Falling Out Of Church
Acts 20:7-12
A want to begin by sharing a letter that was sent from a “faithful church member” to their pastor: - Dear Pastor: You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss Sunday worship now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated:
• Christmas (Sunday before or after for traveling purposes)
• New Year (Sometimes the party lasts too long)
• Easter (We have to be away for holidays)
• July 4 (National holiday)
• Labor Day (Need to get away again)
• Memorial Day (Visit family and BBQ together)
• Spring Break (Kids need break)
• School Opens (One last summer fling)
• Family Reunions (Mine & wife’s)
• Two Sundays for sleeping late (Because of Saturday night activities)
• Deaths in Family (Average two per year)
• Anniversary (Second honeymoon)
• Sickness (One per family member)
• Business Trips (A must)
• Vacation (Three weeks)
• Bad Weather (Ice, snow, rain, sometimes just clouds)
• Ball games (Six per season)
• Unexpected Company (Can’t walk out and leave them)
• Time changes (Spring ahead; fall back)
• Specials on TV (Super Bowl, World series etc.)
Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the fourth Sunday in February and the third Sunday in August—unless providentially hindered. - Sincerely ….A Faithful Member
Honestly I don’t know anyone who would be that honest, but there are many people who would use each one of those excuses. (they just wouldn’t write me a letter informing me of such)
The story in our selected text took place on a Sunday. The assembly that gathered together was not much different than what we have here today. In this assembly was a man named Eutychus who ...Sat in the window ...Fell out the window ...Died ...And was revived
I want to look at his story and preach on the subject “Falling Out Of Church”. You may be thinking …Why are you preaching to us about “Falling out of church”? …We are here!!” That is true, and I am glad you are, but there are countless people who are members of this church who were once here every time the doors were opened and are out of church completely.
In the church office we have two lists of church members:
1) There is a list of “active members”
2) There is a list of “inactive members”
Guess which list is bigger?? Those inactive members did not wake up and say “I think I will just quit going to church”. Quitting church is something that you don’t plan to do, but one day you wake up and realize… “My goodness, I don’t go to church anymore” I looked through the church directory last night and it is depressing how many people who were “active” a couple of years ago and haven’t darkened the doors in months.
As we consider the thought “Falling Out Of Church”, I want to look to verse 7 and see:
I. THE GATHERING OF GOD"S PEOPLE- v7 ¶And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Notice that this assembly met on Sunday - “upon the first day of the week”. Sunday is very important the New Testament church.Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday Morning. Sunday is “the Lord's day” …the Christian Sabbath
I remember a day when Sunday was honored and revered but now for the most part it is just another to:
o Wash the car
o Cut the grass
o Go to trade day
o Go to work
o Change the oil in the car
o Catch up on home repairs
Many of you remember a day when most businesses were closed on Sundays. (things aren’t’ that way anymore). If you are here and you are saved you should be in church EVERY SUNDAY! If you are lost then you need to get saved and when you do you should be in church EVERY SUNDAY! - There is never a shortage of excuses for missing church but I want you to hear what THE WORD SAYS - Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The word "Forsaking" means - “to desert”, “abandon” or “leave behind”
There are so many people today who have abandoned:
• The church
• Their area of service in the Church
• Their family (parents not taking kids to church)
• And ultimately the Lord!
If you have done this, it is a clear violation of God’s Word! This assembly met on Sunday and they had a long winded preacher. Paul was going to leave them the next day; so he preached all the way to midnight. This was his last visit and apparently he had much to say.These disciples met together and had a desire to hear the Word of God! That is the kind of people I want to preach to! The ones that could care less what time it is. Those who desire to hear God’s Word and more importantly to apply God’s Word to their lives. Those types of people are few and far between. The majority of people in the church today can’t wait for the service to be over so they can check the box of their agenda that says “went to church”. Their favorite part of the service is the “Amen” of the closing prayer. Then they rush out the doors and get to doing what they really want to do!
- One preacher said that his church was afflicted with "Divers Diseases" He said they dive for the mountains. They dive for the beach and at 12:00 they dive for the door.
A friend of mine said that his church is in such a hurry to leave they don’t even shake his hand at the back door; they just give him a high five and run for the car!
One pastor who was an avid sports fan said that he gave up on sports. He listed the reasons why:
-Every time I went, they asked me for money.
-The people with whom I had to sit didn't seem very friendly.
-The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable.
-I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me.
-The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.
-I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites
-The people came to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game.
-Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.
-The band played some numbers that I had never heard before.
-It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things.
-I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
-I don't want to take my children to any games, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best. -Author Unknown{Sermonillustrations.com}
We fail to realize what a privilege it is to be able to assemble together and worship the Lord! One preacher tells a story of an occasion where he preached in Russia. He said: “I walked into the sanctuary and it was completely packed. There were no pews because you can fit more people in the building standing up than sitting down. The interpreter said something in Russian to the congregation and they all began to put on their coats. I was confused as to why this was happening. Then the ushers began to raise the windows and outside the windows were 1,000 people standing in a foot of snow just to hear the Word of God”
This group gathered together to hear Paul preach had an intense desire to hear from God.But though there were many who were hanging on to every word, there was one who dozed off in the middle of the sermon. In verses 8-9 we see:
II. THE APATHY AMONG GOD"S PEOPLE - v8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Eutychus literally “fell out of church” The assembly met on the third floor. This is speculation but I believe that the house was full. This was more than a regular service. It was Paul’s farewell message. (I sometimes wonder if the sermon title was “The Long Goodbye”) Eutychus was sitting on the windowsill. Verse 7 says “Paul was long in his preaching” - This text encourages me, If Eutychus could fall asleep during preaching by the Apostle Paul then I don’t feel so bad about those snoring through my sermons!
