6

DEALING WITH PROBLEM PEOPLE

Chapter Theme

An effective way to attack anxiety in the church is to understand and minister to the problem groups in the church that Paul talked about in 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15.

Icebreaker

You feel sorry for someone at church or Bible study who perpetually seems fearful, worried, melancholy, and depressed. What could you do for that person? What might you recommend that person do for himself or herself?

Group Discovery Questions

1. What is one of the ways the church grows spiritually?

2. Give a summary description of the five problem groups Paul mentioned.

3. What happens when you help a worrier not to worry?

4. How are we to deal with the wayward? Explain how to do that.

5. What is the solution to anxiety?

6. Why are people who are anxious usually depressed?

7. What specifically helps the worried to participate in the adventure of life?

8. Fill in the blanks: The church grows when the _____ help take care of the _____.

9. How would the Lord have us respond to the wearisome?

10. What is one of the most difficult circumstances we face in church life? How are we to respond to it?

11. What is the bigger picture on attacking anxiety?

Personal Application Questions

1. Read Ephesians 5:27. How does Jesus Christ want to present the church to God? What responsibility does each church member have, then? What are you doing to help the church in that regard? How does your own life measure up? Are there any areas of your life that are married to the world? Name them. Confess them to God and repent of them. Make the commitment to keep your life unspotted by the world.

2. What are your plans for ministering to others in the next month? In the next year? In five years? In ten years? You may not be on the church staff, but you should still have a vision for the church’s future. Do you recognize any needs you are prepared to meet now? Is the Lord bringing to your attention any needs you should start preparing yourself to meet? Prayerfully plan how you will accomplish those goals, even if they seem beyond your ability right now.

Focus on Prayer

From Philippians 4:2–3 we learn that a personal disagreement between two women spread discord in the Philippian church. Jonathan Edwards made this observation:

When we suffer injuries from others, the case is often such that a Christian spirit, if we did but exercise it as we ought, would dispose us to forbear taking the advantage we may have to vindicate and right ourselves. For by doing otherwise, we may be the means of bringing very great calamity on him that has injured us; and tenderness toward him may and ought to dispose us to a great deal of forbearance, and to suffer somewhat ourselves, rather than bring so much suffering on him. And besides, such a course would probably lead to a violation of peace and to an established hostility, whereas in this way there may be hope of gaining our neighbour, and from an enemy making him a friend.5

Pray for the Lord to use you to cultivate harmony between believers through your love for them in word and deed.

Assignments

• If you are not already discipling someone, try to identify a Christian in your sphere of influence who could benefit from your spiritual maturity. Are you willing to share your life with that person as you help him or her to solve problems biblically? Since learning takes place best when there’s a need to know, you will need to be available in crisis situations. Discipling someone isn’t easy, but the joy and sense of accomplishment it brings are more than worth the effort.

• Read 1 Thessalonians. Evaluate yourself and the spiritual health of your church on the basis of seven characteristics you will find there:

Are you and the majority of your church genuine as opposed to nominal Christians?

Are you and they committed to being like Christ and willing to suffer for His sake?

Are you and they regularly praying for opportunities to share the gospel? Does your church have a ministry for training people to evangelize?

Are you and they living the kind of life that will lend credence to your message?

Are you and they eagerly awaiting the return of Christ?

Do you and they have a proper balance between love and sound doctrine?

Are you and they supportive of church leaders or indifferent to what they are trying to accomplish?

If any of these elements are lacking in your life or in your church, determine what steps you can take to help strengthen those areas.

Notes

5 Jonathan Edwards, Charity and Its Fruits, ed. Tryon Edwards (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986), 74.