Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 1

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 1 Review the Divine Principles of Corporate Health

Introduction Thank you for your sacrifice of time in participating. Our purpose is to review the history of our church. Our goal is to hear what Jesus has been saying to our church. We want to understand what happened in the past to gain God’s blessing for the future.

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 Discuss: What were the elements of Commendation, Challenge and Correction for each Church in question? See Page 10 of the Participant Workbook

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 What can we learn from these letters as a group? • That it is the corporate whole that is addressed and not individuals. What are the implications of this for the way Jesus looks at our church? How does this differ from the way we might see things?

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 • The Lord takes a different tone with each of the churches. Why is Jesus so passionate about the condition of each local body?

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 • Jesus is immediately aware of everything that goes on in each of His churches. To what degree do you find that thought comforting or disturbing?

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 • The Lord used the history of each church (what had gone on in their midst) as the basis for what He said to them. Why might it be important to understand the history of our church?

1. 1 Review the Seven Letters to the Churches in Rev. 2 -3 Each letter follows the same structure. The Lord highlighted Commendable things, Challenging things and things needing Correction in His letters to the churches. The goal of this seminar is to hear more clearly what the Lord is saying to our church.

Ground Rules We are a body and we all share a measure of responsibility for what goes on in our church. I Corinthians 12: 14 -16 What does the rock represent?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read quote (a) aloud on page 11 of Participant’s workbook, “The difference between success and us. . . ” Discuss: What do you think about the statement that the Lord does not let much happen that is good in a church until historic corporate wounds receive attention? How much do you think these statements relate to our church?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read quote (b) aloud on pages 11 -12 of Participant’s workbook and discuss: How do you feel about this statement? Does our church burn out its leaders? To what degree is this an issue with us?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read quote (c) aloud on page 12 of your workbook and discuss: It the last sentence something we can relate to in our church? Do you feel we are stuck and if so, how long have you felt that way?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read aloud quote (d) on pg. 12 in the Participant workbook and then discuss: Historically how comfortable and effective has our church been at restoring broken and or wounded parts of the body? To what degree would you say we have been going around the mountain?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read aloud quote (e) on page 13 of Participant’s workbook and discuss: What were some of the things the author noted that were not the heart of the matter? What are some things going on in our church which might be symptoms of a deeper problem?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read aloud quote (f) and discuss: Where are the areas we currently see corporate pain occurring in our church?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read (g) aloud and discuss: After reading the book, to what extent can you buy into that statement? Any guesses as to what God discovered when He looked into our corporate heart?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read quote (h) and discuss: How well are we currently reaching our mission and vision objectives? How long has it been since we could say we did reach them as a church?

1. 2 Review Key Passages from Healing the Heart of Your Church Read quote (i) on pg. 14 aloud and discuss: Can we dare to believe mountains will move for us? How willing are you to believe that God can take what we have here and do something unexpected if we listen to His voice and do what He says?

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 2 Survey your Church’s Spiritual Health History

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Ø The Bad News: God holds present leaders accountable for the failure of previous leaders. Read 2 Samuel 21: 14 then note vs. 1 How long did the famine last before David sought the Lord? How willing was God to reveal the problem behind the famine?

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Ø 2 Sam. 2: 1 Continued Was the famine due to something David had done? How was the famine a symptom of a deeper problem?

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Ø Read aloud 2 Samuel 21: 2 What insight do we get from the end of vs. 2 about Saul’s motive for killing the Gibeonites? Was it good or bad? How was it described?

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Ø The Good News: Current leaders can act as a mediatorial authority on behalf of a past leader’s sin. Review 2 Samuel 21: 3 -4 and discuss: What was David endeavoring to do in vs. 3? What does the Gibeonites initial response in vs. 4 suggest about an offended party’s initial reaction to an offer of reconciliation?

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Ø Review vs. 12 -14 and discuss: What does David’s respectful treatment of the bones of Saul suggest about the way he viewed Saul in spite of his sin? How might this relate to us? According to the end of vs. 14, prior to the remedy of the situation, what was God’s disposition toward prayer for the nation?

2. 1 Review 2 Samuel 21: 1 -14 Until we remedy past offenses in the history of our church the Lord will keep us under His discipline and His blessing will be limited. The good news is that as soon as David remedied Saul’s sin, God’s blessing returned.

2. 2 Develop you Historical Timeline What were the Blessings? What were the Challenges? What were the Crises? In each era of your church’s history.

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 3 Identify Your Church’s Symptomatic Pattern(s) of Pain.

“Pain is the megaphone of God. ” C. S. Lewis

3. 1 Review Matthew 23: 29 -32 Ø Discuss: In verses 29 -30, what kind of connection did Jesus see between the Pharisees and the previous generations that murdered the prophets? Why did he pronounce a “Woe” on them because of it? What does the Pharisees’ statement in vs. 30 suggest about their self opinion?

