“WHY BE AN USHER?”
PSALMS 84:10
WE HAVE STOPPED BY THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR FRIENDS AT _____________ IN THEIR ANNUAL USHER DAY PROGRAM. A TIME THAT IS SET ASIDE TO HONOR AND APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE AND WORK THAT THOSE ON THE USHER STAFF HAVE GIVEN. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, “WHY BE AN USHER?” WHY TAKE THE ABUSE, THE SMART REMARKS, THE UNCOOPERATIVE BEHAVIOR OF SOME OUR PEOPLE?
I WANT TO KNOW THIS EVENING JUST WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES A PERSON PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF FAME AND FORTUNE. NOR IS IT BECAUSE OF MONEY OR BEING SEEN. I WONDER THIS EVENING AS I LOOK AROUND AT ALL THESE USHERS, JUST WHAT MAKES A PERSON WANT THE JOB OF AN USHER. FIRST OF ALL IN ORDER TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS LET US TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT AN USHER DOES.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AN USHER? ACCORDING TO THE NEW WEBSTER’S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY AN USHER IS SOMEONE WHO ESCORTS PEOPLE TO THEIR SEATS.” BROTHERS AND SISTERS I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IS SUCH A SIMPLE DEFINITION FOR SOMEONE WHO’S JOB IS SO MUCH MORE COMPLEX. I WONDER AS WE LOOK AT AN USHER DO WE ONLY SEE A SEAT FINDER.
I TELL YOU AN USHER IN OUR CHURCHES IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A SEAT FINDER. THEY ARE THE MEETERS AND GREETERS TO OUR SERVICE. THEY ARE A PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF JESUS CHRIST WHO MEET PEOPLE ON A PERSON-TO-PERSON BASIS WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE AT CHURCH. THEY ARE THE ONE’S WHOSE SMILE AND WARM WELCOME HELP TO SET THE TONE FOR OUR WORSHIP.
AS A FARMER PREPARES THE SOIL FOR PLANTING, SO DOES AN USHER HELP PREPARE THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO A GENUINE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST TO GREET AN INDIVIDUAL, THE USHER MAKES THE INITIAL IMPRESSION FOR THE CHURCH. A DISCOURTEOUS SCOWL OF A DISINTERESTED NOD FROM AN USHER CAN SPOIL THE ENTIRE SERVICE FOR MEMBERS WHO ATTEND ON A REGULAR BASIS AND FOR VISITORS.
THEY ARE THE ONE’S WHO HELP KEEP THINGS RUNNING AND IN ORDER. PAUL SAID IN 1CORINTHIANS 14:40 “LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.” IT IS THE USHERS JOB TO MAKE SURE AND SEE TO THE SERVICES BEING ORDERLY AND WITHOUT DISTURBANCE. IF SOMEONE NEEDS SEATING, THE USHER FINDS ONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE, THE USHER PROVIDES IT. IF SOMEONE IS DISTURBING THE SERVICE, IT IS THE USHER’S JOB TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
IT IS THE USHER’S JOB TO KNOW WHEN TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO ENTER THE SANCTUARY AND WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT. THE USHER DOES THIS JOB EVEN WHEN SOME ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO THEIR EFFORTS. THE USHER IS THE ONLY PERSON WHOSE FUNCTIONS CANNOT BE REPLACED OR OMITTED. THERE ARE SERVICES WHERE TEACHING HAS BEEN OMITTED. THERE HAVE BEEN SERVICES WHERE NO CHOIRS HAVE SUNG. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN SERVICES WITHOUT PREACHING.
BUT THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WORK OF USHERS IN ANY CHURCH SERVICE REGARDLESS OF ITS CHARACTER. IN WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, REVIVALS, INSTITUTES AND VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS, USHERS ARE PRESENT. THEY ARE THERE TO MEET, GREET, GUIDE AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ENTER INTO THE SANCTUARY. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES TO HANDLE SO MANY DIFFERENT TASKS TO TAKE ON.
I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN; “WHY BE AN USHER?” WELL I COME TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HEARTS AND TO TELL YOU THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO BE AN USHER IS THAT IT IS YOUR MINISTRY. THE USHER’S MANUAL BY LESLIE PARROTT, INFORMS US THAT ANY ACT OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE WHICH HELPS DIRECT MEN AND WOMEN INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST IS A MINISTRY. THE FIRST MOST PROMINENT MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH IS PREACHING.
THE SECOND IS TEACHING. THE THIRD IS MUSIC AND THE FOURTH IS USHERING. THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE SEPARATE IMPORTANCE, LET US REALIZE THAT EACH ONE NEEDS THE OTHER. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. THE PREACHERS, TEACHERS, MUSICIANS AND USHERS ALL NEED EACH OTHER.
