Can't We All Just Get Along?

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Titus 3:14: Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

Christianity is diverse - so many different people, and so many different backgrounds.

Old and Young

Rich and Poor

Saved Long and Saved a short period of time

However, no matter what the circumstances, we all come here and set everything aside to worship Jesus Christ.

(STORY OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CONFERENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)

There are so many different types of people churches today - notice I didn’t say christians, because not everyone that goes to church is a christian - AMEN?

We’re going to be taking a look at tonight the different types of people that are in our churches across America today - allow God to search your heart tonight, and make sure that one of these people isn’t you...

1. Chompers - Ineffective people in church

These people bite off more than they can chew. It’s like a person with no teeth trying to eat a steak - not only does it hurt them, but it’s ineffective.

These people are so busy doing their own thing that when it comes to God’s Kingdom they are completely ineffective.

These people could be effective in every other aspect of their life, but when it comes to God, they are completely non-effective.

These people tend to take on so much, that they get overwhelmed.

It takes a mighty organized person to take off all kinds of tasks and still be able to keep God first.

I firmly believe that you can come to church to worship the church and not worship God. The "church" is one of the biggest idles in society today.

We have to worship the Christ IN the church, not the Church of the Christ - AMEN?

It’s hard to prioritize, but we must in everything, no matter how much we’re doing for God, keep Him first.

2. Chicken Fried Steak - All that and a bag of chips people

These type of people in churches are arrogant and self-centered. I’m glad that I don’t feel that spirit here, but it’s easy to get that way. Just think of it this way...if you are telling someone how much the church is growing, and you’re saying it to glorify yourself, you are being the Chicken Fried Steak person.

These people are arrogant, and confident on the outside, but they’re nothing on the inside.

You can have every material thing, but if you don’t have Jesus, it’s all for nothing. We must remember that pride goes before the fall.

These people drag others in churches down. The "followers" (we’ll talk about them next) get this attitude that so-and-so has it all together - because everything on the outside seems to be fine. And they try and emulate them, and from the beginning, they have a warped view of what a real, true christian is.

We have to make sure that we are remaining humble, because we are only here because of the grace of God and for no other reason, and we have to remember that always

Zechariah 4:6 - "it’s not by might, nor power, but by MY spirit says the Lord of hosts."

Remember that he who humbles himself will be exalted and he who exalts himself will be humbled.

3. Copycat - Followers of action and example people in church

These people probably scare me the most, because if they get to following someone that isn’t a real christian, they are doomed, and in my opinion, they are the hardest to bring back.

If they’re "model citizen" is singing, then they will sing. If they’re clapping, then they’ll clap.

Philippians 3:12 says, "not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Jesus Christ took hold of me."

Our goal in life should not be to see how much we can be like other people, but how much we can be like Christ, AMEN?

It’s ok to follow someones example, but your goal shouldn’t be to be like them, but it should be to be like the God in them. I can lead by example, but at the same time be saying, I’m who I am because of Jesus Christ, and if YOU allow Him to change you, the same could be said for you.

I’ll coin this phrase tonight - "COPY CHRIST" - don’t be a copy cat, be a copy-Christ

4. Constituents - the people who are the voice of the church

Some feel that their opinion should be so valued next to other people. A perfect example is the young lady that thought she was the final liason in between the churchs pastor and God. She told the pastor that she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was supposed to ask for donations for green carpet downstairs. The pastor, amused at the young woman, looked at her, and said, "um...sister, this is a one-story church!!!"