don't you know that we will judge angels? How much more should we be able to judge ordinary matters in this life!
4 Guilty: Bad Pot Lucks
1 Corinthians 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent, I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
“I always thank God for you…”
“You have been enriched in every way…”
“You do not lack any spiritual gift…”
“He will keep you strong until the end…”
1 John 3:2 But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
