The Danger Of Playing Church

But the moment we took one bite of that delicious food that looked so good, we immediately knew that one of the main ingredient that would have made this dish taste good, such as salt or pepper, was missing.

There are some ingredients that can be omitted and it will ruin the whole dish.

There are substitutes for some ingredients, and then there are other ingredients for which no substitution can be made.

Illus: Suppose a person has to take a certain kind of medicine for high blood pressure. The individual runs out of medicine, but he says, "Well, a pill is a pill, they all look alike, it doesn't matter what kind I take."

Really, he will find out very soon, it does make a difference, and you cannot substitute some things.

Illus: Suppose a person runs out of gas, and he says, "Well, I do not have any gas, but gas looks a great deal like water, so I think I will fill my tank with water and go to town."

It won’t take this person very long to find out that you cannot substitute some things.

Did you know that this same lesson has to be applied to GOD’S CHURCH?

There are some things the church cannot get by without.

Many have tried by substituting other things, but there is living proof all over this nation that there are somethings that the church cannot get by without.

WHAT IS THAT?

For example, God’s church cannot get by without DEDICATED CHRISTIANS.

Beloved, show me a church that is trying to replace the DEDICATED CHRISTIANS with UNDEDICATED CHRISTIANS, and I will show you a church that is spinning its wheels, or sliding backwards.

In the Book of Acts, we can clearly see why the early church was so successful. Its success was because of the DEDICATED CHRISTIANS in the church.

We can see the greatness of this church in the scriptures.

• The greatness of this church was not in the fabulous buildings they had for worshipped.

Today we have some of the most attractive buildings we have ever had to worship in...BUT IN SOME OF THESE CHURCHES THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINTELY MISSING WHEN YOU COMPARE THEM TO THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH!

• The greatness of this New Testament church was in the God they worshipped and the people who worshipped Him.

Now when you take this ingredient out of the church, you have a poor substitute for a church.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

You have a group of people PLAYING CHURCH!!!

The Bible tells us what this New Testament church consisted of, look at Acts 2:41-47. This passage says of the early church, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord into the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

In order that we might become like this GOD LOVING church, let us look more closely at why God used them the way He did.

We first see in this portion of Scripture-

I.THEIR RECEPTION TO GOD'S WORD

The main ingredient that you will find in a GOD LOVING CHURCH is their love for God’s Word.

• You cannot separate God from His Word!!!

• There is absolutely no substitute for the love of God’s Word.

Many are trying to substitute the Word of God for:

(1) A beautiful building

(2) For entertainment

(3) For recreation

Let me illustrate…

• We hear today in the world in which we live IF A COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE BORDERS YOU CAN NOT HAVE A COUNTRY.

• This is true, but also if a Church does not have the Word of God preached and taught and received you can not have a church.

The Word of God is the main ingredient in God’s Church and there are other things we can have in the church such as:

• Beautiful building

• Inspirational singing

• Christian recreation

But these things cannot be a replacement for the preaching and the reception of God’s Word.

These things might draw a crowd but they will not necessarily draw worshippers.

But I want to say again the MAIN INGREDIENT in God’s church is the precious Word of God preached and received.