3. 1 Review Matthew 23: 29 -32 In verse 32, what does Jesus anticipate they will do in this statement? Why does Jesus say, “Fill up the measure of the guilt of your fathers? Do you think we might struggle similarly to see our connection with things transpiring in our church’s history? What do you believe we should do about it?

3. 1 Review Matthew 23: 29 -32 Unless you take responsibility for the sins committed by previous generations of leaders through honest public repentance and restitution takes place where there have been injustices and injuries, the pattern will continue until someone recognizes and breaks the pattern. Participant’s workbook pg. 32

3. 2 Focus on the crises in your church’s history. You will focus primarily on the crises that run through each era as these are the areas where Christ has placed your corporate pain. The principle is simple; He puts pain where the Body has a problem. He keeps the pain in those places, repeating itself often increasing in severity and frequency, until He finally gets your attention. Participant’s workbook pg. 32

3. 2 Focus on the crises in your church’s history. You should consider the nature of Christ’s communication to your church. He is not hiding what He wants you to know. He wants you to see it and understand it clearly. He makes it simple – the pain is where the problem is historically.

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 4 Diagnose the Root of Your Corporate Health Problem.

Review If we agree that God keeps taking His people through similar circumstances until we learn the lessons He has for us, and that we will not make meaningful ministry progress until we hear and respond to what He says to us, then it is imperative to see how the church’s conflicts relate to an underlying unresolved root problem.

Figure 1 Needs to be inserted from page 40/35

4. 1 Inductive Study of Haggai It is to this blessing point to which your church aspires.

4. 1 Inductive Study of Haggai Ø The Sticking Point (Read Haggai 1 -11) What were the problems the prophet addressed in vs. 1 -4? How does Haggai describe the condition of the house of the Lord in vs. 4 & 9? What advice does the leadership of the nation receive from the prophet in vs. 7 -8? What does God use to get their corporate attention in vs. 6 & 9 -11? How does that dynamic relate to our church?

4. 1 Inductive Study of Haggai Ø The Turning Point (Read Haggai 1: 12 -15) How do the people respond to God? With whom did the response start and why is this significant? How is God involved in the response of the people and their leaders?

4. 1 Inductive Study of Haggai Ø The Turning Point Continued (Read Haggai 2: 1 -9) What encouragements does the Lord give the people? (vs. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9) How do those encouragements relate to our situation as a church?

4. 1 Inductive Study of Haggai Ø The Blessing Point (Read Haggai 2: 10 -19) How does God describe the previous work of their hands? How does God say this will change? (vs. 16 -19) Summary

4. 2 Identify the Heart of the Matter Jesus does not make the message complicated, though pain sometimes clouds our ability to perceive it. The heart of the matter is in the places He has put your corporate pain through the years – He puts pain where something is wrong. Pg. 39 Participants Workbook

Five Ways to Identify the Heart of the Matter Ø Review the Crises. Is there an underlying common denominator to the crises your church has experienced?

Five Ways to Identify the Heart of the Matter Ø Listen for a Key Story Is there a significant story from your church’s history that unlocks the heart of the matter?

Five Ways to Identify the Heart of the Matter Ø Hinge Event(s) In the history of your church is there a point where your ministry suddenly went from fruitful to frustrating? What happened at that hinge point that the Lord might not have been pleased with?

Five Ways to Identify the Heart of the Matter Ø How did the church start? What type of birth did the church have? Was it under healthy circumstances or unhealthy? Was it born under circumstances the Lord might be displeased about?

Five Ways to Identify the Heart of the Matter Ø Connect the dots What attitudes, dispositions, actions or lack of action ties your various crises together? Though you may not know what the original wounding was, if there is a consistent pattern of pain in the history of your church you can project backwards and identify the character of the original problem.

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 5 Determine the Prescription for Corporate Healing.

5. 1 Review Revelation 2: 1 -7 Ø Imagine you are the new pastor called to the church in Ephesus ten years after they received this letter from the Lord. What would be some of your concerns about the church? As a pastor, how important might it be to know the history of the church you are leading? If the folks in Ephesus had not respond to the letter from Jesus, what would you do as the new pastor? What do you think would happen if the church chose to ignore the letter Jesus sent them?

Review Revelation 2: 1 -7 Ø The Five elements of each letter as reflected in the letter to the Ephesians • • • Salutation Clear Commendation Constructive Criticism Crucial Counsel Promise to the Courageous

5. 2 Write a Letter from Jesus to Your Church Ø See Appendix 1 in the participant’s workbook titled: “What Would Jesus Say – to Our Church? ” Take 30 minutes to work on this as individuals. Read the letters among the group.

5. 3 Review Mediatorial Authority: Ezra and Nehemiah Ø The elements of Ezra’s prayer (Read Ezra 9: 5 - 15) Vs. 5 -6 – The spirit of humility Vs. 7 – Recognition of went on in the past. Vs. 8 – An acknowledgement of what they have come to see about themselves and the opportunity before them: “a brief moment of grace” and “a little reviving”. Vs. 9 – Recognition of God’s faithfulness even when they were in bondage.

