 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| BRANDED COWBOY CHURCH MINISTRIES preachin pages |
Why Do Some People Quit on the Church?
Matthew 13:45-46
Sunday Morning 7/27/2008
Matthew 13:45-46
Sunday Morning 7/27/2008
Have you ever wondered why some people quit coming to church?
We’ve seen it happen here at Branded Cowboy Church.
It happens in all churches.
It’s wonderful when someone begins to attend regularly!
We welcome them into the congregation.
We look forward to seeing them each Sunday.
Then after a period of time, they quit coming!
Why?
I suppose there are a number of reasons.
When we contact these people and ask why they quit coming…
We usually hear all kinds of excuses.
However, I believe today’s Bible text tells us why they quit.
Jesus gives us the main reason why people quit on Him.
Today’s story is about a man named Homer McCoy. Homer lived alone in a
shack in the hills of Tennessee. His favorite thing to do was going fox
hunting and his most prized possession was his 10 foxhounds. Homer’s
favorite hound was named "Zeke". Early one evening, Homer’s neighbor
came over for a visit. The two men sat down on Homer’s porch. Both men
grabbed a small piece of firewood, took out their pocketknives and began to
whittle. As they whittled, these two men talked and watched the evening
turn to darkness.
We’ll get back to that story a little later!
Point #1
The Church Is A Treasure of Great Value
Matthew 13: 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking
for fine pearls.
It does you no good to find a treasure if you don’t know its value.
The Church is a Treasure.
But it does you no good if you don’t see its Value. I was talking to a lady recently
who was lamenting the fact that her grandchildren have no interest in the Church.
They were raised in Christian homes. They went to church as children and teenagers.
But now they don’t see the Value of Church in their busy adult lives.
Why?
When someone grows up in church, they often see the bad things that can happen in the church. They see
fights between members. They see power plays among church leaders.
They see cliques and other kinds of exclusion. They see church folks living in sin.
They see hypocrites!
Some even witness major traumas like church splits. When people see those kinds of things happening in a
church many decide that if that is what church is all about they want no part of it.
Jesus taught the Parable of the Wheat & Tares. The enemy sows weeds in with the wheat.
It is those counterfeit Christians who have no conscience when it comes to causing trouble in the flock.
In fact, they seem to enjoy the tension and turmoil they cause because they aren’t connected in any real
way to Christ. To them…Church is just another organization to belong to.
In the light of the moon, Homer and his neighbor saw a coyote sneaking
up to Homer’s chicken pen. Zeke had been lying on the porch next to
Homer’s chair. When that old hound saw the coyote, he jumped to his feet
and barked. The big coyote turned and ran off in the direction of the woods.
Zeke dashed off the porch to chase the coyote, barking loudly. Soon
Homer’s other foxhounds heard Zeke barking and joined in the chase. Soon
the hills were echoing the sounds of their pursuit.
More of that story a little later!
Point #2. The Church Is A Treasure that requires Great Sacrifice
46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he
had and bought it.
What value does Jesus place upon the church?
Ephes. 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Jesus was willing to suffer and die on the cross for the church!
He loves the church! Notice that the man who found the pearl sacrificed everything he had to obtain the
Treasure.
The man had already sacrificed just in his search for the Pearl.
Pearl hunting involved great danger. You don’t just walk along a beach to find them.
Oysters generally thrive at a depth of about 40 feet.
Back in Jesus’ day, a pearl diver would tie a large rock to his body and jump over the side of a little boat,
allowing the weight of the rock to pull him down to the oyster beds.
He risked danger from sharks and other sea creatures to scour the mud for oysters.
An average of only 1 in 1,000 oysters contains a pearl. All the while, he had to hold his breath
and hope he wouldn’t drown. But if you found a Pearl, especially if you found The Pearl,
you had it made.
Pearls were perceived in the first century in much the same way we view diamonds today.
They were the most valuable gem in the world at that time. If you owned a pearl, you owned a fortune.
The Egyptians actually worshipped the pearl. And the Romans copied that practice.
So when Jesus compared His Church to a Pearl, this is the point he was making.
The Church of Jesus is THE most valuable commodity on earth.
But again, you have to believe that the Treasure is worth the sacrifice…or it does you no good.
The Church may not look like much, but if you know its value,
it is worth any price you have to pay. In order to see the church as a treasure, you have to be able to see her
the way Jesus does.
He sees the church as his precious bride!
He loved her so much he died for her… to make her pure and spotless
and to prepare her for the day He would wed her to Himself.
We have to see the church, not just as another organization like the Ruritan club,
Rotary Club, etc. As valuable as they may be, they cannot compare with the value God has placed on his
church
The merchant who found the Pearl took a huge Risk by selling everything they had in order to obtain the
Treasure.
If we are going to be part of His Church we have to be willing to take Great Risks.
Homer grabbed a jug of moonshine and invited his neighbor to sit with him
and enjoy the sounds of his hounds doing the thing they were bred to do.
