Getting Off Our "Buts"

LUKE 14:15-24 “GETTING OFF OUR BUTS!”

A) So lets talk tonight about “Buts.” * We all have them!

* They are usually pretty big, though some may be bigger than most, but we all have them.

* Some are so big that others try to hide behind them.

* Some of us use them more than others, however they always end up getting in the way.

* Preacher, you sure do have a lot of explaining to do!

B) OK, here goes! * But I can’t .. But I’m over 40 ... But I don’t have an education!

* But I don’t have any money ... But I’m in the wrong job ... But I’m in bad health!

* But I’ve been through so much ... But I don’t have anything to offer the church!

* But, but, but ... My what big buts we have! * Notice how they all start ... “But I ...”

C) God had a big but too, you know ... His all started with ... “But, God ...”

* This little phrase shows up 66 times in the Bible.

* Whereas, our buts are excuses, God’s buts are His response to Satan’s challenge!

* The world says no - “but God” says yes!

* The world says can’t - “but God” says can!

* The world says won’t - :but God” says will!

* The world says stop - “but God” says go!

* The world says don’t - “but God” says do!

* The world says defeat - “but God” says victory!

D) See the difference here ... Our but is an excuse! * An excuse not to do something!

* I heard a quote the other day that puts it into a little perspective .......

* The origin of every excuse is the failure to do something!

* Deion Sanders, baseball and football player, is the only athlete to have hit a Major League home

run and scored an NFL touchdown in the same week!

* Sanders grew up on the mean streets of Fort Myers, Fla., where exposure to some would-be

athletes spurred him to make a success of himself.

E) He explains: “I call them Idas.” * “If I’da done this, I’d be making three million today!”

* “If I’da practiced a little harder, I’d be a superstar.”

* “They were as fast as me when they were kids, but instead of working for their dreams they

chose drugs and a life on the street corners.”

* “When I was young, I had practice; my friends who didn’t, went straight to the streets and never

left. That moment after school is the moment we need to grab. We don’t need any more Idas!”

* Getting Off Our Buts ... So now that we all understand our buts, lets look at ways of getting off

them. * Luke 14:16-24 is ... The Parable Of The Great Supper!

F) Let me give you a little background here! * It was the custom then to send out 2 invitations!

* One to announce the event and the other to tell the invited guests that it was all ready.

* In this parable, the certain man that Jesus is referring to is God.

* God is preparing a huge festival, a feast for us and has sent out the invitations to us.

* Once God has it ready, he’ll send out the final invitation ... what will your response be?

G) Now we are going to get this down to a personal level!

* For months now, I’ve invited folk to church!

* The numbers that have responded to the invitation, is quite low, though I am sure the excuses are

quite high. * Or should I say, their buts have gotten bigger in the last few weeks!

* The excuses that these made here are the same excuses we use today.

H) The first one says, “I just bought a field and I need to go check it out, please excuse me.”

* God is offering what we are desperately seeking, and we confuse our priorities!

* We put the priority of business and work over the priority of God.

* The second said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.

Please excuse me.” * Our priorities are all upside down!

* We get enthusiastic over new experiences and things and we skip the celebration of Christ!

* The last one says, “I just got married, so I can’t come.”

* Here he is putting a human relationship over his heavenly one!

* How many times do we do the same thing?

I) Most people who don’t go to church come up with the same reasons!

* One person even took the top ten reasons and to show the weakness of those excuses, made a list