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Elephant in the Living Room. Ignore it – It will go away Sunday, May 1, PM. Introduction. We use other phrases Skeletons in the closet The King has no clothes Shady family tree Ignore it – It will go away. Introduction. Many try to pretend a problem does not exist
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Elephant in the Living Room Ignore it – It will go away Sunday, May 1, PM
Introduction • We use other phrases • Skeletons in the closet • The King has no clothes • Shady family tree • Ignore it – It will go away
Introduction • Many try to pretend a problem does not exist • We hope the problem will just disappear. • Are there elephants in your life?
Grecian Widows • Apostles were busy • Preaching, teaching, baptizing • Doing the command of Jesus • Greek speaking widows were neglected, ignored • They were an elephant in the early church’s living room
Achan’s Elephant • Joshua 7:10-11 • Achan stole – gold, silver, garment from Jericho • The spoils belong to God • Achan hid the goods under his tent
Achan’s Elephant • Achan pretended that everything was OK • The next day Israel lost 36 men is a battle • Why? There is sin in the camp • There is an elephant under the tent
Elephants in the Church • Doctrinal Issues • Salvation – baptism • Worship – Music, Communion, Giving • Fellowship with error • Moral Issues • Abortion • Homosexual issues
Elephants in the Church • Internal Stress • Long-term grudges • Personality clashes • Strong Opinions
Home / Family / Marriage • Are there any elephants in your living room? • Every family has a “horse theif” in the family tree • We say, “Skeletons in the closet”
Home / Family / Marriage • Today there are family elephants • Wild Teens – Drugs, Stealing, Truancy, Fornication • Parents – Argue, Alcohol, Violence, Sexual Abuse • Marriage – “On the rocks”
Repentance • Matthew 18:17 - And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Repentance • Matthew 18:17 • If he refuses to hear you - - • They are ignoring the elephant • If he refuses to repent - - • He has an elephant in the living room
Salvation • Some think they don’t need salvation • I’m a good person • Hebrews 2:3a - how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?