The chase went on into the night. After a little while, many of the dogs grew
tired, dropped out of the chase, and came home. A few chased the coyote
until the night was nearly spent. By morning, only one dog continued the
hunt. Old Zeke could still be heard in the distance following the scent of that
fast running coyote.
Point #3 The Church Needs People With A
Vision
Matthew 13:45-46
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had and bought it.
In 2 Timothy 1:12 the apostle Paul said,
"I know whom I have believed & I am convinced that He is able to
keep that which I have entrusted to Him until that day."
Then just 2 verses later, Paul tells the young preacher, Timothy,
"Guard the treasure which has been entrusted to you."
There were no banks back in Paul’s day.
So what did you do with your wealth when you went on a journey?
If you were to die, who could you trust to be executor of your estate?
How could you be sure that your family would receive what was rightly theirs?
The person you ask to take care of your possessions must be someone you know very well.
It must be someone whom you trusted completely. And that is what Paul is saying about Jesus is in that
verse.
He said, "I know whom I have believed & I am convinced that He is able to keep that which I have entrusted
to Him until that day."
Paul is not saying, "I know about Him as an historic figure,"
Or, "I know about Him as a name that appears in the books."
Paul says "I know Him as my Savior, as my friend. I know Him as one who walks beside me & guides me.
I know Jesus! I know He is able to keep that which I have entrusted to Him."
"I know Jesus Christ, & I want you to know Him, too!"
You see, the greatest news is not that Paul knows Christ – or that John knows Christ – or that Peter knows
Christ – but that we can know Jesus Christ, too.
That is the greatest news of all. When we accept Him as our Savior, repenting of our sins,
He takes our sins away, forgiving us & forgetting our sins.
When we keep His commandments we show our love for Him. He becomes the Lord & the Master of our
lives.
We receive the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us and give us guidance & strength & direction for every
day.
Do you know Him? Can you stand with Paul & John & Peter & all of the others who say, "I know Jesus?"
The Homer’s neighbor was impressed by old Zeke’s unwillingness to quit.
He asked, "How come old Zeke is still after that coyote? All your other
hounds quit and came home." Homer stood up, stretched and yawned, then
explained to his neighbor why Zeke had not given up the chase. "It’s
simple," said Homer, "Zeke saw the coyote."
CLOSING:
That’s the reason why many people quit the church!
They haven’t seen Jesus!
If you’ve seen Jesus, you won’t quit on His church!
You’ll stick with us no matter how rough the trail gets!
Now, I’m not talking about seeing Jesus like you see me.
I’m talking about having a personal relationship with Jesus
I’m talking about seeing Him in your heart!
I’m talking about having a vision of Christ in your soul!
In Matthew 5:8 Jesus said:
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus… I welcome you to the alter if you have any needs.
Closing Prayer.
We’ve seen it happen here at Branded Cowboy Church.
It happens in all churches.
It’s wonderful when someone begins to attend regularly!
We welcome them into the congregation.
We look forward to seeing them each Sunday.
Then after a period of time, they quit coming!
Why?
I suppose there are a number of reasons.
When we contact these people and ask why they quit coming…
We usually hear all kinds of excuses.
However, I believe today’s Bible text tells us why they quit.
Jesus gives us the main reason why people quit on Him.
Today’s story is about a man named Homer McCoy. Homer lived alone in a
shack in the hills of Tennessee. His favorite thing to do was going fox
hunting and his most prized possession was his 10 foxhounds. Homer’s
favorite hound was named "Zeke". Early one evening, Homer’s neighbor
came over for a visit. The two men sat down on Homer’s porch. Both men
grabbed a small piece of firewood, took out their pocketknives and began to
whittle. As they whittled, these two men talked and watched the evening
turn to darkness.
We’ll get back to that story a little later!
Point #1
The Church Is A Treasure of Great Value
Matthew 13: 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking
for fine pearls.
It does you no good to find a treasure if you don’t know its value.
The Church is a Treasure.
But it does you no good if you don’t see its Value. I was talking to a lady recently
who was lamenting the fact that her grandchildren have no interest in the Church.
They were raised in Christian homes. They went to church as children and teenagers.
But now they don’t see the Value of Church in their busy adult lives.
Why?
When someone grows up in church, they often see the bad things that can happen in the church. They see
fights between members. They see power plays among church leaders.
They see cliques and other kinds of exclusion. They see church folks living in sin.
They see hypocrites!
Some even witness major traumas like church splits. When people see those kinds of things happening in a
church many decide that if that is what church is all about they want no part of it.
Jesus taught the Parable of the Wheat & Tares. The enemy sows weeds in with the wheat.
It is those counterfeit Christians who have no conscience when it comes to causing trouble in the flock.
In fact, they seem to enjoy the tension and turmoil they cause because they aren’t connected in any real
way to Christ. To them…Church is just another organization to belong to.
In the light of the moon, Homer and his neighbor saw a coyote sneaking
up to Homer’s chicken pen. Zeke had been lying on the porch next to
Homer’s chair. When that old hound saw the coyote, he jumped to his feet
and barked. The big coyote turned and ran off in the direction of the woods.