THE MINISTRY OF USHERING IS LIKE SALT WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING MORE TASTEFUL AND WHICH SERVES AS A GENERAL PRESERVATIVE AGAINST DETERIORATION. A GOOD USHER ADDS A TANG OF JOY TO A CHURCHGOER’S SUNDAY MORNING EXPERIENCE INSTEAD OF A DRY DULLNESS. JUST AS SALT IS SILENT, INCONSPICUOUS AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY UNNOTICED SO ARE USHERS. BUT THEY ARE THERE IN A MOST POWERFUL WAY.
A GOOD USHER IS LIKE A LAMP ON A STAND WHICH BRINGS WARMTH AND WELCOME TO ALL WHO ENTER THE ROOM. THE MINISTRY OF AN USHER IS NOT TO BRING GLORY TO HIMSELF BUT TO GOD. OUR TEXT SAYS I HAD RATHER BE A DOORKEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE PSALMIST WOULD SAY THIS? WHY WOULD HE WANT TO BE AN USHER? COULD IT HAVE BEEN THAT IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD HE EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD?
DID HE KNOW THAT TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WAS MORE BLESSED THAN BEING ANYWHERE ELSE? DID HE REALIZE THAT FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT HE COULD SEE THE TROUBLE OF THE WORLD ON THE OUTSIDE AND FEEL THE TRANQUILIZING AND TRUTHFUL WORD OF GOD ON THE INSIDE? WAS IT THAT HE COULD BOTH THE CURSING OF THIS WORLD AND THE BLESSING OF PRAISES BEING OFFERED UP BY THE PEOPLE OF GOD?
YES THESE ARE ALL GOOD REASONS FOR BEING AN USHER, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST REASON TO BE AN USHER IS THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE JOB YOU ARE DOING IS FOR THE LORD. YOU KNOW THAT ONE DAY WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE YOU WILL GET A CHANCE TO HEAR HIM SAY, “THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT WELL DONE.” BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS AN USHER. JESUS IS A MEETER AND A GREETER.
JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE SO THAT YOU AND I MIGHT BE SAVED. HE USHERED IN A NEW DAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOST. HE USHERED IN A WAY FOR US TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. HE DID THIS BY WALKING UP CALVARY’S MOUNTAIN, HANGING ON AN OLD RUGGED CROSS, BEING WHIPPED AND SPEARED IN THE SIDE. HE USHERED IN A NEW LIFE WHEN HE HUNG HIS HEAD AND HE DIED. HE PAID THE PRICE FOR THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF THIS WORLD.
JOHN 3:17 STATES; “FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.” BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I AM SO GLAD TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT EVEN THOUGH HE DIED JESUS ROSE AGAIN ON THAT THIRD DAY MORNING, STEPPED OUT ON RESURRECTION GROUND AND CLAIMED ALL POWER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH IN HIS HANDS. I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN THIS EVENING, WHY BE AN USHER?
WHY BE AN USHER, WHEN ALL AROUND YOU THERE SEEMS TO BE CHAOS? WHY BE AN USHER, WHEN EVERYONE IS DISRESPECTFUL? WHY BE AN USHER, WHEN YOU LEAD SOMEONE TO THIS SEAT AND THEY GO TO THAT ONE? WHY BE AN USHER WHEN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO BE QUIET AND THEY TELL YOU TO SHUT UP? YES, WHY BE AN USHER? BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN EVERY ONE A MINISTRY AND USHERING IS THE ONE HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU.
WHY BE AN USHER? BECAUSE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOU ARE SOMEBODY. WHY BE AN USHER? BECAUSE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOU ARE APPRECIATED. WHY BE AN USHER? BECAUSE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD THERE ARE NO LITTLE I’S AND BIG YOU’S. WHY BE AN USHER? BECAUSE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOU CAN WAIT ON HIM HAND AND FOOT. YOU CAN LISTEN TO HEAR HIM SAY SERVANT, WELL DONE. USHERS TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO.
AN USHER OPENS MORE THAN JUST DOORS; YOU OPEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNSAVED TO BE SAVED, THE DOWNTRODDEN TO BE LIFTED UP, AND THE WEARY TO FIND REST. THIS DAY HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW MUCH WE CARE. IT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AS I TAKE MY SEAT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, TO CARRY ON. IN THE MILITARY AFTER AN INSPECTION IS MADE AND EVERYTHING IS FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER, THE INSPECTING OFFICER GIVES THE COMMAND TO CARRY ON.
EVERYTHING IS WELL AND GOOD, EVERYTHING HAS MET APPROVAL. SO I SAY TO YOU USHERS, CARRY ON. WHEN YOUR SERVICE IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED, CARRY ON. WHEN YOU HAVE NOT BE GIVEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR SO MUCH AS A THANK YOU, CARRY ON. WHEN OTHERS AROUND YOU MAY SEE YOUR JOB AS SMALL AND EASY, CARRY ON. WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU JUST CAN’T MAKE IT, CARRY ON.
