A caring church What is a caring church?

What is a caring church?

No one cares more than God Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father – James 1:17-18 Gave the most precious gift - 1 Peter 1:18-19 James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (18) Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

No one cares more than God Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father – James 1:17-18 Gave the most precious gift - 1 Peter 1:18-19 Made us alive, forgave our trespasses, and canceled the debt we owed – Col. 2:13-14 Partakers of the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:3-4 Colossians 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (14) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (4) by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

No one cares more than God 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Christians must care as God cared The highest quality of caring Love as God loved (Sacrificial) – 1 John 4:9-11 Care for the undeserving – Psalms 8:3-4 Others before self – Phil. 2:3-4 1 John 4:9-11 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (10) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Psalms 8:3-4 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (4) what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (4) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Christians must care as God cared The highest quality of caring Love as God loved (Sacrificial) – 1 John 4:9-11 Care for the undeserving – Psalms 8:3-4 Others before self – Phil. 2:3-4 Stand for the truth – John 12:48-49 & Rom. 16:25 Compassion for the masses – Matt. 9:36 John 12:48-49 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (49) For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak. Romans 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages (26) but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- (27) to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Who are we trying to please? Are we a caring church? We do not offer the recreation, entertainment, and social opportunities many equate with a caring church. We do not offer the kind of charitable work many associate with a caring church. We do not preach what many want to hear. Who are we trying to please? 2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (3) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Caring Christians make a caring church 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 Love and appreciation for what each member brings to the church Personal ownership of my part and duty in the church Respect the head’s right to rule and control 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (19) If all were a single member, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (21) The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (22) On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (24) which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Show we care Benevolent – 2 Cor. 8:8 & James 1:27 Kind – 1 Cor. 13:4 & Col. 3:12-13 2 Corinthians 8:8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Show we care Benevolent – 2 Cor. 8:8 & James 1:27 Kind – 1 Cor. 13:4 & Col. 3:12-13 Hospitality – 1 Peter 4:8-10 Welcoming – Rom. 15:7 Restore in gentleness – Gal. 6:1-2 Out do each other – Rom. 12:10 1 Peter 4:8-10 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (2) Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.