Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, August 31, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN
RELATION TO OUR CHURCHES
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:14-19
Text: 1 Peter 4:17
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Introduction: GOD BLESS AMERICA! That is my earnest prayer! Truly, God HAS blessed America, but I fear that we have turned our backs on the Author of our many blessings! In many ways, it seems that we have FORGOTTEN GOD, which brings to mind the scripture:
Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Let’s not forget God!
I believe that one of the areas in which we have forgotten God is in relation to our churches. I have been bringing a series of messages on areas in which our country is forgetting God. Perhaps tonight’s message should have been the first in the series, since the Bible says that judgment must BEGIN at the house of God: and if it first BEGIN at us…!
We seem to have forgotten
I. PREACHING GOD’S WORD AND HAVE INSTEAD
FOCUSED ON PROGRAMS
2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Our churches have become
A. Singing conventions
B. Social clubs
C. Sickening to Christ – Revelation 3
We seem to have forgotten
II. PRAYER FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS AND HAVE INSTEAD FOCUSED ON PUBLICITY
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
A. Instead of asking God in prayer we’re adopting the practices of the world
B. Instead of agonizing in prayer we’re advertising in the paper
C. Instead of asking God for power we’re after a new promotion or gimmick!
We seem to have forgotten
III. PRAISE FOR GOD’S GOODNESS AND HAVE INSTEAD FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
A. Applause has replaced AMENS
B. Actors have replaced preachers – “drama teams”
C. Audiences have replaced congregations
- Audiences WATCH
- Congregations WORSHIP
We seem to have forgotten
IV. PERSONAL SOUL-WINNING AS GOD’S AMBASSADORS AND HAVE INSTEAD FOCUSED ON PROSELYTING
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
With regard to trying to get people to leave their churches and join ours versus reaching those who are unsaved, we have been
A. Exchanging saints instead of evangelizing sinners
B. Enticing saints instead of engaging in soul-winning
C. Embracing saints (from other churches) instead of extending salvation to the lost
We seem to have forgotten
V. PURITY AS THE SAINTS OF GOD AND HAVE INSTEAD FOCUSED ON PROSPERITY
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 Timothy 6:5-6 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Our churches think success is
A. An increase in our budgets
B. An increase in our buildings
C. An increase in our bodies who attend
What about??? –>
D. An increase in behaving godly?
E. An increase in bringing people to Christ?