5. 3 Review Mediatorial Authority: Ezra and Nehemiah Ø The elements of Ezra’s prayer (Read Ezra 9: 5 -15) Vs. 10 -11 – A general confession of sin. Vs. 12 -14 – A specific confession of sin. Vs. 15 – An acknowledgement of dependence on God.

5. 3 Review Mediatorial Authority: Ezra and Nehemiah Ø Nehemiah’s Prayer of Confession (Nehemiah 1) Vs. 1 -4 - Nehemiah grieves at the situation God’s people are in. Vs. 5 – He acknowledges the character of God. Vs. 6 – He confesses the sins of the people as if they were his own. Vs. 7 – He acknowledges sin in general and includes himself as part of those who have sinned.

5. 3 Review Mediatorial Authority: Ezra and Nehemiah Ø Nehemiah’s Prayer of Confession (Nehemiah 1) Vs. 9 – He claims God’s promise for restoration. Vs. 10 -11 – He asks God for compassion and takes action based on his prayers.

5. 4 Perform corporate prayer of repentance on a leadership level Once you have read together the letters from Jesus to your church and briefly reviewed some of the elements of the prayers of Ezra and Nehemiah move toward a time of open group prayer. Bring the heart of the matter before the Lord and pray together as the Spirit of God leads you.

5. 5 Identify past wounds which require restitution In the history of your church were there any events that occurred that upon reflection may require reconciliation with the people involved? In the history of your church were there any events that injured another party where restitution would be appropriate?

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 6 Commit to a Healthier Corporate Lifestyle.

6. 1 Continue to tie up loose ends If crises have occurred in the history of the church that need further attention, healing or closure, which leader will begin to address which crisis? After initial steps are taken to rectify outstanding wounds, what needs to be approved by the church leadership to actually implement the steps?

6. 2 Write your corporate covenant Ø A corporate covenant: Sets a new direction for future corporate behavior. Outlines the future behaviors to which you corporately aspire Gives you a standard to which you can call yourselves back to should you regress to old behaviors. Explains what you will do should you regress to old behaviors.

Healing the Heart of Your Church Session 7 Get Right with the Great Physician

Get Right with the Great Physician Your church’s public service. – Sometimes called a Solemn Assembly – Sometimes called a Reconciliation Service – Sometimes called a Corporate Renewal Service – It is the time where the church’s leaders take responsibility for what they discovered in the historical review exercising mediatorial authority and identificational repentance.

Get Right with the Great Physician Your church’s public service. – The congregation may also have a chance to respond with repentance as well. – The subject matter shared with the congregation must be handled with tact and yet it must not be passed over too lightly. – The service should be shaped to rectify things in your corporate history about which the Lord has disciplined your church.

Get Right with the Great Physician Your church’s public service – Involve as many leaders in the service as possible. Presents a united front on the conclusions to which you came. Presents a united front on the new spiritual direction of the church. If some leaders are not fully persuaded of the groups conclusions they should at least be willing to submit to the conclusions of the majority.

Get Right with the Great Physician Your church’s public service – Identify meaningful substantive symbols to use in the service. The symbol may represent some significant lesson learned in the process that you never again want to repeat. It may be a picture of the change you seek. It may be an action that demonstrates the sincerity of your church’s heart. You may want to use your corporate covenant as one of the symbols. Symbols such as these send a powerful message that something has changed in the heart of the church. Find your own. Be creative!

Get Right with the Great Physician 7. 1 Sample Solemn Assembly - Appendix 3 has a sample order of service. Allow the Holy Spirit to use your creativity to come us with your own unique version. Consider having it on a meaningful day of your church’s calendar. Let the service be shaped by the issues you faced in the historical review. Consider recording the service for posterity.

Get Right with the Great Physician 7. 2 Getting ready for the service – Set a date – Determine who needs to be invited (former members, staff, pastors) – Appropriate invitation written – Determine your corporate response to the Lord (What will you actually do during the service? ) – Determine who will do what for each part of the service.

Get Right with the Great Physician Getting ready for the service – Determine if a wider response is necessary and appropriate. To the community To other churches To denominational leaders. – Do you want the congregation to respond in some way? – You may want to encourage attendees to get right with anyone with whom they have outstanding issues with. Most will feel the need. Healing will result.

Conclusion It is so rare to see a church admit its faults publicly that many hearts will be touched. Even those visiting will be able to relate to what you are disclosing because they will likely have been in churches where similar problems occurred. Consider ways to further proliferate the new spirit of your church through the various programs of your church.

Conclusion The energy that was poured into keeping an unhealthy heart functioning will now be available to pursue, with new vigor and revived spirits, an outward focused vision. You can look for God’s blessing again. Whether you sense it or not what was written by the prophet Haggai long ago is unfolding in your midst. “Yet from this day on I will bless you. ” (Haggai 2: 19) Send us a summary of what God has done at www. blessingpoint. net. We’d love to hear your story.