Grumpy Old Christians

Grumpy Old Christians

Thesis: There are too many grumpy old Christians in this world that are hurting the spread of the Gospel and not helping the spread of the Gospel. Remember Gospel means Good News- not Bad Critical News!

Texts:

Phil. 4:8

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I John 4:16-21

16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Introduction:

Today we will be participating in communion. In I Corinthians 11:27,28 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” This is our focus and our task today- it’s a mandate of God’s word. So here is your challenge this morning- “Take a look at your attitude, your heart, your mind set!”

Allen gives us the basic facts of life when he says: Whether we see any phoniness in ourselves or not, there are three basic facts about you, whoever you are. First, you are. There are over 5 billion people on this earth; even so, you are one of them, and you are different from any other of them. You are an existing person. Second, you are becoming. You are either becoming more-or you are becoming less. You are becoming better-or you are moving toward weakness. You are growing in fellowship with others-or you are becoming more and more wrapped up within yourself. You are moving toward life-or you are moving toward death. No one of us is standing still. Third, you have the choice of only one road, and that is the road that begins right where you are. The only starting point for you is the person that you are right now. You can’t go back one day or one year or ten years. Life moves in only one direction. It does not go backward…”(36).

So where are you heading?

* Are you a grumpy old Christian?

* Do you only see the negative?

* Do you see only the bad in life?

* Do you see only the imperfections of people?

* Do you thrive on gossip and putting others down?

* Is your motivation in life driven toward revenge on others?

* Do you seek to tear others down?

Illustration: Movie clip from “Grumpy old men!” Mute it and narrate it.

I. You know you are a grumpy old Christian when you are critical of everything and everyone (Phil 4:8).

a. You know you have slipped into the grumpy old Christian category when your words are nothing but critical comments to others about others.

i. People do this with sarcastic humor

ii. With derogatory remarks about others.

iii. When they share unnecessary information with others for the purpose of exposing another’s weakness.

iv. When they share detailed prayer requests about others.

v. When they can only see people’s faults.

vi. When you can only share the churches faults.

1. Reality check – “God uses imperfect people to do his perfect will.” “Like you and me!’

2. Reality check 2 – “God uses imperfect churches to do his perfect will.” “Like your church and my church!”

b. We do have the choice of being critical or complimentary of others.

i. James tells us the importance of the tongue.

James 1:26:

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 3:5-12:

5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.