The Church as a Healing Community Salvation is not enough!

The Bible says it is not! Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11

Biblical Orders When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. Luke 9:1-6

Biblical Orders After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Luke 10:1-4 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Luke 10:1-4

Is There a Choice? Sometimes Sometimes a church has no choice but to become a healing community The The Holy Spirit forces them to become one story that I will relate to you corroborates this statement

Bearing Fruit The church I described had become a healing community The church I described had become a healing community It was forced to bear fruit that endures John 15:16 It was forced to bear fruit that endures John 15:16 But it also bore the primary fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22 But it also bore the primary fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22

Born Again It made a baby Christian who became part of the family It made a baby Christian who became part of the family Nurtured him and fed him through Nurtured him and fed him through –Prayer –Bible Study –The Eucharist and –Worship

Maturity As a result he had matured and developed some of the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ As a result he had matured and developed some of the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

Discipleship Discipleship in all cases is a continuance of salvation Discipleship in all cases is a continuance of salvation Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12,13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12,13

The Cost of Discipleship Discipleship will not continue unless the Christian is absolutely surrendered to Christ. Discipleship will not continue unless the Christian is absolutely surrendered to Christ. Three men came to Jesus and wanted to follow him, but other things took precedent over their calling Three men came to Jesus and wanted to follow him, but other things took precedent over their calling

The Cost of Discipleship As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:57-62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:57-62

God’s Purpose It is the duty of all Christians to participate in the healing community that the church should be. Jesus said that if we loved him we will obey his commandments. If we do this He and the Father will come and live with us and in us. John 14:23 It is the duty of all Christians to participate in the healing community that the church should be. Jesus said that if we loved him we will obey his commandments. If we do this He and the Father will come and live with us and in us. John 14:23

God’s Purpose "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. We are: "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. We are: –To love God with all our being –To Love our neighbors –To love one another –And to do love

If we do these things We will: We will: –Proclaim the Gospel –Heal the sick –Cast out demons –Raise the dead –Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and prisoners

Why? Love is not just a word Love is not just a word It is an encounter that takes place between two persons It is an encounter that takes place between two persons It is expressed in tangible form It is expressed in tangible form Our Lord wanted us to be examples of love Our Lord wanted us to be examples of love

Why? The world is full of: The world is full of: –Lost –Alienated –Empty people who want community and joy –If we have love they will be drawn to us –When we reach out to them they will respond for they need love

Why? 1 out of 4 children are sexually abused 1 out of 4 children are sexually abused 70% of black children and 23% of white children are illegitimate 70% of black children and 23% of white children are illegitimate Homosexuality and other perversions are common Homosexuality and other perversions are common Spousal abuse is common Spousal abuse is common Drug addiction and alcoholism are rampant Drug addiction and alcoholism are rampant Murder is common Murder is common

Why? There are 1,800,000 abortions in this country every year, all of these women will have post abortion syndrome There are 1,800,000 abortions in this country every year, all of these women will have post abortion syndrome 23% of pastors and 45% of other Christians are adulterers most of the non Christians the world are adulterers 23% of pastors and 45% of other Christians are adulterers most of the non Christians the world are adulterers Fraud and swindling is rampant Fraud and swindling is rampant Need I go on? You read the news! Need I go on? You read the news!

Our Obligation In the light of all this we have an obligation to become a caring healing community In the light of all this we have an obligation to become a caring healing community There is no substitute for it There is no substitute for it How do we accomplish this How do we accomplish this –We must pray that God will fill us with the Holy Spirit –We must accept the fact that we all have gifts to participate in the community. We must discover our gifts

Our Obligation 2 We must get the training to do it We must get the training to do it We must take time to participate We must take time to participate We must weep with those who weep and be happy with those who are happy We must weep with those who weep and be happy with those who are happy We must bear one another’s burdens We must bear one another’s burdens Do good Do good

Our Obligation 3 Pray for one another Pray for one another Fellowship as much as possible Fellowship as much as possible Encourage one another Encourage one another Remember that we belong to the priesthood of all believers we do not need a theological education to bring it about There are those who can equip us Remember that we belong to the priesthood of all believers we do not need a theological education to bring it about There are those who can equip us

Our Obligation To develop ministries to meet the needs of those who are hurting To develop ministries to meet the needs of those who are hurting –This requires a vision as to what God wants you to do to minister to his suffering children. Ask Him to reveal it to you. –It requires compassion –It requires power –It requires zeal –It requires holy boldness –It means taking risks