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Relationships within and to the church community are spiritual bonds based on trust and on the readiness to forgive again and again.
Like the early Christians and those faithful to their example through the ages, we insist on the need for mutual fraternal admonition. Misunderstandings, conflicts, and honest differences of opinion are bound to arise, and this does not surprise or disturb us.
But whenever there is tension between brothers and sisters, we must use the way of direct address taught by Christ. We owe this service to anyone in the church community whose real or imagined weaknesses cause a negative reaction in us. A frank word spoken and received in love and humility serves only to deepen friendship and renew trust. If our concern turns out to be unjustified, so much the better.
If two people are unable to come to peace on their own, it is necessary to take the additional steps that Jesus sets forth in Matthew first to draw in one or two others to help; and then, as a last resort, to lay the situation before the church to be resolved by its authority. Likewise, if there is division in the church community or abuse of authority by its leadership, the matter will if necessary be brought before the worldwide body of members for final resolution, in the prayer that the Spirit may lead to clarity, repentance, and renewed love.
All conflicts within the church community can and must be settled in this way. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
On Bandcamp Radio. Love Worth Finding began in , as a response to several requests for tapes of messages by pastor and Bible teacher Adrian Rogers. Table of Contents 4. There is no employee handbook that can object to conduct exhibiting these characteristics. The Stanhope Challenge.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
Galatians New American Standard Bible NASB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians New Living Translation NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Galatians King James Version KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians New Century Version NCV But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.
Galatians American Standard Version ASV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.