Articles
Church is Hard
Church is Hard
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
--Church is hard for the person walking through the doors, afraid of being judged for mistakes in choices, words, or behaviors.
--Church is hard for the preacher’s family, under the microscope by the entire congregation.
--Church is hard for the prodigal soul returning home, broken and battered by the world.
--Church is hard for the girl who looks like she has it all together, but doesn’t.
--Church is hard for the couple who argued all the way to services.
--Church is hard for the single mom, surrounded by couples holding hands, and seemingly perfect families.
--Church is hard for the widow or widower with no invitation to lunch after service.
--Church is hard for the elder or deacon with an estranged child.
--Church is hard for the person singing worship songs, overwhelmed by the impact of the lyrics.
--Church is hard for the man who is insecure in his role as one of the leaders.
--Church is hard for the wife who longs to be led by a righteous husband.
--Church is hard for the Grandmother who desperately longs for a Grandchild to sit with her at worship.
--Church is hard for the single woman and single man, who have prayed for years for God to bring them a mate.
--Church is hard for the teenage girl who had a child out of wedlock, constantly ashamed of having yielded to temptation.
--Church is hard for the sinners who do not want to be reminded that they are lost.
--Sometimes Church is hard for me.
It’s hard, because on the outside it all looks shiny and perfect; you know -- Sunday best in behavior and dress. However, underneath those layers you may find a body of imperfect people, and a few with carnal souls and selfish motives.
But, herein is the beauty of the local Church:
--Church isn’t a building, a mindset, or an expectation; Church is a body.
--Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.
--Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by an eternal love.
--Church is a holy ground where former sinners stand together as equals before the Throne of Grace.
--Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.
--Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation, where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.
--Church is an object lesson in faith and trust; it is a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.
--Church is a family -- a family coming together, setting aside differences, forgetting past mistakes, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.
--Church, the body, the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where He resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.
So even on the hard days at church, the days when I am at odds with a friend, when I’ve walked in bearing burdens heavier than my heart can handle, yet masking the pain with a smile on my face, when I’ve worn the pressures of the world under the microscope, when I’ve longed for a baby to hold, or fought tears as the lyrics were sung, when I’ve walked back in, afraid and broken, after walking away in the past -- Then I’ll remember: He has never failed to meet me there. (Author Unknown)
Yes, church is hard, but the Lord is there to meet with us when the church comes together. If I choose to stay away now because church is hard, I will learn later in eternity that Hell is much harder.
“To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places… to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:10, 21). “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1Tim. 3:15).
A Moments Wisdom
--Get happiness out of your work, or you may never know what happiness is.
--Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
--I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.
--Tell a person they are brave, and you help them become so.
--Pessimist: One who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both.
--You can overcome anything if you don't bellyache.
--Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.
--Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.
--We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.
--Be sincere; be brief; be seated. (Franklin D. Roosevelt on public speaking)
--Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
--The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.
--A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.
--Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.
--The greatest composer does not sit down to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.
Test Your Bible Knowledge
1. What insect did the prophet Joel use to illustrate his message? __________
2. What king started to repair the temple and ended up practicing idolatry? __________
3. What prophet was sent to Nineveh, but took a boat to escape the mission? __________
4. What prophet’s wife was a harlot who he had to ransom from her debts? __________
5. What good king tried to burn incense in the temple and was struck with leprosy? __________
6. What prophet was a herdsman who gathered sycamore fruit? __________
Upcoming Sermons
6/20/21 AM - When Forgiveness Isn’t Enough; PM - The Last Day
6/27/21 AM - “This Little Light of Mine”; PM - Why Nations Fall
7/4/21 AM - Fellowship Through Worship; PM - Singing Service: Congregational Choice
7/11/21 AM - “Some Save With Fear”; PM - Words to Die By: Idle Words
7/18/21 AM - “Stand”; PM - Good Intentions Vs Good Actions
7/25/21 AM - Religion That Costs Nothing; PM - Longing for the Good Old Days
