how church's make decisions [part 2]

How Churches Make Decisions

Part 2

Mark Ciampa 1

Questions Isn’t ‘inference’ really ‘necessary inference’?

Is the abbreviation ‘CEIS’ common?

Isn’t 1 Cor. 16:1 a command?

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How Churches Make Decisions

Not

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Not Not lecture Not free-for-all of what everyone thinks

Is open study from Scriptures and discussion for WCC

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Not Not bashing of what other groups think

Not overlook incorrect interpretations

Is examination of different views

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Not Not easy Not all agree Not setting to feel intimidated

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Not Not WCC official position

Not to create replacement checklist

Not matter 7

Outline Flawed method

How decisions were made by NT churches

Principles for WCC to consider

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How Churches Make Decisions

Observations About “Us”

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Observations We say that the reason churches

are different is because only we follow the Bible completely and accurately – But that is a huge assumption!

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Observations We function like everything has

already been decided – But not always the case

When Bible principles applied to different cultures and even current situations there can be different outcomes

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Observations We want an approval checklist of

what we can do – But there is not one in NT

We focus on what we are allowed to do – But NT shows process of how churches determined and decided

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Observations We want predetermined structure

– But that’s not always what God gives (1 Cor. 14:26-33)

Makes us the deciders

Eliminates His Spirit working

Creates passive members

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Observations We very concerned about not

doing the wrong thing – But Jesus condemns for not doing anything (Matt. 25:31-46)

I am unable to find where a group was condemned for doing a good deed in the “wrong” way

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Observations We want to make changes – But

we cannot undo a lifetime of teaching overnight

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How Churches Make Decisions

Questions

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Question If church decisions are not made by CEIS, then how do churches decide what to do?

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Question We ask and trust God to guide us in our daily lives as we make decisions based on events; should we do the same for church?

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Question Was the fluid nature of how NT churches made decisions a result of no written Bible or an example of how God directs His people?

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How Churches Make Decisions

Church Decision Making in Acts

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Spirit’s Work In Acts

Selects (13:1-3)

Forbids (16:6-7)

Compels (20:22)

Warns (21:10-14)

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What Did Not Happen

Not local apostle in each church to dictate

Not directed by Jerusalem church

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Examples Acts 1:15-26

Acts 4:23-31

Acts 6:1-6

Acts 9:26-30

Acts 11:1-27

Acts 15:1-41 23

Questions What do they have in common?

What is different between them?

Can anything be applied to us at WCC?

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Acts 15:25 So we all agreed to chose some men

It seemed good to us becoming of one mind 25

One Mind In prayer (1:14)

Continued (2:46)

Prayed (4:24)

On Solomon’s porch (5:12)

Rushed to Stephen (7:57)

Listened (8:6) 26

One Mind To Herod (12:20)

Set on Paul (18:12)

Rushed into theatre (19:29)

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How Churches Make Decisions

Part 2

Mark Ciampa 28