Lessons Learned

1
Lessons Learned Reclaiming the good Rejecting
the bad
Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid
every kind of evil 1Thess 521-22
2
Lessons learned is one of seven topics in our
series of sermons dealing with our past to be
preached across London

• What have we learned from
• our past?
• Things that were definitely good, that we do not
  want to lose
• Things that were definitely not good, that we
  should reject
• Topics requiring further study, prayer and
  discussion

• Conversion
• Marriage and dating
• Financial giving
• Discipleship, mentoring and small groups
• Womens role
• Lessons learned and practices to be rejected
• Membership expectations

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid
every kind of evil 1Thess 521-22
3
Lessons from the Lion King

• Do not forget who you are
• But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
  a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that
  you may declare the praises of him who called you
  out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once
  you were not a people, but now you are the people
  of God once you had not received mercy, but now
  you have received mercy. 1 Peter 29-12
• The past can hurt
• We can either run from it or learn from it

4
Lessons from Philippians 32-14

• To put confidence in the flesh is rubbish
• The only thing that matters is Jesus is Lord
• We cannot bring about our own righteousness
• We are not the finished article
• The goal is to become more like Christ
• The Christian life is one of growing and maturing

5
Things this sermon will and will not do
It will...
It will not...
Be helpful in bringing a bigger picture and some
clarity to the firestorm of 2003 Reclaim some
of the good renounce some of the bad practices
of the past Focus on issues which were the
broad experience in the church Focus on the root
causes and lessons we can learn Help identify
the biblical issues, not just what we did and
didnt like
List every bad or good thing which happened
Make judgments about the integrity or hearts of
individuals Throw the baby out with the
bathwater Address unresolved issues of specific
sin in personal relationships Answer every
question and issue
6
Lessons from the book of ActsWhat is the nature
of church?

• A picture of the early Christians
• God working throughout
• Not a blueprint but a story
• Spirit principles for building church
• Restoration heritage

7
Acts 24247 The earliest Christians What is
the nature of church? What should church look
like?

• It is a spirit empowered community devoted to
  following Jesus Christ
• Devotion to scripture
• Devotion to prayer
• Sharing of life
• Fellowship
• Bringing of offerings
• Engaged in the mission

8
What is the nature of church? What should church
look like?

• It is a spirit empowered community devoted to
  following Jesus Christ
• Love for one another (John 1334-35)
• Obedience to Christ (1 John 23-5)
• Rejection of worldly principles / ethics (Romans
  122)
• Holiness (1 Peter 29-10)
• Life by the spirit (Galatians 516-26)

9
Things that were definitely good, that we dont
want to lose (I)

• Wholehearted commitment to God
• Go anywhere, give up anything
• Bible study prayer
• Spirit of restoration
• Financial sacrifice

10
Things that were definitely good, that we dont
want to lose (II)

• Commitment to helping each other be the best we
  can be for God
• Open confession of sin
• Training raising up leaders
• Help with marriage, parenting, family
• Changed lives
• Close friendships
• Caring for the weak and the wandering
• Vibrant fellowship

11
Things that were definitely good, that we dont
want to lose (III)

• Love for the lost A heart for the mission
• Great Bible discussions
• Lots of people invited
• Visionary spirit and powerful preaching
• All nations
• Uncompromising
• God added to our number
• Many people became Christians
• Many lives changed
• Many Churches planted

12
Things that were definitely good, that we dont
want to lose (IV)

• Churches Planted from London
• Churches in 14 cities within the UK Ireland
• Singapore, 50 churches in Asia Pacific
• Bangalore (India), 50 churches in India, Sri
  Lanka, Pakistan
• Lagos (Nigeria), 11 churches in Nigeria
• Accra (Ghana)
• Church Plantings assisted by London
• Sydney (Australia), now 12 churches in Australia,
  New Zealand, Fiji Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong,
  Reykjavik (Iceland), Milan (Italy), Warsaw
  (Poland), plus many more

13
Things that were definitely not good, that we
should reject (I)1 Corinthians 117-25 The cross
makes the wisdom of the world foolish

• Overemphasis on man, process and results
  (especially numerical growth) rather than
  focusing primarily on Jesus and the cross
• Heavy accountability
• Worldly competitiveness
• Elevation of goals
• Shallow view of spiritual growth
• Valuing certain kinds of people more than others
• Over exaltation of leadership.
• Personal fruit

14
Things that were definitely not good, that we
should reject (II)1 Corinthians 117-25 The
cross makes the wisdom of the world foolish

• Lack of depth in teaching and preaching.
• Some biblical examples treated as binding
  commands
• Narrow focus of teaching
• Failure to distinguish between church practice
  and biblical requirements

15
Things that were definitely not good, that we
should reject (III)(Philippians 21-11) The foot
of the cross is level ground

• Arrogance and judgemental attitude
• One true church, We are the Kingdom of God
• Failure to listen
• Confusion of unity with uniformity
• Failure to learn from external expertise
• Inappropriate use of the term fall away

16
Things that were definitely not good, that we
should reject (IV)(Philippians 21-11) The foot
of the cross is level ground

• Overbearing or harsh behaviour in discipling
  relationships
• Advice treated as binding command
• Compulsion to give financially
• Lack of respect for confidentiality
• Marshalling outward behaviour rather than
  training the heart
• Harshness

17
Things that were definitely not good, that we
should reject (V)(Philippians 21-11) The foot
of the cross is level ground

• Failure to develop the leadership model as the
  church matured
• Allowing a clergy/laity divide to grow
• Valuing an overly narrow set of gifts and roles
  in leadership
• Unreasonable expectations to fix peoples lives /
  problems

18
Topics requiring further study, prayer and
discussion

• Discipling one another relationships
• Biblical leadership
• Restoring people
• Revisiting our study series
• Relationships with other churches
• Etc.,

19
Has your pendulum swung too far, or not far
enough?Personal heart check questions

• Freedom in Christ, or licence to sin? (Galatians
  51-13, Jude 4)
• Relatability or conformity with the world?
  (Romans 122)
• Personal conviction or pride? (James 46)
• Boundaries or walls? (Matthew 523-24, Luke
  627-36)
• Pleasing God or men? (Galatians 16-10)

20
Are we there yet?

• The destination (promised land) is heaven. We are
  not even in the departure lounge yet!
• However, in our imperfection and Gods perfection
  we are committed to
• The Cross
• The greatest commandment
• The Kingdom of God
• Worship and fellowship
• The Mission
• Discipling
• The need to continue learning, growing and
  adapting

21
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

• Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and
  perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
  before him endured the cross, scorning its
  shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
  throne of God. Consider him who endured such
  opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
  grow weary and lose heart.
• - Hebrews 121-3