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INTERNET ADDICTIONS: PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. Brother-to-Brother Encouragement Definitions: Scriptural and Secular The Need for Prevention and Treatment Assisting Others in Breaking the Cycle of Addiction Charts and Graphs from “Alcohol Problems in Intimate Relationships” I Thessalonians
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INTERNET ADDICTIONS:PREVENTION AND TREATMENT Brother-to-Brother Encouragement Definitions: Scriptural and Secular The Need for Prevention and Treatment Assisting Others in Breaking the Cycle of Addiction Charts and Graphs from “Alcohol Problems in Intimate Relationships” I Thessalonians Brother-to Brother Encouragement
Encouragement: I ThessaloniansThe Command • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
The Encouragement • 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NIV)10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
The Love and Concern of Brotherly Encouragement • 1 Thessalonians 3:2-5 (NIV)2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
The Joyful Witness of Brotherly Encouragement • 1 Thessalonians 3:7-10 (NIV)7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
The Eternal Consequences of Encouragement • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV)16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Our Christian Attitude Towards Encouragement: Offering Encouragement and Receiving Encouragement • 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 (NIV)11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. • 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Road Blocks Fear of the task Busyness Not my job Confidentiality Fear that if I ask for help, I will be seen as weak and it will be a detriment to my ministry Others Opportunities We are so few A precious soul Every precious soul in the Kingdom of God Saving a brother to serve in the ministry Proactive in Christian love Reactive in Christian love Others WELS Pastors – Encouraging and Mentoring
Good of the Ministry • 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NIV) 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. • What principle of Christian Ministry is Paul describing here?
Good of the Ministry • 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV) 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. • How do you apply this to your ministry?
Good of the Ministry • 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NIV) 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. • How does the way Paul describes the practice of his ministry apply to you as you minister in God’s Kingdom?
Good of Your Ministry • 1 Timothy 3:1-3 (NIV) 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. • Key words: “Above Reproach…temperate, self-controlled, respectable….” • How does that apply to you as you serve in God’s Kingdom? • If you could change something about yourself as a servant in God’s Kingdom, what would it be? • What happens to the ministry of a pastor when there is scandal and offense caused by his actions?
Application -- Love for souls • How do the two thoughts, • “the good of the ministry” and • “the good of your ministry” end up being the same thing? • Why is this important as you consider your actions?
Addictions -- Comparing • Two Approaches • Abuse and Addiction
Two Approaches • God’s Word -- God’s Approach • Psychology -- Human Approaches • Both have validity • Not equal in authority • But both have a usefulness
When Struggling With Problems, Abuse of Substances or Activities, and Addictions • God’s Word is our guide and authority • It sets boundaries • It defines rules • It offers forgiveness • It promises hope • Psychology is a tool • It gives us ideas • It outlines scientifically researched methods of treatment that can be very useful