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Sermon
of 01-11-03
The Person in the Pew
by Dr. David Farmer, pastor
Scripture - Hebrews 10:25;
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Today will finish our series on what it means to be a Christian in these last days.
Today's and last week's sermon topics may be a little different than what you are used to receiving on Sabbaths. Today's topic is; "The Person in the Pew". We will look at what God expects from you, what the
Seventh-Day Adventist Church expects from you, and lastly, what I as your pastor expect from you. Last week we look at what God, the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church and you as members of this local church expected from me as your pastor.
Now if you only here today's sermon and not last weeks, then you'll have a lopsided view of what it means to be Christian in God's Church today. So please, if you were not here last week, go to our web page and download the sermon. You can also listen to the sermon there or seek a copy of the tape from Roger or myself. But today we conclude our two part series.
I would like to begin by reading a poem I found in this newsletter from "The Hour of Prophecy" with Pastor Bob Thrower. It's called "This is my Church."
My church is: composed of people like me. We make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship if I bring them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with theses.
Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my church to be.
Sounds like if we want a church filled with the Spirit, then we must be filled first. I heard someone once say, if you are looking for the perfect church, if you ever find it then please don't join it because you will ruin it.
I have to admit to you this morning that I approach writing and preaching this sermon with some apprehension and concern. Why you ask? I think you will have your answer by the time I'm through this morning. I spent much thought and prayer in preparing it. I hope you will accept the fact that I believe it is a message from our Lord.
Please listen again to our Scripture from Hebrews 10:25, only this time from the NIV;
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
The Apostle Paul, which is who I believe, wrote Hebrews, says that God's people should worship together. In your bulletin insert please fill in the word "Worship".
This is the 1st thing I think God expects from His people that call them selves "Christians". You do know what the word "Christian" means don't you? Christ-like. So whenever you call yourself a Christian, you are saying to the world, "When you see me, you are seeing Christ."
Paul also says we should encourage each other - especially when we see the Day of Judgment approaching. Now friend, if I read the signs in Matthew chapter 24 correctly, we have the Day of Judgment or better known as the 2nd Coming of Jesus, right upon us. And Paul says when we see the signs of Christ Coming, we should be found worshipping together.
Now let me make a point here. Paul is not saying we should worship together from afar off. I know this because he says,
"as the manner of some is" in the KJV. We should be together in God's house worshipping Him. Someone once told me that they did not have to go to church to be a good Christian. And all I could say in return was, "But I've never met a good Christian that didn't go to church."
See my friends, God expects us to be in His House each and every week. This is where He comes to meet us for a special worship. If He comes and you are not here, who looses out? You do my friends, you do. Listen to this quote I found in Ministry of Healing page 511; "It is a serious mistake to neglect the public worship of God. The privileges of divine service should not be lightly regarded." I'm afraid some of us have been guilty of taking worshipping with others to lightly. It is our duty and a command from God to worship with each other every week possible. By the way, in case you are wondering, staying home and watching 3ABN is not what Paul meant.
Have you ever seen those tickets stubs that say: "Not good if detached"? That pretty well describes a person that isn't in church each week. There're not any good detached. I will come back to this subject in a few minutes.
The 2nd thing I want to look at is what it means to be loyal to God and loyal to our neighbors. In your bulletin insert write "faithful" where it says, "Loyalty means being faithful to God."
But one might ask, but how do we show our loyalty or faithfulness to God? Good question. I'm so glad you asked. Let's look at what God I believe
says being loyal means.
1st, I believe it means we should be loyal to Gods called leaders. Write "called" in your insert. I believe God directs our local church, our conference, and General Conference nominating committee every time they meet. I believe God guides the committees in who to select for that years undertaking to lead the rest of us. Listen to Hebrews 13:17; "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls..."God requires us to show loyalty and respect to our leaders. Now that is not to say you cannot disagree with the conference officials or me, but God does expect you to do so in a loving Christian manner.
Next I believe God requires His people to show loyalty and faithfulness in the churches outreaches. Write in your insert "outreaches". Now I know that every outreach is different and meant to reach different people. Showing loyalty or faithfulness doesn't always mean you have to be personally involved. Faithfulness can also mean you can help financially or at least pray for its success. You might want to ask if there is something you can do to help personally. You might be surprised at how your talents can be used in any or all outreaches.
One of the outreaches this church does often is Evangelism. Which by the way in case you didn't know it, this is the 1st and foremost outreach we as a church have. Matthew 28:19-20 says we are to;
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
V: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
I can promise you, there is not a person here at any age that we cannot find something for you to do or help in.
Now here is where I stop preaching and start meddling. Someone here might say, "But pastor, I don't have time to help in the outreaches of this church. I have my job, kids, home, cleaning, school, fishing, hunting, golfing, boating, skiing, (have I said enough yet?). I have so much other things to do first before I can give any time to my church."
