April 19, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 by Bro_D
Daily Bread March 28, 2018
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
First off I admit I hand-picked this verse today – usually I just let the Bible fall where it falls …. But today the day started out differently than most. Second, I will admit I am more than a little hot under the collar …. People are headed straight to hell and there are those that lead & sit in places of worship who it seems really just don’t give a rip!
This coming Sunday is RESURRECTION Sunday .. the day the Church celebrates her Risen LORD. Without the death, burial and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ, we are hopeless and the message of the Church is empty. Without the RESURRECTION there is no eternal life with Him. Without the resurrection we are doomed! This day and Christmas are the most attended days for the church – I call many of the folks that show up on these Sunday’s “Chreasters”. This is one of if not the greatest opportunities to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who may never hear it …. This is THAT DAY!
What has me all fired up is that two of the larger churches in our area seem to be missing the point of what the Church is to be all about ---- Preaching the Word of God, teaching people to be disciples and how to make other disciples --- I almost ….. no I am absolutely sure that is what JESUS told His disciples to do – It is found in Mathew’s Gospel, chapter 28 verses 19-20 – and just for good measure it’s on page 1451 in my Bible!
Two places that people will gather --- and many will be gathering cuz these are larger than your average size Missouri place of worship – have such an awesome opportunity to make a HUGE impact forthe Kingdom of Heaven and on the kingdom of darkness – and yet .. one is showing the movie “Hacksaw Ridge” --- WHAT? I got no problem with the movie itself - -I’ve been wanting to see it – it has a good story – and I can see how the leadership of that place of worship might use the message of the movie ----- BUT THAT AIN’T WHAT JESUS SAID TO DO! The other place of worship is promoting their Easter baptismal celebration – I could totally get behind this one ….. until … the leadership gave this invitation… “just sign-up and show-up”. Really …. I do pray .. I mean I am really praying that the leadership will actually MAKE DISCIPLES rather than just stir the waters at Shoel creek that day – I even want to give them the benefit of doubt – that both of these places will do what the LORD Jesus Christ instructed His Church to do --- its just that .. well …. I’ve met many of the folks that attend these places of worship ….. and here is my fear …. Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' Before you think I am getting too judgmental …. I pray about these verses concerning my life on a daily basis – I am not doubting the work of Christ’s salvation in my life ---- no … I am judging myself lest I come under judgment (1 Cor. 11:31)
Please …. Please think about this…. Are we in danger of being like the fig tree Jesus cursed in Mark 11? Let’s not just sweep this under a rug …. AND .. I welcome any one that may attend one of these places of worship to PLEASE let me know that I am totally misinformed ---- that each one will truly be presenting the full Gospel of Jesus Christ .. that each one will be lifting high the Name of Jesus … that Name by which a man must be saved …. That Name that is above all names.