One Accord

• IN ONE ACCORD

• IN ONE PLACE.

Accomplishing either one of these would be marvelous, but to accomplish both is astounding.

Illus: This couldn’t be a Baptist Church!!!

Can you imagine getting everyone to attend.

Illus: Occasionally, many churches have a “NO EXCUSE SUNDAY,” trying to get everyone to attend.

Before this Sunday arrives, they send out newsletters from the church, stating:

• 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 wool for those who think he's too loud!

On this special day, they promise to make every effort to eliminate all the excuses. But when the day arrived some had excuses as to why they did not come.

Every church in the country would be bursting at the seams if they could just get their people to attend all the services.

Illus: The reason this church has a PAC A PEW SUNDAY is to show the congregation what they could do every week if Christians were committed to church attendance.

Every pastor will tell you that it is a difficult thing to get ALL IN ONE ACCORD, IN ONE PLACE.

But the Bible says the early church was able to achieve BOTH OF THESE. Wow! I am impressed!

Illus: (humor)But did YOU KNOW THEY HAD HONDA CARS BACK THEN? Sure they did, the Bible says they were all in “One Accord.”

This was an amazing church. Never has there been a church that can surpass this church in greatness when it comes to a church being controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. Some may disagree with that statement, but I challenge them to show me otherwise.

Illus: Some may say, “What about some of these Mega churches that we see on television, where thousands and thousand attend! Isn’t this a sign that THESE CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?”

Now listen, it is easy for a church like ours to look at some of the mega churches and to be jealous of them!!! That is true!

But there are some good mega churches and the reason I know that is because I know their pastor preaches the Word of God.

That doesn’t mean they are perfect because there is no PERFECT CHURCHES!!!

Let me give you some examples of some good mega churches.

• Shandon Baptist – Dick Lincoln (Mrs. Lincoln)

• Dr. Adrian Rogers

Not necessarily! I do not want to be a “party-pooper”, but some of these large mega churches are filled with thousands has nothing to do with being filled with the Holy Spirit necessarily.

Many times it has to do with:

• A good location

• Beautiful buildings

• Programs

• Entertainment (Singing)

• Large budgets where they spend millions to promote their churches through radio and television

Illus: Years ago Rev. Rex Humbard had a mega church that was on television every week and it was packed. They had some best singing that you will find anywhere!!! In fact, they had so much talent that church that people had to line up to sing!!!

Rex. Retired in this mega church and they soon took the television cameras out of the church and that church immediately dropped in attendance drastically.

When you have these kinds of things, you ought to be able to draw a crowd.

The early church had none of these things, yet they reached a level of greatness no church has ever been able to achieve. No church since then has been able to equal it or even come close to the level of greatness they reached.