Part 1 : Objectives & Obstacles

Preface

- a book for people to be with people.

1. A Need for Today

-"I'll be there for you was a hearty cry of youth and could be the cry of the church - we're called to love one another - this book motivated by experience, including that with an Abuser,  and in experiments with Sunday Mornings - examples of the fractures that do occur in church life.

2. History & Ministry

- church isn't always wonderful - yet church is the expression of Jesus - when it is, it will express his character - grace and truth - seen in acceptance, love, care, compassion and reality - our church's history may dull our vision - the task of ministry will be enhanced by Jesus' character expressed at all times.

Part 2 : Secure in Relationships

3. Strange People!

- church is all about relationships which is difficult in a big church – people's different behaviour and appearance sometimes puts us off – we very often feel inadequate coping with different people – we may be helped accepting people when we understand where they've come from.

4. Imperfect People!

- people are imperfect and that's difficult – we often struggle with people's slowness to change – yet sanctification is a process, a slow process – change can be outward only, or inward leading to outward – to bring change it's a partnership of God and us who bring the change – change is gradual and slow – reasons for slow change and what we can do to help.

5. Togetherness & Unity

- what the New Testament says about togetherness - the potential of togetherness - living with immaturity in the church - signs of immaturity to be worked upon. 

6. Secure enough to Confess

- Scriptural teaching on confession - its significance and ingredients - when it takes place - what happens afterwards

7. Secure in Team

- Specialists or team - benefits of team - accountability - types of team.

8. Strategies for Relationships

- recapping the need to consider relationships – a corporate approach to relationship building - creating a caring environment in church gatherings - personal strategies for accepting others

Part 3 : Secure in Ministry

9. Secure in Change - through Mentoring

- the Biblical call for Christians to change and grow – means of growth – mentoring as a secure means for growth

10. Secure in Ministry - with Preaching

- Secure ministers - creating security through preaching – preaching the Law gracefully – teaching responsibility to think

11. Secure in Ministry - with Gifts of the Spirit

- Using prophecy in church, establishing checks, deliverance & healing ministries and creating a secure environment for them

12. A Light to the World

- Old Testament call to Israel – New Testament call to the Church – testimony of one church going into the community

Part 4 : When Things go Wrong

13. Secure in Correction - Theory

- why consider correction – varieties of approach – issues of right and wrong – the example of centralised giving – the example of immorality – lessons to be learnt – styles of correction.

14. Secure in Correction - Practice

- preparing to correct – variety of situations – right person for the job – confronting – reconciliation, restitution and reconciliation – when it doesn't work – fears about identity

15. Disagreeing Gracefully

- why we disagree so strongly - areas of guaranteed disagreement - disagreeing gracefully – the tragedy of division.

16. Secure after Conflict

- the nature of conflict – unresolved conflicts – inner conflicts – if you are the Offender – if you are the Offended – walking out reconciliation

17. Thinking about Forgiveness

- the need to consider Forgiveness when considering relationships – different offences – the Biblical strategy for Forgiveness to come about – the key to Scriptural forgiveness – things that help us receive god's grace in the forgiveness process.

Part 5 : Concluding Thoughts

18. What sort of Church?

- reviewing what we have considered – some final questions.