A Mother's Love (Matthew 20:20-23)

Good morning and welcome to Hope Church Clinton’s Virtual Church on Facebook Live! As we begin, would you please click on that “share” button down below this video and share this live video to your page to help us share the good news of Jesus Christ to the entire world?

Today is Mother’s Day -a day set aside to honor the women that helped mold us and make us into who we are today. 

What is a mother? Mothers are teachers, disciplinarians, janitors, gardeners, nurses, doctors, psychologists, counselors, chauffeurs, and coaches. And some even have professional jobs too! They help develop our personalities, our vocabularies, and our attitudes. Most importantly, mothers are oftentimes a child’s first impression of the love of God. They are all these things a much more.

With all these things in mind, today we are going to talk about a little-known mother in the Bible. She is found in Matthew 20:20-23. I will be reading from the English Standard Version of God’s Word.

Matthew 20:20-23: 

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

In this passage we are introduced to the mother of James and John aka “The Sons of Thunder.” Imagine raising those boys! We are not told her first name, but Matthew refers to her as “the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” We are told that she “came up to Jesus.” She had heard of this Jesus and about the coming of the kingdom. I’m sure James and John had told her all about the rabbi -the One they had left everything to follow. They probably told her how they were closer to him than most disciples, being two of three that got called away often to be with him.

Since she knew her boys were tight with Jesus, she figured that they would be brass in the coming kingdom. Good old boy system, right? Here’s the kicker -just before we find her falling at the feet of Jesus with this bold request, Jesus tells a parable…

Matthew 20:

 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go, I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Z must have began to worry if her sons would have the authority they so desired in the coming kingdom.

When she saw a chance to talk to Jesus on their behalf, she took it. Matthew tells us that she knelt before Jesus and made her request, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21b, ESV).

This lady had a lot of nerve! What kind of person, much less a woman in ancient times, approaches a rabbi and tells him what to do??

It’s easy to criticize this mother for this bold and brash act, but today is Mother’s Day, so I want to point out a few good things about Mrs. Zebedee. We also need to realize that when she came to Jesus, he didn’t grant her request, but he didn’t deny it either. He simply reminded her what it cost to have those positions she so desperately wanted her boys to have.

Now, what are some good things about this little-known mother?

She Wanted Her Sons to be in God’s Kingdom

Not only did she want it, she fell at the feet of Jesus begging for it. This is the most important thing we can do as Christian parents -pray for our children. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING FOR THEM. I’ve been a dad for 16 years now, and I can tell you it doesn’t get easier as they grow older. Being a parent is filled with a lot of good times and a lot of bad.

There are times when my kids make me so proud that I want to puff out my chest and strut around like an old Gobbler in the spring, but then there are other times when I’m not very proud at all and I think they can tell by the look on my face.

We must remember this -each stage of life a child enters, he or she will face new challenges just like we did. We need to be praying that they are part of the kingdom of God so they can stand against the attacks of Satan and his minions.

Being a parent is no walk in the park -it’s hard. Mrs. Zebedee gives us a good example, she prayed earnestly that her sons would be part of His kingdom!

Let me ask you this -do you want the best for your children? We all do. But what good is it if our kids grow up to make good money, have fancy cars, big houses, but they don’t know God? What will it matter if they gain the whole world, but lose their souls?

I hope that adult watching this video has a passion to charge the throne room of God begging for the salvation and transformation of the next generation.

She prayed that her sons would be involved in kingdom duties

She didn’t just pray that they would be a part of His kingdom, but she prayed they would be big players in it. She didn’t just want them to set on the bench and watch the game, she wanted them on the field!

Folks, it isn’t enough just to be “saved.” Yes, Jesus is enough, but churches are filled with people just riding the pine and “sitting on their haunches” as my grandmother would say. We come to church, give God an hour or two if He’s lucky and expect Him to bless us all week. We need to be about the business of God, actively involved in the ministry.

Where do children learn ministry? At church? Well, yes, but it begins at HOME. As parents, we must be the example to our children. They need to KNOW that worship, prayer, and Bible study is important. They need to know that “loving your neighbor as yourself” is important. BE THE EXAMPLE to your children.

She had big ambitions for her boys

Like any parent, she had big dreams for her kids. You see, when you are part of the King’s cabinet, there’s not a better seat in the in the court than to the right and left of the Man himself. And that’s EXACTLY where she wanted her boys to be.

