II. Winning People to the Church, Not to Christ
Hebrews 12:2-3
Introduction:
The church has a problem.
The Problem:
We tell people, “Just come to church and…”
When a loved one dies, “Just come to church…”
When a marriage is falling apart, “You need to come to church.”
When parents have problems with a teenager we say, “Just come to church.”
When people lose a job we say, “Just come to church.”
When people are discouraged or depressed or hopeless we say, “You should go to church.”
Too often we make the church sound like it, rather than Jesus, is the source of salvation.
It’s possible for us to witness to our friends and get them all fired up and started to church without ever mentioning Jesus.
People begin their faith experience with their hope pinned on a group of imperfect people rather than the Lord of all creation.
Warnings people need to hear about the church:
Warning #1 – You will encounter some difficult and unpleasant people.
We allow anyone and everyone into the church.
Difficult and unpleasant people make going to church risky business.
I frequently say that I’ve met some of the greatest people in the world in the church.
What I rarely say (but what is just as true) is that I’ve met some of the weirdest, most irritating people in the church.
Warning #2 – The church you join is not always going to be like it is today.
A person generally loves the pastor of the church he joins.
But what happens if the pastor leaves and is replaced by someone with a totally different style and personality?
A person generally loves the music of the church he joins.
But what happens when our favorite songs are replaced with songs we’ve never heard before and don’t like?
A person generally loves the location of the church he joins.
What happens when the church buys ground and builds 10 miles out of town?
A person generally loves the fellowship of the church he joins.
What happens when factions arise and a fight breaks out?
People, like wineskins, need to be flexible enough to accommodate new strategies, methods, and formats without blowing up.
What people need to know about Jesus.
People need to know that Jesus, not the church is the way.
When a person is battling depression, facing the death of a loved one, has lost a job, or staring cancer in the face what they need to hear about is not the church, but Jesus.
You see, the volleyball team, the Sunday School class, the worship team, the fellowship dinner, and all the other programs and activities are not the way.
They can help people along the way, but they aren’t the way.
Jesus is the way.
People need to know that Jesus, not the church, is the truth.
The church holds the truth.
The church should share the truth.
The church is not the truth.
The truth will set people free, and the church does not set anyone free.
Jesus is the truth, the One who sets people free.
People need to know that Jesus, not the church, is the life.
The church cannot breathe life into anybody.
We can only lead people to the One who can.
Jesus is the Life.
Conclusion:
Our witnessing and help should be Christ-centered, not church-centered.
It is good to invite people to church.
Getting them into the Lord’s preferred working environment is important.
But let’s make sure they understand where their hope lies.
It’s not the church.
It’s Jesus.
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