Give God Another Chance --- Where is the love? Go Back to Church!

Why Don’t You Give God  

Another Chance?

 

Pastor Rory Clark

Barah Ministries

www.barahministires.com

 

Hi there!

 

My name is Rory Clark and I am the Pastor of Barah Ministries…a worldwide Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ

 

I have a question for you…

 

Why Don’t You Give God Another Chance?

 

That’s the focus of these ten-minute lessons.  You can give God another chance.

 

TODAY’S LESSON

Where is the love?  Go Back to Church!

 

Do you go to church?  If not, why not?

 

I know why…PEOPLE. 

 

Here’s what some people have to say about why they no longer go to church.

 

WHY I DON’T GO TO CHURCH

 

For thirty-five years I have struggled to go to church. I am not a singer, I am a bit of an introvert, and every week I force myself to fit in and to be part of several church groups. It finally dawned on me that God was not asking this sacrifice of me and I have stopped going.

 

WHY I DON’T GO TO CHURCH

For the first time in years I am actively enjoying being a follower of Jesus and have tremendous peace, joy and happiness. It is as though I have been set free to live my life and I no longer feel depressed. I feel that I am serving God properly at long last by being a peaceful, loving, kind presence in the world rather than a depressed, harassed bundle of nerves. I have learned a lot from the Church, but in the end, for my sanity I had to leave.

 

PEOPLE is the reason many people don’t go to church.  But I ask…where is the love?  What would the Lord Jesus Christ have to say about this?  Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 43 to 48…

 

Matthew 5:43

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”

 

Matthew 5:44

“But I (the Lord Jesus Christ) say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

 

Matthew 5:45

“…so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

 

Matthew 5:46

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

 

Matthew 5:47

“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

 

Matthew 5:48

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 

Another story about people issues at church…

 

WHY I DON’T GO TO CHURCH

 

I don’t go to church, because those people think they’re better than me. They manipulate the masses for money. They look down their nose at me. I hate them! When I attend, I start feeling hate, frustration, anger, and have to run out. I can’t stand church. I went for seven years.  Then the church split and there was a lot of infighting by a bunch of phonies. I would like to find God. Hopefully He is not like His “Church.”

 

PEOPLE is the main reason many people don’t go to church.  But I ask…where is the love?  What would the Lord Jesus Christ have to say about this?  Hebrews, Chapter 10, Verses 23 to 25…

 

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…

 

Hebrews 10:24

…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to unconditional love and good deeds…

 

Hebrews 10:25

…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

You have to acknowledge that you don’t do anything alone as well as you do it with other people. So why sit at home?  Why not go to church?  Where is the love?

 

For every one of the stories like these I can tell you personal horror stories about why I shouldn’t go to church and about why I should have resigned as a Pastor years ago.  The stories would involve betrayal by my children…by some of my best friends…by deacons…by people who lived in my home…and the depth of detail I could share…and the pain and the scars that were inflicted would make you want to vomit.

 

So why am I still at church?  Because of Deacons like Denny Goodall, whom I trust with my life.  I can call on him any time of the day or night and he is there for me.

Because of people like Larry Collins who moved his entire family across the country to study with me.  Because of people like Susie Embree who is a friend and a confidant and a servant, always finding new ways to serve the congregation.  Because of people like Tommy and Donna Chin, who without their financial support and their friendship, Barah Ministries might not be able to stay open.  Because of people like John and Monica Miller who host an annual conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to bring the truth of the Word of God to people in other parts of the country.  Because of people like June Murphy…who writes and sings her heart out for the ministry.  Because of people like Tracy Bixby whose idea it was to bring

these lesson to you.

 

For every ten people who have hurt me, who think they are better than me, who look down their noses at me, who make me want to give up…there is one person who makes me want to stay.  And if it were only one person, I would still come to church.  I would still be a Pastor.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ could tell you stories about how He has been mistreated by people.  But he didn’t stop teaching…He didn’t stop going out among people…He didn’t stop loving His creatures unconditionally…and He still went to the Cross for us.

 

People in a church near you need you, and they need your spiritual gift.  God expects you to reflect Him.  You can’t do that at home.  Go back to church.  Let me feel the love.  Unconditional love.

 

If you like these short lessons, visit our website at www.barahministries.com.    That’s www.B-A-R-A-H-ministries.com  We have two different one hour lessons per week to edify your spiritual life.  Please join us.  And keep on giving God another chance.  I’m Pastor Rory Clark.

 

Pastor Rory Clark

Barah Ministries

www.barahministires.com