Four Things to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Church
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:8-13
Intro: Today we are going to look at “Four Things to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Church.”
1. Do I Believe the Promise in Isaiah 55:8-13?
There is one thing my dad was good at modeling for me and my siblings growing up.
To my knowledge he always told the truth.
He was known in the community as a man of his word.
In fact he was so trustworthy this his handshake was a contract.
How many of you have told a lie this week?
Now before you answer you might should think about where you are.
You are in church.
You are in the Lord’s house.
The ninth commandment is Thou shalt not lie.
Probably at some point everyone has told a lie.
Remember as a kid when we thought someone was lying we would say “Liar Liar Paints on Fire.”
Paints on Fire is a euphemism, it means the same as “you are going to get a spanking” for telling a lie.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 1:2 God does not lie, he keeps what he promised before the beginning of time.” Blversion.
Did you hear what Paul said about God.
He said from before the beginning of time. God has never lied.
God can not lie.
No one has ever caught God not keeping His word.
It is outside of God’s nature to lie.
When God says something He keeps his promises.
When God speaks through his prophets he keeps his word.
You can count on what you find in the bible to be the truth
And God will fulfill his promises.
You can stand on the promises of God.
So when Isaiah 55 says, “when God’s Word goes out from God’s mouth it will not return empty.”
It means that God will accomplish what God desires
And achieve the purpose for which his word is sent.
Nothing can thwart God’s plan
I can’t mess up bad enough to ruin or prevent what God sets out to accomplish in me.
You will go out in joy and led forth in peace.
Mountains and Hills will burst into song
Trees and fields will clap their hands
(Verse 13)
God’s Word promises that if we are faithful to declare it,
it will NOT return without producing a harvest.
Sometimes we DO get to see immediate results,
but most of the time God will take His Word and work it into the hearts and minds of the hearers over time.
Trust God and His Word—a harvest IS coming!
“Second Thing to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Church.”
2. Am I Leading or Inviting Others to Jesus?
Marin Luther was born 1483 – 18 February 1546
He was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk
and a influential figure in the Protestant Reformation.
Luther came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
One of which resulted in the affirmation of the priesthood of all believers.
At the core of our theology is the conviction that ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS ARE MINISTERs.
As our many gifts are united in one spirit,
let us put them to use in ministry.
We should seek to lead or invite other people to Christ —period!
If worship is just for what we get out of it,
we can take what we want, come when it’s convenient, leave as we like.
But is Worship is for our Saviour who loves us and we love this Saviour back
Then worship is the work of the people in praise and thanksgiving to God.
Your presence and participation makes all the difference.
The question is not so much “How did the preacher do?”
But did you do a good job creating a climate where the presence and power of God can be experienced.
A. It is the mission of the Church to produce Christian Disciples.
A disciple is a faithful follower of the principles and practices of Jesus Christ.
We are in the disciple making business.
Romans. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
2. Transformed– Metamorphosed– talking about people going through a metamorphosis.
Talking about tadpoles becoming frogs, caterpillars becoming butterflies.
Religion alters the essence of our being.
3. New way of thinking about life.
a. What’s in it for me? CHANGED What’s best for the Kingdom of God?
b. Get even CHANGE get over it.
c. Instead of giving the people a cup of water CHANGED opportunity to give Jesus to the people.
d. By what values will I run my business, do my job, relate to my family, spend my time, invest my money.
4. No time for mickey mouse, take it or leave, nice places for kids and great socials for adults.
We are in the LIFE SHAPING, LIFE CHANGING, SPIRITUAL FORMATION business.
B. The best way to make disciples is to be one.
All Jesus ever said to would be disciples was “follow me.” Do as I do.
1. Two reporters from a large city newspaper decided to test the honesty of Auto Mechanics in the area. Disconnected one spark plug wire from an engine that was in otherwise perfect shape, and drove around town trying to get it fixed. After being charged an average of $175.00 for parts and labor from several
mechanics they came upon one who “looked under the hood, replaced the wire, and said no charge when they went to pay– Why? They asked. I am a Christian. He said. I try to do what’s right.
C. With one hand disciples reach out to Jesus, with the other, they bring a friend.
Keith Anderson says “What I liked most about Church was Mr. Witoff.
I was only 4 or 5. In devious ways I would slip away from my parents into the seat with Mr. Witoff.
He was decades older,
We had nothing in common, not even sports.
