There is an alarming trend that is happening among Pastors in the United States.
It is so alarming that denominations across this country are beginning to take steps to be pro-active to stem the tide of this tragic trend.
The reason it is so alarming is because of the negative effects and repercussions it may have.
This trend that I want to share with you now has not yet affected myself, but it has affected many of my friends.
Here it is, Sadly, pastors all across the United States of America are no longer attending sporting events.
Shocking! I know!
There are some obvious and maybe valid reasons why pastors are no longer attending the sporting events of their favorite teams.
Let me share with you today, the top 12 reasons why Pastors are no longer going to sporting events.
Top 10 reasons that Pastors give as to why Pastors are no longer going to sporting events.
10. Since they read a book on sports they know more than the coach knows.
9. Their parents took them to too many games when they were young.
8. The games are scheduled on their days to sleep in.
7. The band played songs they did not know.
6. Some games went into overtime and they got home late.
5. They were sitting with people who only came to see what others were wearing.
4. The referees made decisions they did not agree with.
3. The seats were hard.
2. The people who were sitting near them did not seem friendly.
1. The coach never came to visit them.
PRAY
Heavenly Father,
open our eyes so we can see Your truth.
Open our ears so w can hear Your voice.
Open our mind so we can understand Your Word.
And open our heart so we may receive all that You want me to receive. AMEN
There was a family driving home from church one Sunday. The whole way home the dad was fussing about the sermon being too long and sort of boring. Mom was complaining about the piano being too loud. The daughter, who was a music major in college thought the worship leader was a half note off the whole time. Grandma complained that she could not hear since they were sitting in the back of the church.
As they pulled into the driveway of their house, their youngest, little Willie, six years old, who had been listening to all this complaining all the way home stated to fuss about the woman who sat in front of him with the poofy hair, but then he paused, looked at his dad and said, “But dad, you gotta admit, it was a pretty good show for a dollar.”
It is kind of sad, but many people in America treat their church attendance like a show or a sporting event. The better the entertainment is the more they will enjoy coming.
But if the pastor of the church starts stepping on toes or challenging people to grow or if the music isn’t right or something else, the more people will grumble, complain, or leave.
We live in a society that believes if the show is no good then you leave.
For most people that is a truth, but for some, for those people who really serious about their walk with God, those people are serious about the business of the church.
When God is at the center of your life and you are following Jesus, then you feel less like seeking entertainment at church, you feel less like fussing and complaining about church, instead you begin to invest more of your time and treasures for the purpose of the church.
There are two things that we can be involved in that have eternal dimensions. The first is by being involved with your family and bringing them closer to the Lord.
The second is being involved in God’s Body Building Program which is the church.
There are three important aspects of the church. They are why the church exists.
1. The church exists for the glorification of God.
12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:12 NIV
There are a number of ways we can glorify God. We glorify Him through our praise and worship, through praying and going to Him first for our needs. We glorify Him by studying His Word and by sharing the Gospel with others. We glorify Him by using our gifts, talents and resources to help and serve others others and by our giving.
2. The church exists for the edification of the saints.
To edify means to build others up in a way that improves their mind and their character.
The saints are those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord.
Edify comes from the word ‘to construct, or to be a house-builder.’ Edification is the purpose for which a church exists as a gathered community.
Most of the New Testament was written for the edification
of believers. These letters were sent to churches to be read and studied for their spiritual growth and development.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV
Paul also wrote in Ephesians, 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
God wants the church to be equipped and that is what we need to be doing.
3. The church exists to evangelize the world.
We have a message to share and we are told to share that message. Jesus told us at least 5 times to go and share the Good News.
This is our job, it is our responsibility.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 KJ
Can we love God and give ourselves to His work and hate the church?
Sadly there are people in our world who say they love the Lord but the hate the church. Well guess what, for a child of God, that is impossible.
When we come to Christ and make a commitment to God we are also making a commitment to the church. Then God is able to use us to continue to build His church.
The more we yield to God the more we will desire to come together with the church and work together
The apostle John wrote, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too” 1 John 5:1 NLT
When I become friends with someone, I become friends with their kids, too. If I love them, my love extends to their family. And their kids become like nieces and nephews to me. In the same way, when we love God, we will love his children also. And if you don’t love his children, one has to question how much you really love God.
It is popular today to criticize the church. But understand this: When you criticize the church, you are speaking critically of someone Jesus loves.
The best way to offend me is to insult my wife.
You might walk up and say, “I disagree with this, and I disagree with that.”
I have people do that all the time, and I am willing to talk with them about those things. On the other hand, if someone comes up and insults my wife, that is a different matter altogether. I would take that personally, as any loving husband would.
The church is the bride of Christ. The church belongs to him, and he loves the church. The apostle Paul used that analogy, saying, “Husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her” Ephesians 5:25 NLT
Some people claim to be Christians, but they don’t attend church because they fail to love it. However, a true Christian should long to be with God’s people.
Listen to what the Bible says to all believers: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV
Notice this doesn’t say, “Let us not give up meeting together, unless, of course, Sunday is your only day off … or if you have a triathlon … or if it is a opening day of deer season. Then you are excused, because you don’t really need fellowship as much as other Christians do.”
No, if you love God, then you will love his people – and love being around them.
And if you don’t love being around the people of God, then are you really a Christian? The Bible asks the question, “For if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” 1 John 4:20 NLT
I think someone’s desire for fellowship with other Christians can be a barometer of their love for God.
The more someone loves God, the more he or she will love to be in the church and be a part of the church. They will love the church.
The less someone loves God, the less he or she will want to be around other Christians.
The more we love the church the more willing we are to give ourselves to the willing we are to give ourselves to the purpose of the church. Remember why the church exists? To glorify God , to edify the saints and to share the Good News.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Paul exhorts us to “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord”
If we are all giving ourselves to God’s work here in the Bismarck area through our participation at Prairie Family Church then we will make a difference in this area.
We will offer hope to the hopeless and we will not discriminate in regards to who that hope goes to. That hope comes from God and is available to all.
We will share the Gospel with the lost and offer them a way to come to salvation through Jesus Christ.
We will believe in the power of prayer.
We will continue to lift up the name of God in praise and worship both corporately and privately.
We will teach the truth of the Word of God and we will not water it down to please man.
We will continue to help others, serve each other and fulfill the mission and purpose that God has place upon this church whether it is in the Bismarck area, in Standing Rock, in Tijuana, Korea or where ever God calls us.
What are the keys to Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord?
They are simple, we must put God at the center of your lives, follow Jesus and put your hands to the plow and do the work God has called you to do.
We must use our talents and spiritual gifts to fulfill the purposes of God’s church.
We must invest ourselves into God’s Body Building Program, the church, because loving the church has more to do with loving people than loving a building.
CLOSE
Is God at the center of your life?
Are you following Jesus?
Are you committed to putting your hands to the plow?
Are you willing to love the church?
PRAY.
