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LET'S NOT PLAY CHURCH
REVELATION 3:1-6
Introduction:
When you were little did you ever play any imagination games?
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My older brother is only two years older than I am. So as we grew up together we played a lot together. We would often play imagination games. I can remember that for Christmas one year I got a tractor that you pedal and my brother got a wrecker that you could pedal.
Right after we got those, the State of Georgia began to work on the Highway 341 that was also known as the New Jesup Highway that ran in front of our house. As we saw those workers working on that highway, my brother and I would pretend that we were working on our driveway. Now we weren’t really doing anything but playing. We put forth a lot of effort, but it wasn’t real, it was all just play.
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I’ve said many times how that my two brothers and I were privileged to grow up in Church!
I don’t ever want to take that for granted. We were blessed! And by the way, we are all still in Church serving God–Praise the LORD!
Our parents were always down at the Church involved in doing something for God. If something was happening down at Church, my parents were actively involved in it! If something needed doing, my parents were involved in seeing that it got done! They didn’t have to be cajoled or manipulated into doing something for God that needed to get done. Many times they would see something that needed to be done and they would just do it without anyone ever asking them to. And by the way, that is the way it ought to be! You can say Amen right there because it’s so anyway!
If you talk to my Mom, she will tell you some stories of me and my older brother playing games as she and my Dad would be doing some things down at the Church.
One story she tells is how my brother and I would often "play church." I would make believe that I was the song-leader and the entire congregation and my older brother would make-believe that he was the preacher. I would imitate my Dad (who was our song leader) in leading the singing and then I would sit down in the congregation. My brother would imitate our preacher and preach to me and tell me I was going to hell if I didn’t repent and get saved. And then we would reverse the roles and he would lead the singing and I’d preach to him. But it wasn’t real.
It was all just make believe. In fact it didn’t become real until February 17, 1971.
I am afraid that a lot of what is going on in our Churches today isn’t a great deal better than what my brother and I were doing as kids.
Let me say first of all that I thank God for many fine Christians whose faith is genuine and real. Their faith is real both to them and to others who come into contact with them. In other words, they have a good testimony both in the Church and outside of the Church of being a Christian.
I love to be around those kind of people! Amen!
To them Church isn’t a game, it is serious business! They are serious about the Christian life.
They are not perfect, but they are pressing toward goal of becoming like Christ and it shows in their life. They are moved by the preaching of the Word as the Lord is changing their lives into His image and they respond accordingly.
I’m talking about those whose faith shows by how they conduct themselves both in the congregation as well as out in the world.
I have been pleased to know many fine Christians like that and I have been pleased to pastor some in each Church that I have pastored.
However, there are many today who are in Church, but they are just playing Church. It’s not real to them or to those that are playing with them. It’s just a game.
Generally speaking I find that there are four kinds of people in Church:
1. Church Attenders.
These are people who come to one or more services of the Church. This includes those who are not members of the Church and those who are not Christians.
Its good to attend Church! Its good to stay close to the Gospel and the preaching of the Word! However, I hope that you are MORE than just a Church attender.
2. Church Members.
These are people whose names have been added to the church role. Unfortunately, even though we try to prevent it, this even includes some non-Christians sometimes. Are you a Church member? I believe that every saved person should be a member of an independent, fundamental, Bible-believing, Baptist Church! I make no apologies for saying that.
3. Church Pretenders– there are two classes of these:
1. Some are Lost–there are some people who attend Church and may even be on the Church roll, who have never been truly saved. They may know “Church speak” and know how to act the role of a Christian, but they ain’t one. They may even have made a “profession of faith” sometime, but they don’t have any “possession of faith” (i.e they aren’t truly born again).
2. Some are Saved–I believe this group also includes some folks who are truly born again, but never move beyond the point of salvation. I, for the life of me, don’t understand how a person can be born again, but live such a nominal, mediocre Christian life.
These folks can give a good testimony of how they were born again, but their lives inside and/or outside the Church show that they have never grown up. They are satisfied with mediocre Christianity. Their family members and those that they work with and socialize with may even think that their faith is a joke. (They live like Lot) It is obvious to those around them that their faith is not very important to them.
4. Christ Pleasers.
These are people who are Church members who show their Christianity at Church, in the home, on the job, at school or wherever they may be out in the world. They are the kind of person that Christ is looking for each of us to be.
