November 27, 2016

Responding to Ministry Conflict: Debates on Doctrine, Part 1

Pastor: Pastor Marc Wragg Series: Responding to Ministry Conflict Topic: Conflict Passage: Matthew 12:1–14

As Jesus and His disciples traveled the road one Sabbath, the men picked heads of grain to satisfy their hunger. On the grounds that plucking the grain and separating it from the head amounted to reaping and winnowing, the Pharisees accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath, and the stage was set for a showdown between the traditions of man and the Word of God. Jesus’ response cut straight to the heart of the issue. His disciples were hungry, and caring for hungry men was the greater concern. What’s more, they were doing kingdom work, and the Sabbath was intended as a help to men, not a means of barring them from serving the purposes of God. This is how doctrinal disagreements cause division in the church. Men misinterpret or add to the biblical text, then proudly stand on their personal perspectives. How can you guard against ministry conflict? Commit to controlling your passions, submit to the authority of the Scriptures, and humbly evaluate every criticism to make sure that your opinions are a proper reflection of the truth.