The Church And The Bar

THE CHURCH AND THE BAR

“I Love this Bar” by Toby Keith was a big #1 hit in Country Music.

Why do people go to bars?

1 Fellowship

2 Support

3 Acceptance

A bar is the closest thing to a church the world has.

The TV Show “Cheers” was set in the friendliest bar you’ve ever seen.

Sam was like the pastor

The bartenders (Woody and Coach)like were the deacons

Waitresses (Diane and Carla)were like the greeters and ushers

It’s almost like a counterfeit church.

“Where Everybody Knows

Your name,

And their always glad you came

You wanna go where people know,

People are all the same

You wanna go where

Everybody knows your name.”

Doesn’t that almost make you want to go to a bar?

People go to bars to have needs met. Yes, some go to get drunk, but, most go to “hang-out”. There are those who will go to bars who don’t even drink alcohol.

So, what are they looking for in a bar?

1 Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The church should be a place where people care enough to get to know you still accept you.

1 Peter 3:8

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

I can’t "be sympathetic" without knowing you. Without knowing your needs.

1 Peter 4:8

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins"

Again, how can I "love you deeply" without knowing you?

Eph 4:1-6

"4 As a prisoner of the LORD, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people. 5We have only one LORD, one faith, and one baptism. 6There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us."

Some people you may have to “Patiently put up with”.

Be yourself. One body many parts.

2 And their always glad

you came

The church should be a place where people can find smiling face. A place of joy and hope.

Phil 3:1

“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!”

Ps. 46:4-5

4A river and its streams bring joy to the city,

which is the sacred home of God Most High.

5God is in that city, and it won’t be shaken.

He will help it at dawn.

People don’t want to come to a boring, dead, church.

They want a place of joy. Show them the joy of the Lord

3 You wanna go where people know, people are all the same

The church should be a place where we are all the same.

Equal in God’s eyes.

Gal 3:26-28

26All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. 27And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. 28Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.

Race, (slave or free)Employment status, Gender, it doesn’t matter. We are the same to God.

There is NO room for racism in the Body of Christ.

But, Let’s be brutally honest for a moment. There is racism in the Body of Christ. And, it runs both ways. White against Black, and Black against White. There is racism in this church.

But, the Bible says “there is no Jew or Greek”.

Racism is SIN!

Granted we don’t have slaves today. But, the slaves the Bible talks about here were more of “indentured servants” They would eventually be free once the debt was paid.

So, we apply this to Bosses and employees.

Male or Female, it’s the same to God. Now, we do have distinct rolls to play. But, we are equal to God.

So, why do the bars in this town have a better Saturday evening crowd than we have Sunday morning crowd?

And, how do we get that crowd to be part of this crowd?

Well, First of all, we need to invite them.

Luke 14:21-23

21 "The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was angry and said, ’Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ’There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ’Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.