Christian Church 24.7 Ministry Community Group
Welcome to our church! We are glad you have chosen to join us. Please read the important guidelines for the group first.
"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons",
Have you ever heard the old saying that "We should not Judge others"? That is a true statement but, if we are not careful, we often do that. This message will show that and a few other weaknesses we have as Christians unless we stay on guard.
Sometimes we look at:
1. what people wear.
2, How people look.
3. Where people live
4, What people drive.
Society has a tendency to dictate to us what the ideal life is and how things should be.
Example: Soap Operas:
Everyone wears nice clothes, live in nice houses, wear nice jewelry, never work and if they do, everyone wears a suit, everyone owns a plane and they had a kid last year and this year the kid is 30 years old and mo and dad have not aged a bit!!!!!!!! This is not reality!!!!! This is fantasy entertainment, if that's what you wish to call it.
Did you know that Spiritual Snobbery can infiltrate the church too?
I. True Christianity is not compatible with Spiritual Snobbery: vs-1
If we back up to the last 2 verses in the previous chapter, this says that we are to visit the fatherless, the widows and attend to their needs, whether it be money, clothes, utilities or whatever. You can not do these things and have Spiritual Snobbery. Where did you ever see Christ being a snob to anyone? Are we not to be like Christ?
Some churches help no-one. They amass a great treasury and use it for remodeling and renovations but, do little to help the poor and needy of their own communities!!!!
Jesus never snobbed anyone. Lepers, blind, maimed, deaf, diseased, demon possessed, adulterers, Tax collectors, prostitutes, and all races, came to Him and He treated them the same.
II. The cruelness of Spiritual Snobbery: vs-2-4
A poor man comes in to worship wearing a tattered rainment and a rich man came in wearing fancy robes. The poor man was told to either stand or sit on the floor under the footstool, while the rich man was given the best seat. (paraphrased for space and time). This was not right the text says.
I wear a suit when I preach at my church, preach funerals, graveside services and do weddings. I do this because of the Office I hold and for the service I am rendering to the people. Monday through Sat., you will see me in T-shirts, jeans and boots.
Often times, people who have little, are persecuted by those who have much, in society but, this should not be done in church. A preacher went on vacation and when Sunday came around, he and his wife and family chose to attend a church. When he walked in, every male child from 3 years on up was wearing a tie. This preacher was wearing nice slacks and a nice shirt, his wife in a nice dress and his children dressed accordingly but, he said he felt the coldness when the congregation saw how they were dressed and their lack of fellowship with them, after the service reflected the same coldness. This ought not to be folks,.
I believe in modest dress but, I am not a prude. A thong and a halter top probably would not make my dress code approval but otherwise I don't get hung up on what people wear. When Jesus preached to the multitudes on the hillsides, these people walked for days to hear Him. I don't believe they all wore Botany 500 suits and wore patent leather shoes. I would rather see a man or woman in a T-shirt and Jeans, that love the Lord, than I would some pious man in a 3 piece suit with alligator shoes snapping up at his knees and , all puffed up and spiritual acting due to some office he held in the church. HOG WASH.
III. The inconsistancy of Spiritual Snobbery: v 5-7
People claim to love the lord and love other people but, when the chips are down, they sometimes withdraw and want to hang with the socialites of the church. Here is a good example how easy this can happen.
Galations Chpt 2 vs-11-13.
Peter had came to Antioch where Paul had been preaching and many of the Jews and Gentiles of that area had been getting saved. They had quite a revival going on and this is where believers were first called "Christians". Peter ate and associated with the Jews and Gentiles there till a Jewish delegation from the church at Jerusalem came to see what was happening. For fear of them. Peter, the Jewish Christians and even Barnabus, separated themselves from the Gentiles and would not set with them or associate with them. Paul confronted Peter face to face about this and told him is was wrong. Paul said Peter "was to be blamed". We sometimes get caught up in this by denomination, by race or by social status.
IV. How to cure Spiritual Snobbery: vs 8-13
" love you neighbor as yourself"the scripture says. That means no matter what, love people.
Do you love yourself any less when you have no money, when you don't have a nice car or. when you don't have nice clothes to wear. No, you make do with what you have. These are just external things. True love for people comes from the heart.
Love people for who they are, not what they have. All that holds the "Upper Crust" together is just 'dough" anyway. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, Movie stars, and Rock Stars all hang with the "Beautiful People, those referred to as "The Rich and Famous.
It's kind of funny but, H. L. Hunt was one of the richest men in the world at one time. My dad and H. L. were good friends and my dad took me with him many times to H. L. 's home in Ramsey, Ill. when I was a kid. You sometimes found H. L, in the kitchen, fixing bacon and eggs for breakfast with an undershirt on, a pair of pants with no belt and barefoot.
I have preached and Pastored now for 36 years. I do not care what you have or don't have, physically. I don't care what you have or don't have financially, and I don't care where you stand in society. I just care about you spiritually!!!! Are you Saved/ Have you accepted Christ as your savior?
Assets, land, money, clothes, jewelry, nice homes cars, social stand mean absolutely nothing compared to the worth and value of your soul!!!!!!! Why do you think Jesus said "What profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul!!!!!!
Nothing can promise and provide you with Eternal Life, except Jesus. He alone stands between you, Heaven Hell and Eternal Life. Where do you stand? With Him or without Him?
