The Devil’s Diabolical Shame Cycle

God’s Freeing Grace-Based Journey

Satan Knows a United Fellowship is a Potent Threat to his Kingdom.Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the

apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

3 Types of People1) You have never experienced & are never

planning to experience deep, relational, & missional unity with other believers.

2) You have experienced this type of unity with other believers AND seen it come under attack.

3) You are experiencing this unity, but have not YET experienced the devil’s divisive schemes.

What is Division? NOT primarily evidenced through the

existence of different churches and denominations.

NOT vigorous, passionate debate among a church over methods & non-essentials.

Acts 15:36-41 Division IS unresolved, alienating, sinful

behavior that polarizes a church and distracts us from our mission.

Eph. 4:26-32; 1 Cor. 1:10; Philippians 1:27

How does Division Impact a Church?1) Division dams the flow of

outreach.

How does Division Impact a Church?1) Division dams the flow of outreach.2) Division demoralizes all involved.

“In division, Satan is able to orchestrate the best of all worlds for his side. Christians not only stop pursuing their mission of building the kingdom of God, they actually begin destroying each other. The lingering effects of division can go on for years, and those left in the church usually feel a spiritual depression that inhibits ministry efforts. Distrust and cynicism afflict leaders and workers, making it more difficult to love from the heart.”

-- Dennis McCallum in Satan and His Kingdom

How does Division Impact a Church?1) Division dams the flow of outreach.2) Division demoralizes all involved.3) Division hamstrings leadership.

“If a significant group becomes divided from the leadership of the church, or worse if the leadership itself becomes divided, the work of the church comes to a halt. Leaders must supply clear direction for the church, and the people must trust and respond to their leadership – or we are a rabble.” -- Gary DeLashmutt

How does Division Impact a Church?1) Division dams the flow of outreach.2) Division demoralizes all involved.3) Division hamstrings leadership.

DIVISION DESTROYS A CHURCH!!!

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

How Can We Defeat Division?1) Be Proactive.

Passionately love & serve one another Extend life together Get in the Word…together Monitor your soul & words Initiate the hard talk with others Follow leadership Forgive & bear with one another

2) Be Courageous Discipline & expel the divisive when necessary

A UNITED FELLOWSHIP

A DIVIDED FELLOWSHIP

Loves being together

Tolerates one another

Informal & personal Surface formality

Focused on engaging outsiders

Whine, complain, & wonder why more

don’t comeLeadership majors on majors & minors

on minors

Leadership majors on minors & minors

on majorsCalls people beyond

divisivenessDefined by

divisiveness

Culture of Grace Culture of Self-Righteousness