May God help us not to be just playing Church! I want us to examine ourselves this New Year’s Day and ask ourselves the questions–Are we real or are we just playing Church?
The Church in Sardis had a name that they lived, but they were dead. Just as Christ knew their works, He knows our works! Just as Christ was not pleased with that Church, He is not pleased with a Church that emulates them. Just as Christ called on them to remember what they were supposed to be and to repent, He calls on us to remember what we are supposed to be and to repent.
As we begin this New Year, let me encourage us to do some things that will ensure that we are not just playing Church, but rather that we are pleasing Christ:
TO KEEP FROM PLAYING CHURCH:
I. WE MUST PROCLAIM A CLEAR MESSAGE.
1 Corinthians 14:8-9–“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”
A. We Must Proclaim A Clear Message Of Doom.
Those who are without Christ have no hope unless they believe the Gospel!
What part of "NO HOPE" don't we understand?
Luke 13:3–“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
John 3:3–“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
B. We Must Proclaim A Clear Message Of Deliverance.
1. The redemption story.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4– Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
2. The response needed.
Acts 16:29-31–“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
C. We Must Proclaim A Clear Message Of Devotion.
Once a person is saved by Ephesians 2:8-9, we need to preach Ephesians 2:10.
Ephesians 2:8-10–“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
1. We Need To Preach Obedience.
Romans 6:12-13–“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
2. We Need To Preach Faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2–“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
3. We Need To Preach Sacrifice.
Romans 12:1-2–“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
TO KEEP FROM PLAYING CHURCH WE MUST. . . PREACH A CLEAR MESSAGE. . .
II. WE MUST POSSESS A COMPASSIONATE HEART.
Jude 1:22–“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
A. We Need To Have Compassion Toward Those Who Are Bound--by sin and Satan.
Matthew 9:36–“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
B. We Need To Have Compassion Toward Those Who Are Broken--in health and heart.
Luke 10:33–“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,”
C. We Need To Have Compassion Toward Those Who Are Backslidden--defeated and defiled.
Luke 15:20–“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
1 John 3:17–“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
TO KEEP FROM PLAYING CHURCH WE MUST. . . PREACH A CLEAR MESSAGE. . .
POSSESS A COMPASSIONATE HEART. . .
III. WE MUST PRACTICE A CONSISTENT WALK.
1 John 2:6–“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
Ephesians 5:1-4–“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
A. A Consistent Walk Is A Pure Walk.
1 Peter 1:15-16–“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
B. A Consistent Walk Is A Persistent Walk.
1 Corinthians 15:58–“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
C. A Consistent Walk Is A Progressive Walk - growing
2 Peter 3:18–“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
IV. WE MUST PRESERVE A CLOSE FELLOWSHIP.
A. We Must Not Lose Fellowship With The LORD.
1 John 1:3–“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
1 John 1:6-7–“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
B. We Must Not Lose Fellowship With Our Loved Ones.
1. Our Family Members. (Ephesians 5:22; 25; 6:1-4)
2. The Family Of God.
Romans 12:10–“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
1 Thessalonians 4:9–“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
Hebrews 13:11–“Let brotherly love continue.”
1 Peter 3:8-9–“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
John 13:34-35–“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Conclusion
Where do you stand in your walk with the LORD.
Have you begun to walk with Him or are you just playing Church?
If you have begun to walk with Him, did you somewhere along the way stop walking in integrity and start playing Church? If so, you need to realize that the LORD is not pleased with that.
TO KEEP FROM PLAYING CHURCH WE MUST. . .
PREACH A CLEAR MESSAGE. . .
What are you preaching with your lips?
What are you preaching with your life?
Are we preaching a clear message or is it a mixed message?
POSSESS A COMPASSIONATE HEART. . .
Do you show a compassion for the bound by their sin?
Do you show a compassion for those who are hurting?
Do you show a compassion for those who have gotten away from the LORD?
PRACTICE A CONSISTENT WALK. . .
Is your walk pure?
Is your walk persistent?
Is your walk progressive?
PRESERVE A CLOSE FELLOWSHIP.
Are you walking in close fellowship with the LORD?
Are you walking in fellowship with your family?
Are you walking in fellowship with the family of God?
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!