Church Is Hard!!!

What do you expect of a church when you first come to one?

- Think back to when you came to any church…this church.

First impressions…who’s here, what do you see, what do you think,what THEY think, what it really is...

Who’s Here?

People…people who are friendly, warm, and not over bearing.

Nice people…People all going through their own stuff.

Understand, not all folks who do not believe in the hope we have...

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What do you See?

a comfortable environment…a place to sit, a place to put you coat, rest and relax being able to receive hope.

It’s not the pastries,not the cookies, the coffee…ok, it is the coffee…it’s the people…folks that show love and hope.

Hopefully, they see a very inviting, the folks calm, appear to be happy (and are), joyful in their own things.

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What do you think when you come in?

How will being here help me?

How long will the service be?

Will anyone here understand me or what I am going through?

Will I be able to sneak out if It’s not cool?

I can sit in the back so no one sees me if I leave.

This coffee is good!!!

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What do the the folks here think of me?

They think I’m nice...

They think I am weird...

They think I need them...

They think I don’t eat enough...

They think I eat too much...

I don’t fit in...

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What this really is...

This is a place of hope...

Psalms 38:15 NASB...For I hope in You, O Lord ; You will answer, O Lord my God.

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This is a place of peace...

John 14:27 NASB...Peace I leave with you; MY peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

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This is a place that explains joy...

James 1:2-3 NASB...Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 'knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.'

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This is a place of love...

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB...'Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'

Love can be hard when hard things need to be said. If you love someone, you should talk to them lovingly about what you see is not right…not CHRIST-LIKE.

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Read “Church is Hard!!!”

WE…are the church. It’s it’s hard, we make it hard. WE must make ity a place of hope, joy, and love for others to see, not a place of judgement.

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Conclusion...John 3:16 NASB..."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

If anyone seeking this hope, this joy, this love, raise your hand...it is time to receive JESUS as your Lord and Savior.

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Let’s pray...