Mr. Witoff offered me what I needed —
a gracious and welcome invitation to “come sit with me in Church”
WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR OTHERS, YOU ARE A MINISTER TOO.
Howard had just turned 50 years old.
On first Saturday of summer he slept late,
Went to watch his kids play ball
The next Monday as he got up to go to work
When he stepped out of the shower he discovered a large lump under his right arm.
About 30 days later he had undergone surgery
and started intensive treatment for aggressive Non hodsgen Lymphoma.
1. Cancer is a terrible trip but he became a survivor.
Cancer changed Howards life for the better.
How you ask?
During the first 9 months of cancer Howard learned “how to lean on the Lord and not be afraid.”
a. Lived first 50 years Howard was a lone ranger.
b. If you want something done, do it yourself.
c. Work hard, try hard to please, maybe someone will like you.
Cancer taught Howard that there are more important things in life than getting to the top.
Cancer taught Howard that people really cared about him.
And in turn Howard learned to truly care about other people.
Especially the soul.
See when you face Cancer
Or some other tragedy
Sooner or later we all will face them.
You will look deep into eternity.
What will you see?
When someone is sick Face Book lights up with prayer requests.
People coming together to pray.
I have seen whole families turn to the Lord because they began to pray for that one family member that was ill.
People pray for other people
You would do the same.
I know you can.
You are all ministers too.
YOU GOT OUR CHURCH IN YOUR HANDS, FOR YOU ARE A MINISTER TOO.
“Third Thing to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Church.”
3. Do I Believe Jesus?
I just believe it.
When things happen that are sad, difficult, hard to swallow.
Maybe God is not punishing you
Maybe God is preparing you for something Greater to Happen.
After being in the ministry for 30 years I have learn one thing I know for certain.
God has not always given me everything I wanted
God has place me where I was needed.
And that makes all the difference in the world.
When you are on your knees in the middle of the night.
When you are praying for a problem that seems to get bigger instead of smaller
You will discover that you can not make deals with God.
God does not cut bargain.
God I will do this if you do that…
Isaiah 59:1 “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”
This is one thing I just believe in.
I stay the course of what has been set before me.
4. Do I Belong to Jesus?
How are we connected?
We are connected to God by the table.
We are connected to our family by the table.
Connected: Lord’s Table Connected to your family Table
Mary was a was a brilliant high school student.
She made straight A's.
Her family was proud of her.
somewhere around age 17, she got mixed up in the wrong crowd
and began to do drugs and promiscuous sex.
She soon got out of high school and immediately went to the college farthest away from home
so that she wouldn't be under the supervision of her parents.
College was much harder than high school
and she almost immediately flunked out.
Too proud to come home Mary fell deeper into the world of drugs and promiscuous sex.
Her parents only heard from her when she wanted money
and when they stopped sending her money,
they didn't hear from her at all.
Then one day Mary woke up in the apartment of a man that she did not know
but there she came to her senses.
She left that apartment and called home.
She asked if her parents is she could come home.
Of course they said yes.
They went and got her.
When she got home, Mary said there are two things she needed to do immediately.
She needed to take a long, hot bath
and she needed to go to church.
Her parents were not regular church attendees
but the following Sunday, they were in church sitting in the pew before time for service to begin
but that particular Sunday worship was a lot about program and not much about peace and prayer.
The preacher said a lot about service but not much about salvation.
While Mary and her family did not know exactly why they were there
they knew that they did not get what they were looking for when they left.
Her daddy said to Mary, "Don't worry about it, I'll find you a great counselor."
To which Mary said, I'lI be glad to see a counselor but I still need to find a church.
I need God to tell me that what I did was wrong but I'm still lovable.
I need to hear from God that while I really messed up,
I'm not a bad person,
I need God to take my sin seriously but to love me unconditionally.
I need God to love me where I am but not quit working on me.
I need to find a church for that."
That is what church does.
Church is not magic but church is mercy.
It does not cure all our cancers;
it does not transform all our kids into winners
or send us soaring into the skies of success.
Rather church helps us look at reality in the face and know our sins are completely and totally forgiven.
Church is that dynamic place where we come under conviction by the Holy Spirit
We know we have done wrong
But we know there still hope.
God sets us free to become what we were created to be.
There are “Four Things You Need To Ask Yourself Before You Leave Church Today.”
1. Do I Believe The Promises of God
2. Am I Inviting Others to Jesus
3. Do I Believe in Jesus
4. Do I Belong to Jesus.
