Caregiving Week

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CaregivingWeek 1The Theology of Care

• A Stephen Ministry Study Fellowship
• Mark Bentz
• bentzmr_at_jmu.edu

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THE Theology of Care

• Matt 2236-40
• "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in
  the Law?" Jesus replied " 'Love the Lord your
  God with all your heart and with all your soul
  and with all your mind. This is the first and
  greatest commandment. And the second is like it
  'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and
  the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
• 2 Corinthians 13-4
•  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
  Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the
  God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
  troubles, so that we can comfort those in any
  trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
  received from God.
• James 127
• Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and
  faultless is this to look after orphans and
  widows in their distress and to keep oneself from
  being polluted by the world.

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That is Glorious!!!!

• But what does it look like?

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Three Texts to Ponder

• Luke 1025-37
• Good Samaritan
• Acts 61-4
• Distribution of Bread to Widows
• I Timothy 59-10
• Care of Widows

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Luke 1025-37 Responsibilities of the Individual

• Jesus is addressing an individual
• As a Priesthood of Believers we have a
  Responsibility
• Understanding doesnt Absolve the Responsibility
  to Obey the Command to Love.
• Deceived teacher convinced himself that he didnt
  need to Do.
• Revealed in us differently as our Spiritual
  Gifts, Calls, Passions, Persons are different.
• Not an Intellectual Game, but the Hope of a
  Living Salvation (Faith without works is dead)

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Acts 61-4 A Snapshot in History

• Good Samaritans are Going and Doing A
  GOOD THING!!!
• Striving as Individuals was doing Good, yet
  Lacking
• Due to sin? Lack of organization? Lack of ???
  Maybe just the nature of scale/scope?
• Responsibilities of the Body
• Introduction of Godly Leadership and Organization
  helped meet needs.
• Gathering the Likeminded under Godly Leadership
  A BETTER THING!
• Individual Team
• Task (Its a guy thing) Relationship
• Efficient Inefficient
• Self is Unchallenged Self is Challenged
• My Way Right Way Many Counselors
• No Accountability Accountability
• Isolation Community
• Burnout Help Respite
• Gifts of One Person Gifts of Entire Team
• Im Fine Sanctifying Irritation

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I Timothy 59-10

• Responsibility of Church Leadership
• Establish Policy that Expects/Encourages
  Godliness
• Consider this Widow An Investment in Care
• While Able she invested her life in others
• Investing in others develops Relationships
• Relationships provide the context for the Best of
  Care when Unable.
• An Honor and Privilege to Care for a Loving Friend

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Common Denominator

• Redemptive Responses to Gen 3 Relational
  Brokenness
• A Samaritan Experientially Understands Rejection
• And is moved with compassion
• The Brokenness that Excluded the Grecian Jews
• Godly Leadership United Servants to Higher
  Standard
• The need to make policy to care for widows
• Structure Encouraging Faithfulness Growth
• A Widow - Hopeless and Unable
• RELATIONSHIPS Provide Ability for the Unable

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Redeeming Present Realities

• All of the above are redemptive remedies to the
  realities of our present brokenness.
• We were Created for RELATIONSHIP to walk in
  Perfect Peace with both God and man.
• We Live in a Fallen World of Broken Relationship
  with both God and Man.

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The Coin of Care It Has Two Sides

• Heads Care provides practical helps,
  encouragements and aid to the recipient.
• Tails Care provides a means for discipleship,
  righteous struggle, discipline, and growth for
  the giver. (Eph 416)

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How Does Care Work at CPC?

• What aspect of Care?
• In MANY ways CPC is doing GREAT!
• In Many ways CPC can Improve!
• Rather than Evaluating the Status - Are You
  Interested in Changing it?
• Requires an investment
• But Not isolated investment

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Four Relationships at CPCNot Mutually Exclusive

• Serving
• Word/Deed Investing in Others
• Resting from Weariness
• Formal/Informal - recover, reflect and reenergize
• Healing from Woundedness
• Physical/Emotional/Spiritual
• Sin Injury Inflicted by Self or Another
• If you havent been wounded yet, if you live long
  enough, you will be.
• Relationally Detached
• New Believers Discovering Gifts/Passions
  (Rookies)
• New to CPC Discover where G/P Fit (Free Agents)
• Inactive Members Resources to be Employed
  (Bench)

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Luke 1025-37 Good Samaritan

• All CPC members have identified themselves with
  the Name of God and thus have the
  obligation/opportunity to Go and Do Likewise
• This will look differently for each of us
  according to our abilities and gifts

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Acts 61-4

• Joining the Likeminded
• MOPS, Through the Roof, Accountability groups,
  Mens Min, ESL, Womens Min, Stephen Min, Youth
  Min, Nursery, Childrens min, Book Club, Home
  Groups, Hispanic Min, Prayer Chain, Visitations,
  Missions, . . .
• What Group of Likeminded would you like to
  participate in? Bereavement Support? Terminal
  Illness Support? EE? Soup Kitchen? Auto
  Maintenance? EncouragaCare?
• Employing your Spiritual Gifts in the Arena of
  Kingdom Passions

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I Timothy 59-10

• Policy Structure is New to CPC
• Requires self-sacrifice and a willingness to
  follow those leading
• Structure does Not Equate to an Absence of
  Relationship or an Absence of the Spirit.
• Relationship without structure can be
  ineffective.
• Structure without relationship can be mechanical.
• Care takes Both
• Especially as CPC grows

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Care is about Relationships

• Our Relationship with God has real ramifications
  on our relationship with man.
• Gods Care for us is not an end to itself, but
  has the purpose of equipping us to care for
  others.

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The Battle

• Our culture and sinfulness would have us seek to
  be cared for by others.
• And be disgruntled if it doesnt work as we
  think.
• The Scripture would have us seek to care for
  others.
• And be amazed that God would invite/include us to
  participate.
• What about You?