Kingdom Building Seminar | 2013 "Conflict and Unity in God's Church" November 9, 2013 at Hillsborough Baptist Church, NB Talk: The Road Ahead Speaker: Rev. Dr. John Weiler To see the Slides from the presentation go to: Sponsored by the Albert Association of Convention Baptist Churches (www.acbaptist.ca) Bio: John was born in Ontario and received Christ as Lord and Saviour through the witness of a godly mother and Christ-centered Church. Believing God called him to pastoral ministry he prepared at Ontario Bible College (Toronto, ON) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, ILL, USA). John has served as Senior Pastor of churches in Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He served the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches as a Regional Minister in Eastern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for over 12 years. After retiring from full time ministry in Dec. 2011 John has served as interim pastor in three churches. John married Jane in 1967. Their daughter is married to Geoff and they are serving in St Martins Baptist Church.

2. Talk 2: The Road Ahead
Psalm 84:1-12 NIV
― 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

3. 4 Blessed
are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.

4. 9 Look
on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 LORD Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.‖

5. Introduction:
Who is a doorkeeper in their Church?
The theme verse of Church Doorkeepers is
Psalm 84:10
―I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
my God than dwell in the tents of the
wicked.‖


6. How many Pastors are ―Doorkeepers‖?

There are many ministries that a Pastor can
hand off….

There are three ministries that a Pastor should
not hand off…
1. The Vision of the Church
2. The Health of the Body
3. Being a ―Doorkeeper in the house of
the Lord.‖

7. Every Christian should be a “Doorkeeper
in the house of the Lord”.
We should all be attentive to
Three Doors
1. The Back Door
2. The Side Door
3. The Front Door

8. I. Close the Back Door

One way to do this is to make sure our church is united.

What pastors and deacons can do when disunity threatens
your church:
1) Avoid situations that cause arguments.
2 Tim. 2:23-24 ―Don’t have anything to do with foolish
and stupid arguments, because you know they
produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not
quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able
to teach, not resentful.‖

9. 2) Warn those causing trouble that their negative
words hurt others.
2 Timothy 2:14 says, ―Keep reminding them of these
things. Warn them before God against quarreling
about words. It is of no value and only ruins those who
listen.‖
3) Teach troublemakers to repent.
2 Timothy 2:25-26 says, ―Those who oppose him [the
pastor] he must gently instruct, in the hope that God
will grant them repentance leading them to a
knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their
senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has
taken them captive to do his will.‖

10. 4) Make a plea for harmony and unity.
Phil. 4:2 Paul said, ―I plead with Euodia and I plead
with Syntyche to agree with each other in the
Lord.‖
5) Rebuke with authority if necessary.
Titus 2:15-3:1, ―These, then, are the things you
should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all
authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Remind
the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is
good.‖

11. 6) Remove those causing division from the church if
they ignore two warnings.
Titus 3:10-11 says, ―Warn a divisive person once,
and then warn him a second time. After that, have
nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such
a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.‖
cf. Prov. 6:16-19

12. Let me share some other ways we all can make sure
the back door is closed.
1) Prayer!!!
2) Strong Loving Relationships
Wounded by God’s People – pg. 72
3) Feed the Sheep
2 Timothy 4:2 ―Preach the word; be prepared in
season and out of season; correct, rebuke and
encourage—with great patience and careful
instruction.‖

13. II. Crack Open the Side Door

Article:―How to Open Your Church to
Your Community and Vice Versa‖

Book: Side Door by Charles Arn

14. Some Examples of “Side Door” Ministries
Hockey Night –Salisbury, Uplands, Hillside
 Mom to Mom
 Youth Ministry – The Fundy Youth; Power Up –
Glow Party – over 300
 Band of Brothers – Fishing, Hunting, Golf,
Bowling
 Exercise or Running Group
 Craft Sale – Every Christmas
 Trunk or Treat
 Immunization


15. Jesus ―Side Door‖ Ministries:
Remember Nicodemus –– John 3
 Remember the Woman at the Well – John 4
 What about Zacchaeus – Luke 19
 Listen to Luke 5: 27-32.


16. III. Throw Open Wide the Front Door.
It is Sunday Morning and you are
coming through the front door of your
church.
 What do you see?
 One more very important thing to
consider while you are at the front door.
The People


17. The Worship Service is over and the Christians
enter the mission field.
 What is your church doing to help them reach
the lost? Some ideas….
 Alpha
 Just Walk Across the Room – a training course
by Bill Hybels
 H2O: A Journey of Faith – 7 Sessions
 The Way of the Master – 8 Sessions
 Becoming a Contagious Christian – 6 Sessions
 My Hope Canada – Billy Graham.
 A Yearly Evangelistic Campaign.


18. 
Resource: ―Deep and Wide: Creating
Churches Unchurched People Love to
Attend‖ by Andy Stanley
Chapter 9 – Creating Irresistible
Environments
Chapter 13 – Mission and Model

19. Conclusion:

Great First Century New Testament Churches:
The churches at Jerusalem, Antioch, Thessalonica,
Philadelphia

Rev. 3:8 ―To the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write:‗These are the words of him who is holy and true,
who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can
shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know
your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open
door that no one can shut. I know that you have little
strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied
my name.‘‖