The following events in this story illustrate what has caused certain members to become “inactive members” of our church. We see:
1) Dozing – v8 being fallen into a deep sleep:
2) Declining – v9b and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep,
3) Dying - v9c and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Now we have considered those who have quit coming to church completely. But what about those who are here regularly? Some are here in body but that is about the extent of it. And there are some who are on the verge of falling out of church and they don’t even know it. I have been amazed at some of the people who have quit this church all together. Let’s see how it happens:
a) It begins with “DOZING”. - For one reason or another you lose interest.
You take the opportunity to assemble together for granted.
You get slack in our work around the church.
You quit doing outreach
You start missing Wednesday nights
You begin to skip Sunday School
Then you quit coming on Sunday night
Then Sunday mornings get sporadic and one day you wake up and realize that we are out of church.
b) After dozing comes “DECLINING”.
These two elements are actually intertwined. They often happen simultaneously. The Declining speaks of our spiritual life when we are out of church. So often we hear “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian” ....I despise that statement… it is open rebellion against God’s Word! Have you ever seen anyone successfully live for God who doesn’t go to church?
We see in the Gospels that it was important to Jesus that He went to The Father’s House regularly.
1. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple when He was 8 days old - Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
2. Jesus visited the temple when he was 12 – Luke 2:42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
3. Mary & Joseph went to the temple every year - Luke 2:41 ¶Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
4. We read on 2 separate occasions where Jesus cleansed the temple - John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
If it was important to Jesus, shouldn’t we do the same? After all that God has done for us we ought to have a desire to worship him! When people get out of church they begin to decline spiritually. They begin to do things that they once wouldn’t do, they go places that they wouldn’t go, and they wind up out of God’s will and in a mess!
When you do not attend church:
1) You miss out on discipleship
2) You miss out on Christian fellowship
3) You miss out on corporate worship
We all have loved ones who are supposedly “saved” and out of church. Just look at their life, remember where they once were and see where they are now. This is clear evidence of what happens when you begin to decline spiritually. Some of you don’t have to look at someone else all you have to do is look in a mirror and you will see one who is declining!
Notice that Eutychus fell “out of the window”. In order to fall out of the window he had to have been leaning out the window. Some of you are already leaning out of the church and it is only a matter of time before you fall.
c) After the “DOZING” & the “DECLINING" comes “DYING"
Now I am not saying that you lose your salvation but your spiritual condition is basically dead… There is no life in it. You are beyond dozing and declining you are now at a point where you become a hindrance to the lost.You have gone from being a witness of Christ to a stumbling block. At this point your witness is damaged. You have no joy of your salvation. You are no longer fit to be used for God’s glory.People look at what you claim to be and then see your actions and they want nothing of Jesus because your hypocritical lifestyle! Are you doing, declining or dying? If so there is an opportunity to make things right today!
In the church there are some who attempt to attend every possible service. These people are considered the “core” of the church
These are those who you can depend on to be faithful in:
o Turnout (attendance)
o Time
o Talents
o Tithes
I am thankful for the “core” of our church. But what is the responsibility of the core to those who have “fallen out of church”? In verses 10-12 we see:
III. THE COMPASSION OF GOD"S PEOPLE - v10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Eutychus fell out the window and died. The people of this assembly were very concerned. Notice: Paul goes down to Eutychus but he didn’t go alone. Notice that he tells the people “Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him” They went down with Paul. Why? …Because they cared about their brother! They didn’t just kick back and say “ah ...Let Paul deal with him!”They went down together out of a burden for there a brother who was in a bad situation!
Many of our brethren are in a bad situation
Many have quit church
Many are backslidden
Many need the help and encouragement
Where will they find that help… where will they find that encouragement? Will you have compassion on a backslidden brother or sister today? Don’t just assume that someone else has contacted them. Don’t sit back and say “Preacher, that is what we pay you for” I can tell you that it would be better for you to contact them than me anyhow. When I stop by or call they are thinking yeah, well… it is his job. But when you call it is because you care and that will go a long way in encouraging that brother or sister.
So many times people will come and say “preacher, God has given me such a burden for so and so… you need to go and see them! ….He gave you the burden you go and see them!
This assembly was delighted in the fact that their brother was restored. They had compassion on him; they loved him and rejoiced when he was brought up! I want you to notice that Eutychus was a priority to these people. It was after midnight when this happened and they remained until the break of day.I look forward to the opportunity to rejoice when those brothers and sisters who have “fallen out of church” come back home. But the question is “are we going to do our part to see that restoration”? Look around you, do you see all those empty spots… THEY REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN OUT OF CHURCH!! If we could get them all back in church we would have to build a new sanctuary!
So where do you fit today?
1) Are you saved?
2) If so are you gathering regularly with God’s People
3) Maybe you have become apathetic toward church and the things of God.
4) Maybe you are a faithful church member, do you have compassion on those who have fallen?
Some of you may be like Eutychus; you are dozing, declining and dying. Some may be hanging out the window and there are some who have fallen. Eutychus was restored after the fall. If you have fallen you can be restored today!
v10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!”11 Then they all went back upstairs, broke bread together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.
WOW! Someone falling out of the window and dying didn’t even shorten Paul’s sermon. After Eutychus was restored they got back to business. This shows how important it is for God’s people to hear God’s Word. That is what needs to happen to many of you today.
You need to be restored and then:
Join together with God’s people
Rejoice over what God has done for you
Listen, study and apply God’s Word to your life
And remain faithful to the Lord who has saved you
There is hope for those who have “Fallen Out Of Church”
