Pastor Thomas Young - November 18, 2007
Me to We - Part 3: John 4:5-39
The modern church has engrossed itself with consumerism. Most churches plan and strategize with this catering mindset. They desire to please the people and give them what they want so they will come to their building. But, is that the goal? Are people the consumers for the church to target? Is the church merely a business tool that only needs to come up with clever marketing tactics so people will come on Sunday and see the "show"? Is this what God intended? What has this produced? The byproduct is a culture that now hates church and a group of constituents that gather in a building rather than become a group of committed followers that have joined a movement! The modern church movement has reached a snag. Many are realizing there is more to it than watering down the gospel so it will be palatable to people or "decorating" a worship service in such a way that will entice someone to keep coming back. Pastor Thomas shares in this timely 4 part series, that church, is a WE not a ME. The Bible was not written to individuals. It's not about ME but WE. The Church was designed by God to live and breathe with synergy in mind not consumerism. Churches have hollowed out the gospel leaving a shell of emptiness behind in the hearts of those who "attend". The church is a place of community where the substance of the gospel is centralized and missional living in the community is modeled. It's a group that says what Jesus says and does what Jesus does. In society, the church is supposed to be the answer, not the problem. Find out how God's plan called "church" really was more that a great idea; it is the vehicle for showing the world the glory of God!
Scripture References: John 4:5-39