It wasn’t enough for them to be in the cheap seats. It wasn’t enough for them to be in the concession stand slinging hot dogs. It wasn’t enough for them to be sitting in the dugout. She wanted them at the top of the lineup.

We may consider her a little too bold, but too many believers have settled for average. Too many of us are happy with getting through the doors of the church, and some of us can’t seem to work up enough energy to do that these days.

It’s time for us to get up and take our positions to the right and left sides of the throne of God. We need to lead by example and do some kingdom work. You may say, “Well, I can’t preach. I can’t teach. I can’t sing.” If you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you have been given a gift to use in the Kingdom. Find that gift and USE IT. Jesus didn’t suffer and die on the cross for us to just sit and watch the game.

One reason why Mother’s Day is so special is because a mother’s love is probably the closest illustration we have to God’s love. There’s something special about a mother’s love -it’s sacrificial. A mother will do whatever it takes to protect her children, even if it means death.

That’s exactly what God did for us. The Bible tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God loves us so much; He was willing to sacrifice Himself in our place. Perhaps you are watching this live stream right now and don’t know what it’s like to feel a mother’s love. A love that is unending and sacrificial. I am well-aware there are children that have been abandoned or neglected by their parents. God has promised never to leave those who put their trust in Him. If you want to feel that type of love, call upon God. Ask him to show Himself to you. Put your faith in Jesus and He will change your heart, your attitude, and your life.

If you want to know more about Jesus Christ, the Bible, or anything about our faith in general, please contact me. You can message me on the Hope Church Clinton Facebook page anytime.

Mothers, this is your day. I pray God blesses you and that you enjoy your time with your loved ones today. Keep praying for your kids, they need it now more than ever.

Right now, we are looking at options as to when we will gather again. I know I am ready to see everyone and I know some of you want to meet as soon as next Sunday, but as pastor, it’s my duty and your leadership team’s duty to make sure you are loved and protected. I have been consulting with medical professionals and various church leaders for wisdom and counsel, but it boils down to this: If someone in our church contracts this virus and passes away, I’ll be the one standing at the coffin wondering if we should’ve waited one more Sunday. Right now, our tentative date to meet again is Sunday, June 7^th and of course, we won’t be back to normal as we know it anytime soon.  That date can change based on circumstances of the pandemic. I’ll send out an email and post more details on Facebook soon.

I love you. I miss you. I’m praying for you. God bless you, Hope Church Clinton! See ya next Sunday!

(Some material for this message was obtained from “Mother’s Day – A Mother’s Love.” A sermon by Melvin Newland.)

The Doubting Thomas??

Two Sundays ago, we celebrated what the world calls “Easter Sunday” or as I like to call it, “Resurrection Day.” It is a certain Sunday set aside each year to commemorate the risen Christ. Many pastors and Bible teachers end the story with the empty tomb. Afterwards, they dismiss us to eat with our families and hunt eggs, but what else happened following that miracle of miracles? Last Sunday, we talked about what is commonly known as the Road to Emmaus and how two disciples unknowingly walked seven miles with Jesus without even recognizing him! It was not until they sat down at supper with him that they figured out it was the Lord. He then vanishes and they take off running back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples about this amazing occurrence. I feel the need to insert a fun fact here. Nearly every time we find the resurrected Jesus in Scripture, there’s food involved.

Today, let’s pick up where we left off. The disciples are locked in the upper room for fear of the Jews -namely the chief priests and others who had a hand in the execution of Jesus. This is the same upper room where Jesus had eaten the Passover meal with his disciples just four days earlier. The disciples naturally assumed their deaths would be imminent since it was no secret that they were his closest friends and followers.

John 20:19-23, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld’” (English Standard Version).

Now let’s get to the focus of today’s message in verse 24:

24) “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

25) So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into his side, I will never believe.’

26) Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

27) Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’

28) Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

29) Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (ESV).

        This passage features an exchange between Jesus and one of the disciples named Thomas, also called “the Twin.” Thanks to his fellow disciples fine writing skills, Thomas would have a new alias, “Doubting Thomas.” John felt the need to include this little event while the other gospel writers did not, and it will haunt Thomas up to this day and beyond. But was Thomas really a doubter? Was he really one who tossed his faith to the wind and believed it all to be a farce or a lie? Not hardly. You see, Thomas had an unmatched love for his friend Jesus and the courage of a lion. To see that side of Thomas, we must look deeper into Scripture, because even his buddy, John, shows us the other side of the one known as the Doubter.

