Thursday, September 1, 2016

September 3, 2016

"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

I want you to notice two very different attitudes toward sinners and one important attitude by sinners.

The differences in these attitudes mark the difference between a dynamic church and a dying church.

So, let's look at this!

First we focus on the Pharisees. Based on their complaints toward Jesus it is quite apparent how they felt about the tax collectors and pharisees. They weren't very subtle about it so I'm sure those two groups felt the disdain and rejection of the religious establishment of their day.

Also, I'm fairly sure the tax collectors and sinners heard the Pharisees and they criticized Jesus for the company He was keeping.

On the other hand, Jesus welcomed tax-collectors and sinners. He did it for a very simple reason, He came to seek and save those who are lost. He was drawn to their spiritual hunger and their openness to the truth of His teaching. And, unlike the Pharisees, these guys were very aware of their sinfulness.

Let me ask you, would you rather go to a place where you don't feel welcome or to a person who is always glad to see you?

So did the tax collectors and the sinners. As the text says, "All the tax-collectors and Pharisees were coming to hear Him."

Well, no wonder sinners and tax-collectors (all of them) came to hear what Jesus had to say. Through His compassion toward them and dialogue with them He had won a measure of their trust. His words contained truth and life and love while the Jewish religious leaders spoke prejudice and criticism.

The Pharisees and religious leaders symbolize a church that is dying. A church that is legalistic, self-focused, self-satisfied, self-righteous and suspicious of anyone who isn't exactly like them. I wouldn't go to a church like that and neither would you. So, why would you think a lost person would show up there. In fact, if you care about lost people you pray they don't go to a church like that either!

Unfortunately there are far too many churches like that.

Contrast that to a dynamic church that wants sinners to come and welcomes them warmly into their fellowship! A dynamic church speaks truth and honors God's Word and challenges hearers to apply it to daily living. A dynamic church is committed to praying for lost people and intentionally builds relationships with lost people so that the Holy Spirit begins working in lost people to draw them toward worship and the Word.

This is the vision I have for FredWes. This is what "loving people to LIFE means"! We want to be people who build winning relationships with unsaved people so they feel comfortable when we invite them. We want to welcome them warmly when they come to investigate faith at FredWes. We want to lovingly confront them with the simple truth of the Gospel.

There are reasons churches die and there are reasons churches become dynamic. This story clearly illustrates the difference.

Will you help me make FredWes a place where lost people want to "come and hear"?
















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