Sermon Central
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Too Often, Churchgoers Can Become ...
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 5, 2012 (message contributor)
Too often, churchgoers can become “spiritual hitchhikers”.
Have you ever been driving along the road when suddenly you saw a hitchhiker ahead?
What’s the universal symbol of the hitchhiker? (his thumb)
His thumb signal is giving a message loud and clear,
"If you will furnish the car, the gasoline, the time and do the driving, I'll ride with you.
But, you're 'nuts' if you think that I'm gonna chip in with any gas money; by the way, if you have an accident and I'm injured, I'll sue you for everything you have."
In the same way, in just about every congregation you'll find these “spiritual hitchhikers”.
They essentially say to God "If I’m comfortable. If I’m happy. If I like the preaching, the song service, and I like people… then I’ll SIT at church and take it all in.
But you're crazy if you think that I'm gonna chip in with any real financial support. Nor will I be involved with personal work, visitation, benevolence, etc., etc. And - by the way - if anything happens that irritates me, I’m outta here!
So, on my own terms, I'll ride along with you, God"
In other words… that person says “I’ll listen to you God BUT I’m not going to obey You. I’m not going to work for You. I’m not going to sacrifice for You. I am here in church to be entertained and satisfied… and that’s it. This is MY Christianity… and I’ll do it on MY terms.
That kind of servant isn’t really “marked” for obedience.
They just have ears that want to be tickled… not pierced (illustration used with Deuteronomy 15:12-17, where the servant had his ear pierced to belong to the master he loved).
And frankly, I’m not sure I’d want to be that kind of servant
Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2
I’d rather be the servant who hears and obeys.
I’d rather NOT be the branch that God cuts off and throws away.
JUST SAYING…
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