V. Hopping from Church to Church
I Corinthians 12:12-27
Note: this topic does not rule out the validity of changing churches under certain circumstances.
Introduction:
Church hopping is counter-productive.
Two kinds of church hoppers:
The Complainers
The Consumers - often hopping around among a group of churches within a given length of time.
Conclusions about Church Hoppers
Church hoppers tend to be very critical.
If you look hard enough, you can always find the garbage pile.
Church hoppers tend to have a “me first” attitude.
Church hoppers almost never get involved.
Church hoppers almost never make a serious financial commitment to the church.
Church hoppers make it a point to remain emotionally detached.
Church hoppers enjoy living free from accountability.
One doctrine the Bible keeps harping on is “We need each other.”
The Blessings of Long-term Commitment:
Blessing #1 – Serving faithfully in one church over the long haul will give you a sense of belonging.
Blessing #2 – Serving faithfully in one church over the long haul will give you a sense of accomplishment.
Blessing #3 – Serving faithfully in one church over the long haul will lead you to some wonderful discoveries about yourself.
Blessing #4 – Serving faithfully in one church over the long haul will fill your life with meaningful relationships.
Blessing #5 – Serving faithfully in one church over the long haul will make you a powerful witness for the Lord.
Conclusion
God intends for all of His children to be committed to and intimately involved with a local church.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
How the Church Hinders the Kingdom of God - Part IV
IV. Speaking Above the Level of Our Knowledge
I Timothy 1:6-7
Introduction:
Good-hearted people with the best of intentions can cause harm by speaking above the level of their knowledge.
If we want to do no harm to the kingdom, we must avoid four temptations.
The Temptation to Analyze People
“Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” – David’s brother Eliab
“The next time you are tempted to blurt out an analysis of someone you dislike or disagree with, remember that only God is wise enough (and fair enough) to make judgments regarding another person’s deepest secrets and private motives.” – Mark Atteberry
The Temptation to Explain Suffering
None of us has the knowledge to always know what God is up to.
The only things we can be sure of in suffering are these two:
God loves me
God is faithful
The Temptation to Spread Rumors
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
The Temptation to Believe Everything You Hear
I John 4:1 Dear Friend, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Conclusion
We must watch what we speak.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
I Timothy 1:6-7
Introduction:
Good-hearted people with the best of intentions can cause harm by speaking above the level of their knowledge.
If we want to do no harm to the kingdom, we must avoid four temptations.
The Temptation to Analyze People
“Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” – David’s brother Eliab
“The next time you are tempted to blurt out an analysis of someone you dislike or disagree with, remember that only God is wise enough (and fair enough) to make judgments regarding another person’s deepest secrets and private motives.” – Mark Atteberry
The Temptation to Explain Suffering
None of us has the knowledge to always know what God is up to.
The only things we can be sure of in suffering are these two:
God loves me
God is faithful
The Temptation to Spread Rumors
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
The Temptation to Believe Everything You Hear
I John 4:1 Dear Friend, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Conclusion
We must watch what we speak.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
How the Church Hinders the Kingdom of God - Part III
III. Living Below the Level of Our Beliefs
Introduction:
Many in the church, many believers, have become blind to their own sin.
The Sins That Drag Us Down
Materialism
Our commitment to Him will rise and fall in direct proportion to our interest in material things.
A story was told about a woman who was going to teach her Bible study class a lesson on materialism. She was writing up her outline at her computer. She would suggest that the members of her class go through their houses and look for evidence of materialism. As she worked on her outline, it occurred to her that she needed to do this herself, not just ask it of her class. She got up and went to her closet and opened the door. There, on racks, in boxes – never opened or worn – on the floor from recent wearings, were shoes. She counted them – 84 pairs, and was convicted of her materialism.
Worry
Most Christians understand that worry is a sin.
Worry also serves as a wrecking ball to your witness.
If you say you trust in God, and people see you worrying, it puts a negative image on your trust.
The naïve don’t have a problem with worry. The pastor tells of his early days as a pastor in Mississippi, when a tornado warning went out. He got the family to the safest place in the house – the bathroom. Mississippi houses don’t have basements! Meanwhile, he kept darting out to look out the window and watch the tornado with interest. It never touched down. He wasn’t familiar with tornadoes. He was not worried at all. Some time later, he drove the 60 miles to the church he was pastoring, to find out that a tornado had touched down in a small town nearby. The town was virtually wiped out. One church had nothing left except the communion table, and the Bible on it. He had a healthy respect for tornadoes after that.
Superiority
We must be careful not to slip into a prideful, cocky attitude that causes us to throw out words of judgment and condemnation. The illustration given here is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector – the Pharisee telling God how good he is, and how he obeys the letter of the law; that he is not like this tax collector (far superior, you can read between the lines!). And the tax collector bows his head, beats on his chest and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And who goes down to his house justified? The humble and repentant tax collect rather than the proud and self-righteous Pharisee.
Elevating Our Game
Put the power back into preaching.
We need to remember that the primary reasons why God gave us the Bible is because it is “usefule for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Jonah 3:4-5 Jonah preached a sermon on repentance to the Ninevites, and 120,000 people repented.
Acts 2 Peter preached a sermon on repentance on the day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved.
