Ways You Can Leave Church

WAYS YOU CAN LEAVE CHURCH

* INTRODUCTION

A. Ever notice how much emphasis is placed on Entrances? An “Entrance” is filled with anticipation, expectation, and potential.

1. Red Carpet and limousines

2. Boxing – entourage

3. Movie – 15 minutes of build-up

4. Road sign – “Enter Here”

5. Internet – Pop-ups, Spam

B. Exits do not get the emphasis of Entrances. But an Exit is a good way to understand if the Entrance led to impact.

1. Movie – “What did you think?

2. Restaurant

3. Doctor

C. You may have heard the song, “I Can Only Imagine” about entering into the presence of Jesus one day, but what about exiting from the presence of Jesus? Suppose Jesus walked in here today, never mind what you would do when He walked in, how would you LEAVE the church?

I. YOU COULD GO AWAY SAD

* Mark 10:17-22 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

18"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.

19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me."

22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth

A. The account begins just like “I Can Only Imagine” – a man sees Jesus, runs up to Him, falls on his knees, and praises Him.

B. His question reveals a problem immediately (Do you see it?) “What must I do?” Jesus understands this and will try to be redemptive with the man.

1. Ephesians 2:8-9

2. Titus 3:5

C. Works strangle Grace. (Galatians 4:22-31) Abraham’s 2 sons, one by his efforts and the other by God’s design. Contrary to each other.

D. Verse 21 – Jesus looks at him intently, the hammer is about to drop and He knows where this is about to go. He doesn’t give the man a list of things to do, just “one thing.”

E. Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is... The issue for the man was where his bank account was.

1. The man wanted Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord

2. When Jesus told him, "one thing you lack" He wasn't referencing something the man DIDN'T have, but something the man DID have. The Lordship of Jesus is compromised in my heart if I treasure anything above that which glorifies God.

F. Jesus never tried to attract fans, He wanted disciples. A disciple has counted the cost and is willing to follow where the Lord leads, regardless of preference, familiarity, sacrifice, etc.

G. Just 2 chapter earlier Jesus had said in Mark 8:34 "If any man will follow Me..." That is the net-dropping call of Jesus. What has following Jesus really cost you? If you can’t point out anything of value, then see if you are really following.

H. Identify the "one thing you lack" in your following of the Lord. Deal with it today before you leave the property. In verse 22 we see that "the man went away sad" - he did not not settle the issue of Lordship.

II. YOU COULD GO AWAY MAD

* II Kings 5:9-14 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!"

14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.