Folks, I'm paid for a 40-hour workweek. That is all I'm required to work. But if you know me, then you know I put in 80 hours a week - sometimes more. I find the time to volunteer each week for this church and God. Friends, if I can give 40 hours volunteer work, shouldn't you be willing to do the same yourself? Before I go any farther, I want you to know I don't expect you to volunteer 40 hours each week, - 39 will be sufficient.
Friends, I understand you all have families and your own life to live. But I, and so does God, expect you to volunteer some of your time each week to continue God's work. For example. This is His house. We see that our homes are clean and lawns mowed before Sabbath each week. Shouldn't we do the same for God's house? While I'm at it, I want to thank all those that have been cleaning God's House each week.
Also, if nothing else, you can pray each week for this church, Her leaders and its outreaches.
When you joined this church you made a vow to Her and God that you would support Her with your time, money and prayers. Prayers are what will give Her power, success, and meaning. Without our prayers She will die. Prayer is that important. In fact Pentecost only came after 10 days of upper room praying. Praying for power and forgiveness.
A few months back several of our members met at the school for 10 days in a row every morning at 8:00 AM and prayed for our church school. And I can tell you - we have witnessed a huge difference in our school! And I want to thank those that came everyday. It's members like you that help carry God's work forward and will finish it.
I've heard it said before; "But pastor, I get nothing out of church." But I've notice that those that say that are usually the ones that put nothing into church.
I want to go back to what we were talking about earlier. About our attendance each week at church. Someone once asked; "Preacher, just how many services do I have to attend each week to be considered faithful?" Another good question , and once more I'm glad you asked.
Told you I would meddle.
Let me see if I can answer that question by asking you a few questions;
If your car starts 1 out 3 times, is it considered faithful?
If your paperboy skips your house on Mondays and Fridays, will you miss it?
If your failed to come to work 2 or 3 days a month, would your boss consider you faithful?
If your refrigerator fails to work 1 day a week, do you excuse it by saying, "Oh well, it works most of the time?"
If your hot water heater greets you with a cold shower 2 times a week, would it be faithful?
If you skipped a couple of mortgage payments a year, would your mortgage holder say, "Oh well, 10 out of 12 isn't bad?"
If you miss worship and attend meetings only often enough to show that you're interested but not enough to become involved, are you faithful?
Now I realize I said earlier that I understand you have families and your own life to live. I understand that because Kathy and I too have families and our own lives to live. But someone here might be thinking, "But pastor if I attended every church function this church has - then I wouldn't have time for anything else." My question to that would be, what do you mean "anything else?" Do you mean watching TV? Sports games? Shopping? Taking a nap? Fishing? Hunting? Golfing? Then folks good. We spend too much time doing everything else than we do spreading the gospel.
Now please don't misconstrue what I'm saying here. I'm not saying these things are wrong to do. But if they keep you from God's house of worship or Her outreaches - then you will have to answer to God for it someday.
While we are at it. Please save your excuses why you missed church, a program or outreach. As I just said, you only have to answer to God for your deeds, not this church or me. But the day will come
when God will call into account your actions. Listen to Romans 14:12; "So then
every one of us shall give account of Himself to God."
Now someone might be thinking, "I'm not attending church because someone there hurt my feelings or embarrassed me." Ok, let's say someone has hurt or embarrassed you. How should you as a Christian (Christ-like) react? By saying something back? Do something unkind in return? Avoid them? Or not attend church.
But lets say that same person just came back from the doctor's office with bad news. They have been told they have cancer or a lump and only have a few weeks or months to live. Now how would you behave toward them if they said something hurtful, upsetting, or offensive to you? If you knew that some one here in our church only had a few more days, weeks or months to live, would you treat him or her or act any different?
Listen to this verse from Psalm 90:10; "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years." Friends, the Bible says all of our days are numbered. None of knows what tomorrow or next week holds. Moses says we may have 70 years to live, which by the way - Psalm 90 is only Psalm Moses wrote. Anyway, Moses says we may have 70 years to live, 80 years if we have strength or health you might say. Too many of my friends have died much younger than 70 or 80. Because no one knows what tomorrow holds is why it is so important to love one another today.
Lastly, yea, I'm still meddling. Lastly, God wants us to show our loyalty or faithfulness by our giving. Did you know that the average Seventh-day Adventist Christian tithe payer in America is around 50%? 50% of God's people pay their tithe. Now before you get to uncomfortable, I do not know in this church who does or doesn't pay their tithe. I feel that is between you and God. But you know if you're a faithful tithe payer. And friends, how can you expect God to bless you if you are stealing from Him? Listen to Malachi 3:8;
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
Kathy and I are good examples of what God can do for you if you are faithful with your tithes and offerings. Listen to Malachi 3:10;
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
I have stuff stored everywhere. Why? Because God has kept His end of the bargain. Kathy and I pay our tithe each month when we receive our paycheck. It's never an option on giving back to God what is His already. We also give offerings. To both our churches we pastor.
