Excuses, Excuses, Excuses, What's Yours?

“Excuses, Excuses, Excuses, What’s yours?”

Hebrews 10:22-25

Central Baptist Church

August 26, 2001

“No Excuse Sunday”

To make it possible for everyone to attend church, how about

having a special "No Excuse Sunday?"

Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say "Sunday is my only day to sleep in".

There will be a special section with lounge chairs for those who feel that our pews are too hard.

Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching TV late Saturday night.

We will have steel helmets for those who say, "The roof would cave in If I ever came to church."

Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold, and fans for those who say it is too hot.

Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.

Relatives and friends will be in attendance for those who can’t go to church and cook dinner, too.

We will distribute "Stamp Out Stewardship" buttons for those that feel the church is always asking for money.

One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God in nature.

Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday.

The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who never have seen the church without them.

We will provide hearing aids for those who can’t hear the preacher and cotton for those who can!!

A husband and his wife woke up one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church.

It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn’t moved a finger toward getting dressed.

Perplexed, she asked, “Why aren’t you getting dressed for church?”

He said, “Cause I don’t want to go.”

She asked, “Do you have any reasons?”

He said, “Yes, I have three good reasons.

First the congregation is cold.

Second, no one likes me.

And third, I just don’t want to go.”

The wife replied, wisely, “Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go.

First the congregation is warm.

Second, there are a few people there who like you.

And third, you’re the pastor!

So get dressed!”

I. There are many Excuses why people don’t attend church regularly.

Listen to some of the ones that I have heard.

Now that the nice summer weather is here I think we will stay home today and enjoy the beautiful day.

Oh do I not to get dresses up to go to church, I need a break from dress clothes, I think I will stay home.

We slept late this morning and Sunday School is over what will the kids do?”

The building gets so hot this time of the year.

The building is kept so cold.

Every time I go to church they are asking for money.

The people I sat next to didn’t talk to me and they didn’t seem very friendly.

The pews were too hard; they hurt my back and are so uncomfortable.

That choir director sang Hymns that I did not know and the music was just not my style.

The service times just don’t fit into my schedule.

That place is filled with a bunch of hypocrites.

I was forced by my parents to go to church every week when I was a child and now it is time to take a break.

That church made some decisions that I don’t agree with, so I am just not going to attend.

That pastor is so long winded that by the time he is done the restaurants have a long wait just to get a table.

People have so many reasons for not attending Church.

Even in Jesus’ day people gave excuses why they could not commit themselves to Him.

Jesus’ call to the people of his day was that the kingdom of God was at hand, repent of your sins and follows me.

And yet people made excuses, reasons why they could not follow Him.

A man replied, “Lord first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another said, “I will follow you Lord, but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Many may think that Jesus’ repose seems rather cold, odd, and cruel.

Jesus was not concerned about social or political correctness.

These people were ready and able to commit, but on their on terms!

They would commit, but as long as the cost was not too high.

Jesus’ was calling their bluff to see how serious they were about their commitment.