Vice – Part 2

Introduction

• Rethinking What a Pastor Is
• Pastoral work is not just for pastors.
• Ephesians 4:11–12 (ESV): 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

All five ministry streams should be represented in our lives.

Addressing the Pastor Shortage

• Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV): 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

The Overlooked Sin Struggle

The Social Solution for Sin

Healing from sin is as much a social experience as it is a spiritual one.

• James 5:16 (ESV): 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. . .

Developing Compassion for People Who Struggle with Sin

Our default response to people in sin should be compassion, not condemnation.

• Compassion is motivation, but repentance is the objective.
• Romans 2:4 (ESV): 4 . . .. God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance
• Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV): 1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. . .. 
• James 1:19–20 (ESV): 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Nine Filters

Filter #1: The Word

• Are we judging by Scripture or by tradition?
• Mark 7:13 (ESV): 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.
• Are we judging by the letter of the law or the Spirit of the law?
• 2 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV): 6. . .. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Filter #2: Category

• Is this a matter of doctrine, a matter of witness, or a matter of conscience?

Factor #3: Escalation

• Where is the person in the sequence of progressive intervention?
• To look at an example of how this works in Scripture, read Matthew 18: 15-17.

Filter #4: Contextual Details 

• Do you have the big picture? (view)
• Do you have the small picture? (details)
• How many layers of depth have you explored? (roots)
• Contextual details have to do with circumstantial information that reveals the true nature of what happened.
• You want to judge the true nature of things, and not the mere appearance of things.

Factor #5: Heart Posture 

• Is the person contrite, remorseful, or humble?

Filter #6: One’s Own Sins and Temptations

• Galatians 6:1(ESV): 1 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. 
• Consider what you’ve struggled with in the past
• Consider what you struggle with now
• How would you want to be judged under the same circumstances as the person you are judging?
• Would you still want to be eligible for mercy?

Filter #7: Relationship 

• Galatians 6:2 (ESV): 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Factor #8: Holy Spirit Guidance

Filter #9: Divine Providence