Sermons on climate change… hmmm… Of course, we are stewards of God’s creation, intended to appreciate and care for it as we live in it, but the highly politicised climate change agenda, the increasing focus on the Earth as a sentient being with feelings, is becoming a false god. The (established) Church is not here to preach what secular people want to hear, it is here to feed the saints and encourage and build them up so they can GO OUT. Jesus never said the Church should tailor the message to suit the audience so that non-believers don’t feel uncomfortable. If anything they SHOULD feel uncomfortable because they have a sinful nature which is revealed in the presence of the Light of the World! The original Church of new testament BELIEVERS met in their homes and broke bread and fellowshipped together. They encouraged one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. They built each other up and then WENT OUT. The harvest is outside not inside!
Churches should not regularly make their services suitable to attract non-believers, the so-called “seeker friendly” services, which can end up being weak, watered down and almost apologising for the faith we have, talking only about a generic and impersonal “God”, rather than Jesus, Father, Lord… so as not to offend or alienate anyone.
Revivals are born out of strong, biblical preaching of the undiluted gospel, out of prayer and by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. No revival has ever come unless the Lord is lifted up! It’s just not possible!
The more politically correct the Church becomes, the more it is weakened.
Colossians 2:6-8 NIV
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. [8] See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Believers need to be fed; built up in the knowledge of the truth so that their light SHINES when they go out into the darkness.
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Our “good works” are to do the things that God prepared in advance for us to do. Above all to believe on Jesus, but to care, to comfort, to speak, to feed, to teach, to encourage, to help, to be his ambassadors and go where and to whom he sends us. …To go where HE SENDS us and be like HIM wherever he puts us. He equips us at the time of need to do what he asks of us. Man does not persuade man to be saved. The Holy Spirit draws and convicts men and they are saved by FAITH in Christ alone!
Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
It’s not about numbers, not about “bums on seats” and being “relevant” to the masses, not about planning “seeker friendly” outreach. People are dying! There isn’t time to waste focusing on the wrong thing. God is always now, today… He is I AM. Where is our prayer? Where is our wholehearted devotion and worship? He says TODAY is the day of salvation!
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NKJV
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2] For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Jesus – and Jesus alone – is the Way, the Truth and the Life. There is no way to the Father but through him!
The Finished Work 