        In the eleventh chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus receives word that one of his best friends is on his deathbed. Jesus often stayed at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary when he passed through Bethany. Now, Lazarus was gravely ill and Jesus knew he was going to die. When it was time for Jesus to go to Bethany, he said, “Let us go to Judea again” (John 11:7b, ESV). With Jesus’ words, the disciples go crazy. “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (John 11:8b, ESV). You must understand that Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem, home of the chief priests and Pharisees that wanted to hurt Jesus. The disciples knew that if they got that close to the Holy City, harm would certainly befall their leader. All of them expressed serious concern -except one. In John 11:16 it says, “So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’” (ESV). Do you see it? That’s not the voice of a doubter. That’s the voice of a soldier who is willing to die for his commander. What Thomas is saying is, “If Jesus is going to die in Bethany, I’m going to die right beside him. Load up.”

        In the fourteenth chapter of the same gospel, Jesus is teaching his disciples that he will be leaving soon and would be back to get them later. He was trying to tell them he would be dying soon, rising from the dead and ascending to the Father then someday returning in glory. In verse four, Jesus tells them, “And you know the way to where I am going” (ESV). A stunned Thomas speaks on behalf of the group, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (ESV). Do you hear the desperation in his voice? He wants to follow Jesus. He must follow Jesus. How can they follow him if they don’t know the way? Why doesn’t Jesus just let them tag along? Do not leave me Jesus, I love you! I need you! To me, that does not sound at all like wishy-washy doubting faith. That sounds like a sold-out, committed follower of Jesus.

        So what happened? Obviously, Thomas wasn’t in the upper room locked away like the other disciples when Jesus came. When he got there, the others were elated to tell him that they had seen the Lord, but Thomas was downtrodden, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25b, ESV). Thomas was emotionally devastated. He had lost his best friend. His heart was broken at the death of Jesus. He was going through the motions, denying or depressed that his rabbi was dead. The next verse picks up eight days later the following Monday when the disciples were still locked inside the Upper Room. Suddenly, Jesus appears again and does an encore of “Peace be with you” (John 20:26c, ESV). Then he tells Thomas to put his finger in his nail-scarred hands and place his hand in the hole on his side left by the Roman soldier’s spear. Thomas realizes Jesus is alive! He says to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28b, ESV). Can you see Thomas jumping up and down, running around the room like an excited kid at Christmastime? His friend was alive! Jesus was alive!

        Poor Thomas, a devout follower of Jesus, his reputation wrecked by a few verses written by his pal, John. Or was it? Did John really say that Thomas was a doubter? That was not the case, but centuries of misunderstanding and diatribes by well-meaning yet uneducated preachers, has tarnished Thomas’ good name. In John 20:27, Jesus said to Thomas, “Do not disbelieve, but believe” (ESV). The King James Version puts it this way, “Be not faithless, but believing.” You will not find the word “doubt” anywhere in this passage. Only one of the major translations or versions of Scripture uses “doubt” or “doubting” in this verse. While I enjoy reading that version at times, I strongly believe it uses the wrong English word in this verse. Thomas wasn’t the doubter that James talked about in his epistle where he writes, “But let him ask in faith, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6, ESV). The word “doubt” in James is a totally different word than the word John uses in the original language by the way. Someone else summed it up best: Thomas’ hope was in Jesus and when Jesus died, Thomas’ hope died too. Thomas might have been the pessimist of the group, but his loyalty to Jesus was unmatched.

        What does this mean for us today? Well, let me ask you this, since you have been a believer, have you ever wondered where Jesus was? A loved one died too soon. You were terminated from your job for doing the right thing. Your spouse betrayed you and had an affair. You wonder where Jesus is… When you are at a low point in life questioning the presence of God, good Christian friends will be there telling you, “He is here! We have seen him!” You had hope at one time, but it died. And these well-meaning friends saying “Open your eyes and look around, Jesus is everywhere!” are really getting on your nerves. You need to touch him. You need to feel him for yourself. And then, out of nowhere (whether it’s eight days or eighty years later), Jesus gets down on your level, looks you in the eye, and makes himself known to you all over again. We tend to forget that it does not take much faith to move a mountain -only faith the size of a mustard seed. If you can drum up that much faith, you can move mountains. Honestly, Jesus did not have to come back to that room eight days later for Thomas, but he did because he loved Thomas. Jesus did not have to die on the cross for me, but he so did because he loves me. Each day, Jesus reveals himself to us through his Word, all I must do is open my Bible and read the Jesus story. When my hope starts to die, I do not doubt there is a God. I trust God more. I lean on him, even when I cannot see him. I open his Word and read the life stories of these ordinary, broken men and women who followed Him. They were not super disciples. They did not have something I do not. They had fears. They had frustrations. At times, they were hopeless, but just like me, they had Jesus. At the end of our passage, Jesus said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b, ESV). That includes you and me. Even though I haven’t seen Jesus face-to-face physically, I’ve seen Him at work in my own life and in the lives of other believers that have overcome addiction, adultery, idolatry, hatred, deceit, and yes, even doubt among other sins. There is no sin God cannot forgive. There is no life that God cannot change. In Mark 1:15, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (ESV). Salvation in Jesus is free, but it isn’t cheap. It cost Jesus His life. If you put your faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you can have new life. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). 