May God use this message for it's intent in all those who read it.
Oldbiker
Have you ever heard the old saying that "We should not Judge others"? That is a true statement but, if we are not careful, we often do that. This message will show that and a few other weaknesses we have as Christians unless we stay on guard.
Sometimes we look at:
1. what people wear.
2, How people look.
3. Where people live
4, What people drive.
Society has a tendency to dictate to us what the ideal life is and how things should be.
Example: Soap Operas:
Everyone wears nice clothes, live in nice houses, wear nice jewelry, never work and if they do, everyone wears a suit, everyone owns a plane and they had a kid last year and this year the kid is 30 years old and mo and dad have not aged a bit!!!!!!!! This is not reality!!!!! This is fantasy entertainment, if that's what you wish to call it.
Did you know that Spiritual Snobbery can infiltrate the church too?
I. True Christianity is not compatible with Spiritual Snobbery: vs-1
If we back up to the last 2 verses in the previous chapter, this says that we are to visit the fatherless, the widows and attend to their needs, whether it be money, clothes, utilities or whatever. You can not do these things and have Spiritual Snobbery. Where did you ever see Christ being a snob to anyone? Are we not to be like Christ?
Some churches help no-one. They amass a great treasury and use it for remodeling and renovations but, do little to help the poor and needy of their own communities!!!!
Jesus never snobbed anyone. Lepers, blind, maimed, deaf, diseased, demon possessed, adulterers, Tax collectors, prostitutes, and all races, came to Him and He treated them the same.
II. The cruelness of Spiritual Snobbery: vs-2-4
A poor man comes in to worship wearing a tattered rainment and a rich man came in wearing fancy robes. The poor man was told to either stand or sit on the floor under the footstool, while the rich man was given the best seat. (paraphrased for space and time). This was not right the text says.
I wear a suit when I preach at my church, preach funerals, graveside services and do weddings. I do this because of the Office I hold and for the service I am rendering to the people. Monday through Sat., you will see me in T-shirts, jeans and boots.
Often times, people who have little, are persecuted by those who have much, in society but, this should not be done in church. A preacher went on vacation and when Sunday came around, he and his wife and family chose to attend a church. When he walked in, every male child from 3 years on up was wearing a tie. This preacher was wearing nice slacks and a nice shirt, his wife in a nice dress and his children dressed accordingly but, he said he felt the coldness when the congregation saw how they were dressed and their lack of fellowship with them, after the service reflected the same coldness. This ought not to be folks,.
I believe in modest dress but, I am not a prude. A thong and a halter top probably would not make my dress code approval but otherwise I don't get hung up on what people wear. When Jesus preached to the multitudes on the hillsides, these people walked for days to hear Him. I don't believe they all wore Botany 500 suits and wore patent leather shoes. I would rather see a man or woman in a T-shirt and Jeans, that love the Lord, than I would some pious man in a 3 piece suit with alligator shoes snapping up at his knees and , all puffed up and spiritual acting due to some office he held in the church. HOG WASH.
III. The inconsistancy of Spiritual Snobbery: v 5-7
People claim to love the lord and love other people but, when the chips are down, they sometimes withdraw and want to hang with the socialites of the church. Here is a good example how easy this can happen.
Galations Chpt 2 vs-11-13.
Peter had came to Antioch where Paul had been preaching and many of the Jews and Gentiles of that area had been getting saved. They had quite a revival going on and this is where believers were first called "Christians". Peter ate and associated with the Jews and Gentiles there till a Jewish delegation from the church at Jerusalem came to see what was happening. For fear of them. Peter, the Jewish Christians and even Barnabus, separated themselves from the Gentiles and would not set with them or associate with them. Paul confronted Peter face to face about this and told him is was wrong. Paul said Peter "was to be blamed". We sometimes get caught up in this by denomination, by race or by social status.
IV. How to cure Spiritual Snobbery: vs 8-13
" love you neighbor as yourself"the scripture says. That means no matter what, love people.
Do you love yourself any less when you have no money, when you don't have a nice car or. when you don't have nice clothes to wear. No, you make do with what you have. These are just external things. True love for people comes from the heart.
Love people for who they are, not what they have. All that holds the "Upper Crust" together is just 'dough" anyway. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, Movie stars, and Rock Stars all hang with the "Beautiful People, those referred to as "The Rich and Famous.
It's kind of funny but, H. L. Hunt was one of the richest men in the world at one time. My dad and H. L. were good friends and my dad took me with him many times to H. L. 's home in Ramsey, Ill. when I was a kid. You sometimes found H. L, in the kitchen, fixing bacon and eggs for breakfast with an undershirt on, a pair of pants with no belt and barefoot.
I have preached and Pastored now for 36 years. I do not care what you have or don't have, physically. I don't care what you have or don't have financially, and I don't care where you stand in society. I just care about you spiritually!!!! Are you Saved/ Have you accepted Christ as your savior?
Assets, land, money, clothes, jewelry, nice homes cars, social stand mean absolutely nothing compared to the worth and value of your soul!!!!!!! Why do you think Jesus said "What profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul!!!!!!
Nothing can promise and provide you with Eternal Life, except Jesus. He alone stands between you, Heaven Hell and Eternal Life. Where do you stand? With Him or without Him?
May God use this message for it's intent in all those who read it.
Oldbiker
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS.....JULIE