It has happened twice in the last three days. The first time it was a godly woman who told me “I want to be fed, not entertained.” Then it happened again last night. A friend called from Colorado and told me the same thing: “I just want to be fed.”

What do people really want out of a church? Answers vary with varying attitudes. Some want to be entertained. They are only interested in a worship service that gives them a bang for their buck. If worship isn’t dramatic, they’ll go somewhere else. Others want to be coddled. They are searching for the church that will give them the “programs” that best meet their needs. Others want to be sweet-talked. They want a message solely consisting of love and grace, something positive, and certainly nothing about sin and sanctification. Others want to be humored. They believe a good sermon is mostly jokes and good stories. Too much Scripture is boring. Others want to be browbeaten. They have been given a message of gloom and doom for so long that anything otherwise seems questionable. Hell fire and brimstone is the only acceptable style of preaching for them. They want to hear how bad people have become, the church is, and how degenerate “our schools” are. Others want to be secluded. They are searching for the church that hold all of their “views.” This church is closed-minded enough not to ever change a thing. This church is issue oriented above all else. On and on we could go…

Lest I’m misunderstood, I believe in an organized, smoothly flowing, enlightening worship service. I’m not against good programs that minister to special needs. I’m not against positive preaching. I’m not against humor in sermons. I believe there is also a time for rebuke. And I believe in standing firmly on biblical issues and never changing the Gospel message. However, any church that seems to specialize in one or more of these, to the exclusion of scriptural worship and practice has lost its priority. When we become more concerned about what people need than what God wants we have caananized the church.

I appreciate those who know that true worship is doing the right things with the right attitude (John 4:24). I appreciate those who know Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). I appreciate those who abide by his Will (Hebrews 1:2) — not adding to or talking away from its plan and precepts (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 21:18-19). And yes, I appreciate those who “just want to be fed” (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 5:6)!

Copied from Central’s Bulletin

How we use our lives and the outcome of that life, will be up to us. We all make our own decisions. Sometimes we allow others to influence us, guide us, or point us in a particular direction, but ultimately, every individual makes his or her own decisions.

God has given each of us the privilege of deciding for ourselves how we will use our lives. But just as we choose our manner of living, we also choose the consequences by the way we live. At an early age we learn that every action produces particular consequences related to that action. Before we do a thing, we should ask ourselves about the consequences. With these thoughts in mind, let’s consider the following. Why is it so important to serve God and avoid Satan?

First, God wants us to live faithfully so that we will be saved (John 3:16; Rev. 2:10), while Satan wants us live in disobedience to God’s will so that we will be lost forever (1 Peter 5:8).
Second, God wants us to be faithful so that we will develop and use our abilities (1 Cor. 15:58), while Satan wants us to waste away our talents in idleness (2 Thes. 3:11-15).

Third, God wants us to live faithfully so that we will add to the unity of the church (Phil. 1:27), while Satan wants us to complain, and be divisive, and create strife among our brethren (1 Cor. 3:3).

Fourth, God wants us to live faithfully so that we can encourage others to do the same (Romans 14:19), while Satan wants us to discourage others by our lack of faith and work for the Lord (Num. 14:1-4; Heb. 10:24, 25).

Fifth, God wants us to live faithfully so that we can be a good influence for the church (Matt. 5:13-16), while Satan wants us to live inconsistently so we will be a hindrance to the gospel and the church (1 Cor. 5:1).

One cannot be disobedient to God without being used in the service of Satan! The choice is ours.

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The background, establishment, and growth of the New Testament church in America was in a largely unsophisticated society. But many of our pews might be empty today if these good people had been inhibited in shouting “Amen” at the reading and preaching of God’s word.

We are not the people our ancestors were. We have been buttoned-down by restraints of middle-class good taste, and our worship frequently is a mirror of that good taste-non-involvement, sitting on our hands.

We have not rejected saying “Amen” because it is scripturally unsound, but because it just might commit us. Our ancestors could say “Amen” during a sermon, but maybe we do not want to get involved...especially not in public; it demands too great a risk of commitment.

When Nehemiah stood before Israel, calling for commitment, “all the congregation said, ‘Amen’” (Nehemiah 5:13). Ezra read the book of the law to Israel as they worshipped to “let all the people say ‘Amen’” (Psalm 106:48). Paul insisted that the congregation “say Amen at the giving of thanks” (1 Corinthians 14:16).

“Amen,” meaning “so be it,” is used 13 times in the Old Testament and 48 times in the New Testament in praise or worship of God. So, say “Amen,” brethren! —Copied