{"id":38474,"date":"2020-12-18T10:32:35","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T16:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/?p=38474"},"modified":"2020-12-18T10:32:35","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T16:32:35","slug":"church-undivided-new-curriculum-leads-churches-to-grow-in-love-faith-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/2020\/12\/18\/church-undivided-new-curriculum-leads-churches-to-grow-in-love-faith-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Church undivided\u2019: New curriculum leads churches to grow in love, faith, unity"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. LOUIS \u2013 <\/b>Bob Ingle says church unity is a bit like a kiss\u2014the actual experience is so much different than a description.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dictionary definition of a kiss is pretty mundane. But, if you\u2019ve ever experienced a kiss, you know it\u2019s far better than the definition.\u201d He says church unity is similar: \u201cYou can give a definition of unity but the experience is far sweeter and you know it when you have it and you know when you don\u2019t. And it\u2019s an awful thing when you don\u2019t.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Ingle, lead pastor at Waypoint Church in St. Charles, recently authored a book that serves as resource material for a new course on developing congregational unity \u2013 Church Undivided<\/i>. He says the book is necessary because he too often sees Christians get caught up in subjects that end up distracting and dividing the church from its evangelical mission. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNobody is dividing over stealing. Nobody is dividing over adultery. We\u2019re dividing over \u2018do we wear a hat in church?\u2019\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s reactions to the coronavirus pandemic, racial issues, and presidential campaign are recent examples, Ingle says, of issues that have divided and stressed believers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ingle says that often Christians tend to be \u201cblack\/white people\u201d who want clear answers. However, not every issue in a church has a clear \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 biblical answer. <\/span><\/p>\n

He points to 1 Corinthians 8 where controversy and division were fostered in a church over whether meat sacrificed to idols should be eaten by believers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Individual opinion varied because of each member\u2019s spiritual maturity and interpretation of Christian teaching, Ingle explains. Paul\u2019s response was surprising but practical.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul didn\u2019t give a \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 answer to whether believers should eat meat consecrated to idols. He gave a \u2018yes\u2019 and \u2018no\u2019 answer,\u201d Ingle says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Church Undivided<\/i> is written for pastors and lay people. It originated from a series of sermons Ingle preached several years ago at Waypoint. He says the unity sermons generated a great deal of discussion from church members on what next steps to take. The book helps points church leaders and members in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ingle says in church controversy over non-theological issues \u201cmature Christians need to grow in love. Immature Christians need to grow in faith. Both will grow in unity.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

He says that concept also confronts individuals about whether they want to be part of unifying or dividing the church. Believers should \u201cwant the gospel more than personal preferences.\u201d If an individual doesn\u2019t want that, they might be a weak believer no matter how long they\u2019ve been a Christian, he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Church Undivided<\/i> course is a no-cost, 7-week session beginning in January. Ingle hopes the book and teaching series will help churches to grow in demonstrating unity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The session starts with the biblical description and basis for church unity, then provides practical steps to applying it in a congregation. There\u2019s no cost for the series because a support website provides free resource materials for pastors and study groups. (The book, if used, is for sale, although Ingle says the online materials can be sufficient). <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for all believers who love the church,\u201d Ingle says of the series. Resource materials include sermon starters for pastors as well as discussion topics for small groups and Bible study classes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Several St. Louis area churches have signed up for the January teaching series, which will be facilitated by St. Louis Metro Baptist Association leaders Michael T. Byrd, Sr., and Jason\u00a0 <\/span>Zellmer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Byrd is Director of Church Relations and Faithful Men at the association; and, Zellmer is Director of Church Planting and Development.<\/span><\/p>\n

Byrd also helped plant Faith Community Bible Church in north St. Louis City and is the lead pastor there. The congregation is using the Church Undivided series in Sunday gatherings and online Bible studies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Zellmer is Director of Church Planting and Development for the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He pastors Redemption Road Church, Winfield, which is one of the churches he helped plant. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Church Undivided series \u201cis something that all MBC churches can participate in,\u201d Byrd says. \u201cno matter the size or context of our churches. Unity is something that we must pursue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information about the book and teaching series, visit the Church Undivided website at www.churchundivided.com or email hello@churchundivided.com.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pastor Bob Ingle says in church controversy over non-theological issues \u201cmature Christians need to grow in love. Immature Christians need to grow in faith. Both will grow in unity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":38476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[177,36,38,40,41,8,47,48,17,21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Church undivided\u2019: New curriculum leads churches to grow in love, faith, unity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pastor Bob Ingle says in church controversy over non-theological issues \u201cmature Christians need to grow in love. 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