NOTE: This blog post is an adapted transcript of my sermon streamed live on Facebook on April 25, 2020. Please check out Hope Church Clinton by CLICKING HERE!

Will we sacrifice our witness to exercise our rights?

If you truly know me, you know that I love liberty and freedom. I am a separatist to the core. I do not preach politics from the pulpit, only the written Word of God. I believe the government has no right to control churches, nor do I believe the church has a right to control governments. I saw the attached comments on a Facebook post earlier and it helped me confirm what I had been feeling throughout the last few days. It may be our constitutional right to do church as we please, but dare we sacrifice our witness to an unchurched world in the process? In 1 Corinthians 6:12, the Apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything” (ESV). In context, we aren’t exactly sure what Paul was referring to (eating meat sacrificed to idols?), but we get the point. May we dare not use our liberty to cause another to stumble or to become a slave to freedom itself.

Either way, these two persons have lost respect for the Bride of Christ along the way. Church-hurt. Something we as pastors and believers will have to answer for someday. It is paramount we preach Truth, but we must preach Truth and live it out in love. If someone walks out of our church with a “never again” attitude, I pray they will also be able to say that it was the Word of God that offended them and not my self-righteous attitude or opinions. Lord, heal our churches and heal our land. Come, Lord Jesus. Come.

Bugs in the Baptistry

The other day, I took a long drive through the country side.  Along my journey, I passed a little country church.  My thoughts began to take me back to the early days of ministry when I was asked to preach revival services there. As a rookie preacher, I remember walking into the auditorium and noting that sometime in the past, it had been expanded to accomodate growth.  The expansion was no longer needed as only around 40 souls would attend nightly, most of whom were life-long members.  As I walked around the stage mentally preparing myself, I glanced toward the baptistery.  It, too, had seen its better days.  A dead spider, a few dead bugs, and dust were all that had been in it in months, if not years.  As the mostly elderly group of saints began to arrive, my heart sank knowing that in the not-so-distant future this special place would close its doors.  Why? Why couldn't God step in and do something?  Why should the church have to compete with malls, movie theaters, and country clubs?  Do people not love Jesus enough to take one measly little hour of their lives and come to worship?  Then I remembered what Jesus had said.  HE had said it in HIS Word... "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  If the gates of hell can't destroy a church, what or who can?  I will tell you who can destroy a church quicker than anyone -God.  The permissive will of God may very well allow a church to close if that body of believers is not carrying out His work.  In Matthew 28, we are told to "Go and make disciples."  We aren't told to hold a revival service in the fall, Homecoming in the spring, or even a Christmas cantata.  We are told to "make discliples."  If a church isn't growing, what good is it to God? You may say, "Well, it fills me up and satisfies my needs."  If you aren't "making disciples," then, obviously, it's not doing anything for you either and you need to attend a Christ-centered church where you will be about His work. 

