Along with 300 plus churches in the Austin area, Gateway Church in Austin began a series called “Love Where You Live.” Robb Overholt spoke on “A Love Greater Than Offenses.”
Check out the Next Steps here:
Next Steps – A Love Greater Than Offenses
Consider a conversation with your life group, family over dinner, running partners, or neighbors using the questions and exercises.
Watch the message from John Burke here.
Listen to the message here:
Read the message outline here:
Confession: I need to get something off my chest… (tongue and cheek delivery)
“I have a difficult time… relationships are hard.. Why can’t be easier?”
Truth: Why can’t I get everyone on the same page as me?
>> If you give any relationship enough time and distance, it gets hard. We are designed for community but we drive each other nuts!
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
-Matt 18:15-17
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“IF” a brother or sister sins against you – circle “IF”
Jesus is a master of words, and he says “IF” – not “when.” – Just because you feel offended does not mean there has been an actual offense.
The head is full of space and our minds can race…
*VM for the 2nd time
*They haven’t called back and it’s been 22 min – no return text either.
*There was that thing last week… and they were wearing yellow… and they know I hate yellow.
Are you still open to the idea that you let your mind run wild? Maybe you have created an ordeal out of nothing?
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Person A, B, and C and the angles of Triangulation
*When A goes to C when they should go to B
*When B finds D because C won’t agree
*When C mistreats A because of what they heard from B
*etc. etc.
The affects on offices, neighborhoods, families… when we improperly involve others in our offenses.
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What if they don’t respond well?
– Involve a mediator or two with objectivity (find a truth teller that won’t favor either party
*Don’t tell me the truth, just tell me I’m right
*We know objective people know that there are two sides to every story
Sometimes friction can become glue and when it is survived, the bond is stronger than ever.
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Take it to the church?
Yes, when the previous steps have failed, find people believe that redemption is still possible.
*People who believe that because of what Christ accomplished, we can not only be restored
unto God, but we can also be restored unto others.
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If none of this works, treat them as you would a “pagan or a tax collector.”
*Finally, I can terminate this? Not so fast…
*How did Jesus, the author of this statement, treat “pagans and tax collectors?”
*They said, “He is a friend of sinners and tax collectors”
When you’ve done all of these things, there is nothing more you can do… so you can “let it go.”
These are the very steps of forgiveness.
Not a shortcut mind you, but a realistic road map to a love greater than offense.