Zeke dashed off the porch to chase the coyote, barking loudly. Soon
Homer’s other foxhounds heard Zeke barking and joined in the chase. Soon
the hills were echoing the sounds of their pursuit.
More of that story a little later!
Point #2. The Church Is A Treasure that requires Great Sacrifice
46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he
had and bought it.
What value does Jesus place upon the church?
Ephes. 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Jesus was willing to suffer and die on the cross for the church!
He loves the church! Notice that the man who found the pearl sacrificed everything he had to obtain the
Treasure.
The man had already sacrificed just in his search for the Pearl.
Pearl hunting involved great danger. You don’t just walk along a beach to find them.
Oysters generally thrive at a depth of about 40 feet.
Back in Jesus’ day, a pearl diver would tie a large rock to his body and jump over the side of a little boat,
allowing the weight of the rock to pull him down to the oyster beds.
He risked danger from sharks and other sea creatures to scour the mud for oysters.
An average of only 1 in 1,000 oysters contains a pearl. All the while, he had to hold his breath
and hope he wouldn’t drown. But if you found a Pearl, especially if you found The Pearl,
you had it made.
Pearls were perceived in the first century in much the same way we view diamonds today.
They were the most valuable gem in the world at that time. If you owned a pearl, you owned a fortune.
The Egyptians actually worshipped the pearl. And the Romans copied that practice.
So when Jesus compared His Church to a Pearl, this is the point he was making.
The Church of Jesus is THE most valuable commodity on earth.
But again, you have to believe that the Treasure is worth the sacrifice…or it does you no good.
The Church may not look like much, but if you know its value,
it is worth any price you have to pay. In order to see the church as a treasure, you have to be able to see her
the way Jesus does.
He sees the church as his precious bride!
He loved her so much he died for her… to make her pure and spotless
and to prepare her for the day He would wed her to Himself.
We have to see the church, not just as another organization like the Ruritan club,
Rotary Club, etc. As valuable as they may be, they cannot compare with the value God has placed on his
church
The merchant who found the Pearl took a huge Risk by selling everything they had in order to obtain the
Treasure.
If we are going to be part of His Church we have to be willing to take Great Risks.
Homer grabbed a jug of moonshine and invited his neighbor to sit with him
and enjoy the sounds of his hounds doing the thing they were bred to do.
The chase went on into the night. After a little while, many of the dogs grew
tired, dropped out of the chase, and came home. A few chased the coyote
until the night was nearly spent. By morning, only one dog continued the
hunt. Old Zeke could still be heard in the distance following the scent of that
fast running coyote.
Point #3 The Church Needs People With A
Vision
Matthew 13:45-46
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had and bought it.
In 2 Timothy 1:12 the apostle Paul said,
"I know whom I have believed & I am convinced that He is able to
keep that which I have entrusted to Him until that day."
Then just 2 verses later, Paul tells the young preacher, Timothy,
"Guard the treasure which has been entrusted to you."
There were no banks back in Paul’s day.
So what did you do with your wealth when you went on a journey?
If you were to die, who could you trust to be executor of your estate?
How could you be sure that your family would receive what was rightly theirs?
The person you ask to take care of your possessions must be someone you know very well.
It must be someone whom you trusted completely. And that is what Paul is saying about Jesus is in that
verse.
He said, "I know whom I have believed & I am convinced that He is able to keep that which I have entrusted
to Him until that day."
Paul is not saying, "I know about Him as an historic figure,"
Or, "I know about Him as a name that appears in the books."
Paul says "I know Him as my Savior, as my friend. I know Him as one who walks beside me & guides me.
I know Jesus! I know He is able to keep that which I have entrusted to Him."
"I know Jesus Christ, & I want you to know Him, too!"
You see, the greatest news is not that Paul knows Christ – or that John knows Christ – or that Peter knows
Christ – but that we can know Jesus Christ, too.
That is the greatest news of all. When we accept Him as our Savior, repenting of our sins,
He takes our sins away, forgiving us & forgetting our sins.
When we keep His commandments we show our love for Him. He becomes the Lord & the Master of our
lives.
We receive the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us and give us guidance & strength & direction for every
day.
Do you know Him? Can you stand with Paul & John & Peter & all of the others who say, "I know Jesus?"
The Homer’s neighbor was impressed by old Zeke’s unwillingness to quit.
He asked, "How come old Zeke is still after that coyote? All your other
hounds quit and came home." Homer stood up, stretched and yawned, then
explained to his neighbor why Zeke had not given up the chase. "It’s
simple," said Homer, "Zeke saw the coyote."
CLOSING:
That’s the reason why many people quit the church!
They haven’t seen Jesus!
If you’ve seen Jesus, you won’t quit on His church!
You’ll stick with us no matter how rough the trail gets!
Now, I’m not talking about seeing Jesus like you see me.
I’m talking about having a personal relationship with Jesus
I’m talking about seeing Him in your heart!
I’m talking about having a vision of Christ in your soul!
In Matthew 5:8 Jesus said:
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus… I welcome you to the alter if you have any needs.
Closing Prayer.