Move our heart closer to the Lord.
Your heart is the one thing you can’t afford to be without when you come before God.
Whe powerful preaching and tender hearts come together in the presence of Almighty God, incredible things always happen.
Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Amos 5:21-23
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Conclusion:
When we live below the level of our beliefs we allow sin to settle in and make itself at home.
If you do not want to be a hindrance to the kingdom, your behaviour must meet with the king’s approval.
The story is told of a knight coming before his king, disheveled and bleeding, and he says to the king, “I have been harassing your enemies to the west.” The king replies, “I don’t have any enemies to the west.” Says the knight, “You do, now.”
We need to remember who we are and whose we are.
Introduction:
Many in the church, many believers, have become blind to their own sin.
The Sins That Drag Us Down
Materialism
Our commitment to Him will rise and fall in direct proportion to our interest in material things.
A story was told about a woman who was going to teach her Bible study class a lesson on materialism. She was writing up her outline at her computer. She would suggest that the members of her class go through their houses and look for evidence of materialism. As she worked on her outline, it occurred to her that she needed to do this herself, not just ask it of her class. She got up and went to her closet and opened the door. There, on racks, in boxes – never opened or worn – on the floor from recent wearings, were shoes. She counted them – 84 pairs, and was convicted of her materialism.
Worry
Most Christians understand that worry is a sin.
Worry also serves as a wrecking ball to your witness.
If you say you trust in God, and people see you worrying, it puts a negative image on your trust.
The naïve don’t have a problem with worry. The pastor tells of his early days as a pastor in Mississippi, when a tornado warning went out. He got the family to the safest place in the house – the bathroom. Mississippi houses don’t have basements! Meanwhile, he kept darting out to look out the window and watch the tornado with interest. It never touched down. He wasn’t familiar with tornadoes. He was not worried at all. Some time later, he drove the 60 miles to the church he was pastoring, to find out that a tornado had touched down in a small town nearby. The town was virtually wiped out. One church had nothing left except the communion table, and the Bible on it. He had a healthy respect for tornadoes after that.
Superiority
We must be careful not to slip into a prideful, cocky attitude that causes us to throw out words of judgment and condemnation. The illustration given here is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector – the Pharisee telling God how good he is, and how he obeys the letter of the law; that he is not like this tax collector (far superior, you can read between the lines!). And the tax collector bows his head, beats on his chest and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And who goes down to his house justified? The humble and repentant tax collect rather than the proud and self-righteous Pharisee.
Elevating Our Game
Put the power back into preaching.
We need to remember that the primary reasons why God gave us the Bible is because it is “usefule for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Jonah 3:4-5 Jonah preached a sermon on repentance to the Ninevites, and 120,000 people repented.
Acts 2 Peter preached a sermon on repentance on the day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved.
Move our heart closer to the Lord.
Your heart is the one thing you can’t afford to be without when you come before God.
Whe powerful preaching and tender hearts come together in the presence of Almighty God, incredible things always happen.
Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Amos 5:21-23
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Conclusion:
When we live below the level of our beliefs we allow sin to settle in and make itself at home.
If you do not want to be a hindrance to the kingdom, your behaviour must meet with the king’s approval.
The story is told of a knight coming before his king, disheveled and bleeding, and he says to the king, “I have been harassing your enemies to the west.” The king replies, “I don’t have any enemies to the west.” Says the knight, “You do, now.”
We need to remember who we are and whose we are.
Monday, February 8, 2010
How the Church Hinders the Kingdom of God - Part II
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.
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.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
How the Church Hinders the Kingdom of God - Part I
This is the first in a series of posts based on a series of sermons our pastor has been presenting in the last several weeks. Some of the earlier entries don't have the scripture references, but I have been diligent lately to get them down.
I. "Slinging Mud on the Bride of Christ."
There are 4 types of mudslingers:
1. The Missing
These are people who left the church and are ready to tell you everything that is wrong with it - some of which might be true, but most of which probably isn't. Otherwise known as the blame game.
2. The Malcontents
The chronic complainers - they always have something to complain about.
3. The Moochers
The people who believe the church exists solely for meeting their needs. They never have any input, but they'll let you know if their needs, as they see them, aren't met.
4. The Misbehavers
Church members who misbehave publically - an example was a man in a restaurant who was so critical & demanding (and loud) that he had a waitress almost in tears.
Three results of mudslinging:
1. The devil is handed an opportunity
2. The lost are handed an excuse.
3. The Lord is handed a heartache.
I. "Slinging Mud on the Bride of Christ."
There are 4 types of mudslingers:
1. The Missing
These are people who left the church and are ready to tell you everything that is wrong with it - some of which might be true, but most of which probably isn't. Otherwise known as the blame game.
2. The Malcontents
The chronic complainers - they always have something to complain about.
3. The Moochers
The people who believe the church exists solely for meeting their needs. They never have any input, but they'll let you know if their needs, as they see them, aren't met.
4. The Misbehavers
Church members who misbehave publically - an example was a man in a restaurant who was so critical & demanding (and loud) that he had a waitress almost in tears.
Three results of mudslinging:
1. The devil is handed an opportunity
2. The lost are handed an excuse.
3. The Lord is handed a heartache.
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