Brotherhood

Brotherhood Sermon

Intro: A family was driving into Paintsville, Kentucky for a Christmas season get-together.

As they passed the First Baptist Church there was a manger scene in the yard,

The youngest boy asked his mother; what is that?

"That is Mary, Joseph…, and the Baby Jesus, there in the manger."

A few blocks further down the street they passed the First Methodist Church

There was a scene depicting the journey of the Wise Men.

"Who are they?" the young boy asked.

His mother replies, "Those are the Wise Men, who are looking for the Baby Jesus."

"Well, they're not all that wise" the young boy replied,

"they won't find him there. Jesus is down the street at that First Baptist Church."

I must confess in the interest of full disclosure

that I sometimes swap the names of the churches

Depending upon the crowd I am speaking to.

Beautiful scenery two lakes and fine people best of the best.

The locations I have served this is the quickest I have felt acceptance and at home.

There are three things that I want to talk about with you today.

I. There are More Points in Common Than there are Points In Difference

Birth of Christ is Savior

The Death on the Cross

The Empty Tomb/ but not Empty promises/ Resurrection for the Tomb

I am aware of the things that separate us as differences between denominations

but as I have gotten older I am more aware of the things that unite us as the body of Christ.

For every one thing you find that separates us I believe I can give a list many things that unite us.

The hymns Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art and hundreds more are sang in both our churches.

Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd is read Indiscriminately at funerals

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

John 3:16

We worship together during Holy Week.

On the battlefield / wars ---would we not fight together

Would we not bleed together and if called for die together to preserve Christian rights and freedoms.

II. There are More Lost to Win than Members to Swap

My promise and vow to you as neighbors is that if someone identifies themselves as member of First Baptist

And want to join First Methodist I promise to do more to discourage them than I wound to encourage them.

For what reason does one have to move across the street or down the street when Jesus is really in both places?

Two diagnostic questions:

What Church do you belong to?

What church do you live near or is dear to your heart?

There are is enough unchurched to fill every church in Johnson County and build more!

Luke 10:2 The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:

pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

III. There is Less Time in the Future than there Has Been in the Past

As I get older

Or maybe as I get closer to God deeper in my faith relationship

Either I realize and believe that there is less time in the Future than there already has been in the past.

The day of the Lord’s arrival is nearer today than it was yesterday.

John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:

the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Work while it is day for the night cometh.