1. mended when church wounds
15 January 2017

5. spotlight
How could this happen? How did this happen to him?

6. How do you say no to God?
Right after video clip

7. abuse
Child abuse Pastors commit adultery Fleecing the sheep Political power Spiritual manipulation
[CLICK] each line

8. deeply wounded

10. Matthew 23:1-15

11. not everything is spiritual abuse

12. Matthew 23:1-15

13. Matthew 23:1-4
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

14. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down

15. Stuff on a donkey’s back

16. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down
crushed under the weight

17. If all people were like you, would they:
Be in Sunday School every Sunday? Be on time for Sunday School? Bring a Bible? Have studied the lesson? Bring an offering?
Attend the preaching service? Make an effort to worship during the service? Bring someone with them? Bring a guest?

18. you’ve got to follow this list of rules to be right with God

19. Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened down, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

20. Matthew 23:5-7
Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

21. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down Sucks people dry

22. Luke 20:47
They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.

23. Ezekiel 34:1-3
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

24. Matthew 23:8-10
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

25. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down Sucks people dry Shuts people up

26. So when a leader’s teachings or authority, opinions get mixed up with… Christ… abuse.

27. Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

28. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down Sucks people dry Shuts people up Cuts people off

29. Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
You religious leaders, you won’t enter God’s kingdom

30. Matthew 23:15
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

31. spiritual abuse
Weighs people down Suck people dry Shuts people up Cuts people off Locks people in

32. we and we alone have the truth
These churches say they have the corner on truth.

33. no choice
Bottom line was they felt like they had no choice

34. How do you get mended?

35. Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.

36. [CLICK] about the church

37. wounded people
I will continue with Jesus… but I’m writing off his church.

38. Church is the bride of Christ

39. about the church
about the church

40. about God
about God

41. God of the Prodigal

42. forgiveness is not only a gift that we give to someone else.