Welcome to South! We're glad you joined us today! Below you will find some sermon notes and Bible passages, to help you follow along with Pastor Steve's message today in a series we are in entitled "Better Together." We hope you will be encouraged by what is taught today, and we hope that you will come back next week. If you want to see/listen to the previous messages, you can find our YouTube channel, South Baptist Church of Flint, MI.

Recap of "Better Together" Series

Week 1 - What is the church? An assembly of individuals, called out of spiritual darkness and into the light of Christ.· A living organism empowered by the Holy Spirit and led by its head, Christ.
Week 2 - Why do I need the church? Because it can serve as a contractor to help us build the framework of our spiritual lives that begins with the foundation of a personal connection to Christ.
Week 3 - Why does the church need me? Because the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to believers that He intends for us to use in building up the body of Christ – the living organism connected to and led by our Head – Jesus Christ.

Today is What if I have been hurt by the church?

Church Hurt - a new term, but an old practice

“An emotional, psychological, spiritual or even physical harm occurring within a religious context where the betrayal is intensified because the perpetrator claims to represent God.”

Hurt in Scripture

1. Hurt – “grieved or distressed” – Romans 14:15: Paul instructs the church regarding food choices, saying, “For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. A Christian can hurt someone by being selfish or careless – not even malicious. In a similar passage in 1 Cor. 8, Paul says that a believer can wound (hit or trip up) the conscience of another brother or sister.
2. Harm – “to treat badly” (intentional?)- 2 Timothy 4:14: Near the end of his life, Paul notes that “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds”.
3. Wrong – unjustly mistreated – Philemon 18 “But if he has wronged you in any way... charge that to my account”
4. Mistreat – to insult, abuse – Acts 14:5 – a plot against Paul and Barnabas to mistreat them. (Religious & secular leaders)
5. Defraud –1 Thes. 4:6 – even consensual (let alone non-consensual) physical intimacy activities outside of marriage is exploiting someone else for your own gain.

The Treatment: Steps toward Healing

1. Go to the Bible and/or find someone to help you go to the Word to decide on your next steps.
2. Approach God’s authority structures with a submissive heart.
3. Do what Jesus said when there is hurt.
4. Believe that God’s plan for you is good.