10 Ways To Kill A Church

10 Ways to Kill a Church

Open/Welcome – We had a great start last week. So alive and exciting. It made me think about the opposite. How do you kill a church?

I want to give you 10 Ways to Kill a Church!

Two Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (That word was spoken to a wondering, disobedient church)

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

(The Message) This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

And while I believe that it is true that Jesus will build his church, our free will can get in the way.

In fact, I will show you 10 ways that it can get in the way by sharing 10 Ways to Kill a Church!

You ready? I said, are you ready? (no particular order)

# 1 – Show Up Late and Leave Early

• Why does this one kill a church?

• Because it says church isn’t really all that

important

• Iwon’tbelatetomyjobortothesoldout

concert, but “come on”.....it’s just church!

• It goes against the principle of the Word (the

Bible) that says...In Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

# 2 – Think Church is Just About You

• Why does this one kill a church? • Because it is so self-centered.

• It isn’t the spirit of Christ, Jesus

• He humbled himself

• It was never about Him: it was always about

others

• When we focus only on ourselves, it means we

are not focusing on others

It goes against the Biblical principle of Galatian 6:2 which says “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (NLT)

# 3 – When the Church Calls for Volunteers, Assume They are Talking to Someone Else

• Why does this one kill the church?

• It doesn’t model the life of a Christ-follower

• Jesus was all about serving

• If ANYONE had a right to be served, it was

Jesus

• Yet he came TO serve, not be served.

• Churches that are vibrant, radiant, growing

and alive all have at least one thing in common- they all have people who are excited to serve in God’s House

• John 15:13 (NLT) says “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

# 4 – Complain About the Church “Always Asking

for Money”, That Way, If You Complain Enough, Your Conscience Will Be Clear for Never Giving ANYTHING.

• Why does this one kill a church?

• There are a number of reasons.

• First, the attitude kills the church immediately

• Second, a church is just like any other

business, school, home or individual- it has to

have money to exist.

• Also, not giving goes against the Biblical

principle found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (The Message Bible) “Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you'll have it ready, and I won't have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I'll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift.”

# 5 – Leave Prayer Up to the “Professionals” (You know....the Pastor, the Elders, the Deacons, etc.)

• Why does this one kill a church?

• Because a praying church is a powerful

church

• When you pray, you begin to walk in the

presence of God on a daily basis

• You hear Him speak to your heart more

often

• You follow His voice my readily

• The Bible says “If my people will pray, I will

hear and I will do awesome things in this

place” (A paraphrase of 2 Chronicles 7:14)

• I wonder if the opposite is true?

• “If my people WON’T pray, then I won’t hear

them, and I WON’T do awesome things in this place”

# 6 – Confuse “Going” to Church with “Being” the Church

• why does this kill a church?

• It certainly doesn’t make an impact on the

world

• It certainly doesn’t make an impact on

Longview, or Kilgore, or Hallsville or

Gladewater, Marshall or Gilmer

• It also makes the sum total of my

responsibility merely showing up, standing too long for the music and looking at the back of someone’s head