Back to the little church.... At one time, she was a powerhouse and that addition was full.  She had a great pastor who was willing to do anything and everything to lead members in bringing the people to faith in Jesus Christ.  People came to church because it was exciting.  People came to see what great thing God was going to do today or to hear what He has done in someone's life the past week.  But now, she sits empty.  Children's laughter doesn't interrupt the message,  because young couples no longer attend.   People don't come to see exciting things because nothing exciting is happening in the lives of the remnant.  Sure, they have a good pastor.  He believes and preaches the Word, even though his beliefs are slightly askew of the original context and meaning.  He has a good heart and his plan of salvation is right on.  What's keeping the baptistery dusty and the pews unfilled at this church then? Answer, the people, and no matter what, they aren't budging.  They are stuck in the early 1900s, waiting.  What are they waiting for? They are waiting for more people to come.  They are hoping and sometimes praying that more will come listen to their outdated music and irrelevant messages.  They are wishing someone would accept the invitation, run down the aisle, grab the preacher's hand and confess their sins on the altar while the third verse of "Just As I Am" is sang over and over.  But they never come.  No one comes and says, "I heard y'all had some great hymn singing here!"  No one accepts the invitation and "Just As I Am" is cut short. No one comes.  No one comes because the Bible doesn't say "Stay and I will bring disciples." It says, "Go and (you) make disciples." The church of today must leave the pews and hit the streets.  We must build relationships with ungodly people just like Jesus did.  We must change our services to reflect society.  We must preach relevant messages to the masses, not about rules and regulations but about grace and mercy.  About how Christ died and arose to set us free!  Sure, we lucked out in years' past and people "came" to church, but that was then, this is now.  We have to take Jesus to them.  And if your church isn't a happy and exciting place, they aren't coming back. If we aren't profiting spiritually for God, why shouldn't He shut the doors?  "Go and make disciples." This is not a new concept or cutting-edge ministry tactic, it's gospel, plain and simple.  It's basic evangelism, and It works!

Stop Going To Church...

Stop Going to Church!

WHAT?!  I cant believe a preacher just told me that!  What kind of heretic is he?!  I've been going to church all my life!  Been carryin' this big ol' black leather King James-only Version Bible every Sunday!  I have been going to Sunday school since I was an embryo in my mothers womb and I have the pins to prove it!  I have been sanctified, edified, holified, baptized, immortalized, crucified, dignified, and mortified in this here church house!  My granddaddy was a deacon.  My momma was the church clerk.  My great uncle was the treasurer.  My daddy was the song leader and I have been riding this here pine pew since before you were born!  So don't tell me to stop going to church, mister!
Yep.  That's right.  I said it, but hear me out:  STOP GOING TO CHURCH .START BEING THE CHURCH!  Christians spend too much time going to church and not enough time being the church.   Think about that and let it sink in for a few minutes.  If you are an active church member, how often do you go to church?   Now, I am in NO WAY advocating that you stop attending church.  God expects us to meet with other believers to engage in corporate worship (Hebrews 10:25).  After the resurrection of Christ, the disciples began meeting on the first day of the week; however, a believer should attend church any time his/her church decides to meet.  Allow me to begin by defining the term, church, because I am afraid many people have the wrong idea of what church means as we use the word very loosely.  We go to church (meaning a worship service); we sit in a church (meaning a building); and, we are part of a church family (meaning a local group of Christians).  In the Bible we find the word church with two different meanings.  It can mean all believers in the world united as one or the more common biblical definition: a local body of believers, such as the church at Antioch, the church at Ephesus, the church at Corinth, etc.  Either way, God has given believers a special responsibility that is to be carried out only by the church.    In Matthew 28:19, Jesus says, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (New King James Version).  That's it plain and simple -MAKE DISCIPLES.  Now the challenge:  How can we make disciples if we just go to church?  Let me ask you a question:  When was the last time an unbeliever wandered into one of your worship services, sat down, and became a disciple?  It doesn't happen that way.  The reality today is the same as it was 2000 years ago. Unbelievers don't come to church, therefore we must GO to them.  We must realize that God isn't lost, people are lost.  Stop going to church, and start being the church.  The problem here is that most of us think that because we get out of bed on Sunday morning, get ready, and sit through an hour-long grueling sermon, then God owes us something.  God doesn't owe us anything, because he has given us everything!  We meet with other believers to worship and serve Him.  We attend worship on Sunday morning to get our spiritual tanks full so we can BE the church during the week.  Get involved in Gods work!  Volunteer at the Mission House, help build a Habitat for Humanity house, help a neighbor in need, go visit a lonely widow, offer a listening ear for someone going through a tragedy, teach a Bible study at the jail, or whatever God tells you to do!  BE THE CHURCH!  If you will do these things while sharing Gods love, people will begin to thirst for God and you will have to opportunity share Gods saving grace.  For too long we have sit in our pews whining about declining church attendance and the wickedness of the world.  Stop complaining and start doing.  Get out of your comfort zone and do something for God!  Together, we can change the world one disciple at a time.  STOP GOING TO CHURCH! BE THE CHURCH!