April 21,
2012
Bishop
Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D.Min.
Worship
Theme: Forgiveness
Sermon
Text: Matthew 18:21
Sermon
Title: Playing Hurt: U Need a 12 Step
Program!
Review
2 Corinthians
11:24-26 - 24Five times I received from the Jews the
forty lashes minus one.25Three times I was beaten with
rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was
shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have
been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles;
in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger
from false believers.
Galatians
2:11-14 - 11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the
wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the
Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself
from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the
circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so
that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14When I saw
that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all,
“You are a Jew, yet you live like a
Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
Paul overcame all this to avoid playing hurt. When he did
he fulfilled his destiny. Philippians 3:12b, 14 - 12bbut I press on to take hold of
that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 14I press on toward the
goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Step 1. _______________ your situation and your heart. Prov. 19:11
-A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Step 2. _______________ there is a problem. 1 Sam
2:22-25 - 22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were
doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the
entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I
hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; it
is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD's people. 25 If a man
sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against
the LORD, who will intercede for him?" His sons, however, did not listen to their father's
rebuke, for it was the LORD's will to put them to death.
Step 3. ________________ something needs to be
done. Matthew
18:15 - “If your brother or sister sins, go
and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you,
you have won them over.
Step 4. ________________ the problem to the right source.
Step 5. ________________ the role you played. Matthew 15:18-19 -18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the
heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts,… false testimony,
slander.
Step 6. ________________ with care.
Matthew 18:15 - “If your brother or
sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they
listen to you, you have won them over.
Conclusion: Steps 1-6…
