Cultivating Inter-Church Relationships, Part 2

The point: Seek to foster the perspective that when one member of the body of Christ suffers, all members suffer with it, extending this beyond the local church to the universal body.

The common idiom 'put your hand where your mouth is' is used to illustrate that if our mouth proclaims love to the universal church, our actions (material giving) must tangibly express that love.

We often use the term with one another, put your hand where your mouth is. Well, if our mouth proclaims love, to the body of Christ, to the church universal, then we must put our hand where our mouth is. And 1 John 3, 16 to 19 says, if you see your brother have need, and shut up the bowels of your compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in you?

1:27 - 1:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the peculiar responsibility upon churches in America, who have been abundantly blessed, to engage in the communion of goods and meet material necessities for other churches.

Receiving a gift from poor saints in Pakistan is compared to wearing a garment given by a dear friend; it's more than just meeting a need, it's a communion with the love of the giver, illustrating the deeper joy of inter-church giving.

But the joy we have in knowing that we've helped to put facilities up, in which the people of God can meet. It's just like wearing a garment given to you by a dear friend. It's more than the fact that that garment helps you complete your wardrobe. Every time you wear it, there is a communion with the love of the one who put it on your back.

4:05 - 4:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask for help and seek counsel from others, recognizing that not all wisdom resides in your own eldership.

Martin states that if calling for help is cowardly, he hopes God will give pastors a 'baptism of holy cowardice,' emphasizing the humility and necessity of seeking counsel from others.

Well, I hope if calling for help is cowardly, God will give you a baptism of holy cowardice.

13:26 - 13:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask for help and seek counsel from others, recognizing that not all wisdom resides in your own eldership.

Martin recounts a recent church crisis where he was consulted, but he deferred to a former pastor closer to the situation, who then consulted with other experienced pastors. This illustrates the wisdom and grace in seeking and providing counsel through a network of proven experts.

The pastor in the church there in Virginia called and sought counsel and advice. Well, I didn't say, well, I think I'm competent to give it all to you. I said, look, I'm not as close to that situation as the former pastor. He knows the people you're dealing with.

13:50 - 14:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid a sectarian attitude while holding tenaciously to your distinctive convictions of conscience.

The idea of avoiding sectarianism while holding tenacious convictions is compared to being 'fat and skinny at the same time' or 'tall and short at one and the same time,' highlighting the perceived difficulty of this balance for some.

Some would say that's like exhorting a man to be fat and skinny at the same time. To be tall and short at one and the same time.

33:02 - 33:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid terminology which will unnecessarily offend or prejudice other brethren.

The term 'Calvinist' is described as being 'like holding up the proverbial red flag in front of a bull' for some visitors, illustrating why careful, less offensive terminology is sometimes necessary in public settings.

Because I never know whether we might have a visitor who's heard all kinds of crazy things about us as a church and to whom the word Calvinist is like holding up the proverbial red flag in front of a bull.

35:08 - 35:20 Read in full sermon