Apr 24 2011 dcfc english Worship [The Master & The Disciple] Luke 24: 28-36

CHURCH, ANOLOGIES

Influence

Date: 3/1998.1465

-- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

See: Matthew 5:13; Acts 17:1-6; Romans 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:8
CHURCH, ANALOGIES

Rethinking the Message

5 June 2010 DCFC English Worship - [Extreme Makeover: Church Edition] 1 Cor 1:18-25 Rethinking the Message

CHURCH, ATTENDANCE

Bored and Busy

Date: 4/2007.101

A man wrote:

I quit going to church this year. I decided that listening to sermons week after week was a stupid thing to do. After all, I went to church for more than 40 years and during my lifetime I probably heard 5,000 sermons. I can only remember about five of them. What a waste of time. Bored and Busy

This sparked a fury of incoming letters. Some people wrote that sermons do make a difference, while others sided with Bored and Busy’s opinion that they were basically meaningless and unnecessary. Finally, one letter was printed that ended the debate:

I quit eating this year. Thanks to Bored and Busy’s insights, I decided that eating week after week was a stupid thing to do. After all, I have been eating for more than 40 years and during my lifetime I probably have eaten 5,000 meals. I can only remember about five of them. What a waste of time. Starved and Stupid

Where to Take It from Here...

Sometimes you may wonder what good it does to listen to sermons or participate in weekly Bible studies or have daily devotions. Like the first letter writer in the story, you may feel that you’re too bored or busy for the things of God. But don’t overlook the fact that you need those things to survive.

In order to grow as a Christian, you need spiritual food (1 Corinthians 3:2). You need to feed on the Word of God. Not every spiritual meal is going to be memorable, but it will provide you with the nourishment you need to survive and thrive as a Christian.

Church

Date: 11/2008.101

Pillars - worship regularly, giving time and money

Leaners - use the church for funerals, baptisms and weddings.

Specials - help and give occasionally for something that appeal to them

Annuals - dress up for Easter and come for Christmas programs

Sponges - take all blessings and benefits and even the sacraments but never give out anything themselves.

Scrappers - take offense and criticize
CHURCH, ATTENDANCE

Going in Circles

Date: 11/2005.101

Studying a group of processionary caterpillars, the French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre induced them onto the move of a large vase. Uniting the last caterpillar with the first, Fabre formed a living circle with neither a beginning nor an end. He supposed that after a while the caterpillars would tire of their repetitious march, break their useless cycle and set off in a new direction. This however, was not the case. The caterpillars continued at the same velocity on the same futile path, hour after hour, night after night.

After several days, a favorite food was deliberately placed near the vase where it could be sensed by the caterpillars but not within immediate reach of the circle. Even then, each habitually followed the one before it. The caterpillars refused to vary from their routine, persisting instead on the same trajectory - day after day - in what became for them a march of death.

The processionary caterpillars were following past experience, instinct, tradition, precedent, custom, established pattern, what they had always done. But they were following blindly. Their confused activity with progress. Despite their best intentions, persistence and fortitude, these processionary caterpillars were going to die.

Are we like that in pursuit of material things, in 'doing-church'?

Many times we recall with gratitude our past experiences in the presence of the Lord. With nostalgia, we remember certain youth group, powerful evangelistic meetings, hymns or choruses that had touched us deeply. We yearn for others in the church to experience today the same consecration and aliveness in Christ that we have known.

ALSO -how are we doing church? Still the same? No change?
CHURCH, ATTENDACE

Habits

Date: 11/2007.101

The habits of the heart are there when they are most needed.

Joke - Sporting Excuses

Date: 6/2006.101

1) Every time I went, they asked me for money.

2) The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.

3) The seats were too hard and not comfortable.

4) The coach never came to call on me.

5) The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

6) I was sitting with some hypocrites who came only to see what others were wearing.

7) Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.

8) The band played a few numbers that I had never heard before.

9) The games are scheduled when I want to do other things.

10) My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

11) Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.

12) I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

On the bottom of the page was this one line postscript: "With apologies to those who use the same excuses for not coming to church."

Secret Service – Joke

Date: 5/2008.101

The preacher grabbed Jack by the hand and pulled him aside. The pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord! “Jack replied, "I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."

Pastor questioned, "How come I almost never see you except at Christmas and Easter?"

Jack whispered back, "I'm in the secret service."

Sleeping In Church

Date: 3/2007.101

The Lonely Amber

Date: 10/2008.101

Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.

Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."
CHURCH, ATTENDANCE

Throwing Dirt on You

Date: 5/2007.101

The man said, "Preacher, the first time I attended church, they dunked me in the water, the second time I attended, you tied me to a wife that I've had ever since."

And the minister said, "And the next time you come, we'll throw dirt on you.
CHURCH, ATTENDANCE

What I Never Eat

Date: 6/2006.101

1 don't eat any more because...

1) I was forced to ear as a child.

2) People who eat all the time are hypocrites; they aren't really hungry.

3) There are so many different kinds of food. I can't decide what to eat.

4) I used to eat, but I got bored and stopped.

5) I only eat on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter.

6) None of my friends will eat with me.

7) I'll start eating when I get older.

8) I don't really have time to eat.

9) I don't believe that eating does anybody any good. It's just a crutch.

10) Restaurants and grocery stores are only after my money.

Application:

Giving lame excuses for not attending church or not getting involved in ministry is just as silly as giving up eating. Church attendance for Christian is as important as regular, balanced meals. Without spiritual food, we will die (1 Peter 2:2)