Three Seasons Community Church– 7-29-07

My prayer is that we as a church would constantly be praying for loving and inviting those who are unchurched to our church!

1. Sermons are boring and CHURCH IS IRRELEVANT to my life.

2. Members are unfriendly to visitors.  

The #1 emotion people feel when visiting a church is FEAR!

3. I don’t have anything to wear

4. All the church wants in my money

2 Cor. 9:7 (NLT) You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.

5. The quality of the churches childcare

One of the things that we require of all the leaders or teachers that are working with our children or youth is that they do a Child Abuse Clearance and a Criminal Record Check

6. Hurt by a previous church experience

1 John 4:19-21 [CEV] We love because God loved us first. [20] But if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people we can see? [21] The commandment that God has given us is: "Love God and love each other!"

Ephesians 4:31-32 [CEV] Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. [32] Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive!

Hebrews 10:24-25-- [24] We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. [25] Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.

Luke 6:37 (NIV) "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

What is our mandate from God? To be a church for the unchurched!

Mark 2:16-17 (NLT) But when some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?" [17] When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."

What does it mean to be a church for the unchurched?

Reaching the brokenhearted for Christ

Growing in Christ

Equipping to Serve Christ

Psalm 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

2 Cor. 12:9-10 (NLT) Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. [10] Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What "weakness" may God be using in you to witness to others and bring Him glory?

1 Peter 4:12-14 (CEV) Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. [13] Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return. [14] Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God's glorious Spirit is with you.

1 Peter 4:19 (CEV) If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.

James 1:12-15 (CEV) God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him. [13] Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. [14] We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. [15] Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.

What do the brokenhearted look like? My prayer for us as a church is that we begin seeing the brokenhearted as Jesus sees them! How does Jesus see the brokenhearted?

Matthew 9:35-36 (CEV) Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God's kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus felt great compassion for the brokenhearted! Do we have that same compassion?

Can you think of those close to you who may be brokenhearted? Are you praying for them? Are you "looking" for ways to love and serve them? Are you inviting them to church?

Matthew 9:17 (CEV) No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.

Jesus, however, was not out to patch up an old system, like sewing a new unshrunk cloth on an old garment, which would then tear, or pouring new wine into old wineskins, which would then burst. His purpose was to bring in something new. He had come to lead a group out of Judaism into the kingdom based on Him and His righteousness. BKC

Our church's goal has never been to get people to transfer from other churches. Our goal is to reach those without a church home

1. For those who are brokenhearted– are you ready to be healed?

2. How might God be wanting to use you to reach those who are brokenhearted?

3. Are you "looking" for ways to love and serve them?

4. Who are you praying for and praying about inviting to church?

5. Are you inviting them to church?