You do know how the tithe and offerings work don't you? The 10% tithe goes to the conference office. It's used to pay the pastors. The local offerings are what keep the church going. It pays for the insurance, electricity, gas, water and general all around up keep of the church.
I know that for some of you here, just paying tithe your may be all you can do. But you can give an offering with your time. Oh yea, I've already covered that subject haven't I?
I would like to finish with a poem I found during our Bible markings. It's called, "Close To, Round About, Nearby".
One Sunday, the Minister was giving a sermon on baptism and in the course of his sermon he was illustrating the fact the baptism should take place by sprinkling and not by immersion. He pointed out some instances in the Bible. He said that when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, it didn't mean in it meant close to round about, or nearby. And again when it says in the Bible that Phillip baptized the eunuch in the river, it didn't mean in - it meant close to, round about, or nearby.
After the service, a man came up to the minister and told him it was a great sermon, one of the best he had ever heard, and that it had cleared up a great many mysteries he had encountered in the Bible. "For instance", he said, "the story about Jonah getting swallowed by the whale has always bothered me. Now I know that Jonah wasn't really in the whale, but close to, round about, or nearby swimming in the water. Then there is the story about three young Hebrew boys who were thrown into the fiery furnace, but were not burned. Now I see that they were not really in the fire, just close to, round about, or nearby, just keeping warm. But the hardest of all the stories for me to believe has always been the story of Daniel getting thrown into the lion's den. But now I see that he wasn't really in the lion's den, but close to, round about, or nearby, like a zoo. The revealing of these mysteries has been a real comfort to me because I am a wicked man. Now I am gratified to know that I won't be in Hell, but close to, round about, or nearby. And next Sunday, I won't have to be in church, just close to, round about, or nearby. Thanks. You have really put my mind to ease."
I hope you understand why I included this poem. It had nothing to do with baptism but the last part of it.
If you think what I have been saying today is not from your Bible then at the bottom of this sermon I have included what the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy say on how to be a good, faithful, and loyal Christian. I pray you will read it over and look up the verses.
Last week you gave Pastoral Evaluation on me. This one is yours. The only difference is I'm not going to ask for it back. I want you to evaluate yourself as a Christian (Christ-like) and see how you stand up.
After hearing this topic, do you now know why I approached it with much prayer, apprehension and concern?
"How to Be the Christian Man or Woman
God Wants You to Be"
by Dr. David A. Farmer, pastor
The Bible has a lot to say on being a Christian; here are a few examples I found:
(1)We should believe on Christ, {Heb. 11:6} (2) We should have Holiness {Heb. 12:10,14} (3) We should have love {Matt. 22:36,37} (4) Faith {Mark 11:22} (5) Joy {Phil. 4:4} (6) Fellowship {1 John 1:3} (7) Walk in the Spirit {Gal. 5:16} (8) Filled with the Spirit {Eph. 5:18} (9) Guided by the Spirit {John 16:13} (10) Honesty {Eph. 4:2} (11) Be Peaceful {Rom. 14:1719} (12) Love thy Enemies {Matt. 5:44} (13) Help the needed {Acts 11:29,30} (14) Brotherly or sisterly Kindness {1 Pet. 4:711} (15) Fruitfulness {John 15:16} (16) Perseverance {1 Cor. 15:58} (17) Humility {1 Pet. 5:5,6} (18) Self-Control {Gal. 5:23}
The Spirit of Prophecy also has a few things to say about being a Christian in today's world:
(1)Affectionate {4T pg. 548} (2) Blessing to the World {AA pg. 13} (3) Christ's Representatives {5T pg. 368} (4) Honest {AH pg. 427} (5) Lights into the World {MB pg. 40} (6) To be like Christ {5T pg. 249} (7) Living representatives of Christ in Disposition and Character {SL pg. 55} (8) Missionary's {MH pg. 104} (9) The Most Cheerful and Happy People in the World {MYP pg. 368} (10) Refined {4T pg. 548} (11) Strictly Temperate {6T pg. 374} (12) Surrounded with Spiritual Atmosphere of Light and Peace {PK pg. 720} (13) Sympathetic {AH pg. 427} (14) Tender {4T pg. 548} (15) True {AH pg. 427} (16) Untied in Gospel Work {ChS pg. 14}
May we continue to claim the promise of Philippians 4:13 and 19 together;
"We can do all things through Christ which will strengthening us. And all our needs will be supplied according to His riches in the Glory of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."
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