KNOWING YOUR PLACE

1 John 5:18 KJV (WS)

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

KNOWING YOUR PLACE OR My PLACE

Average Attendance

48% of church-goers attend an average of once a month.

Football Practice

I have often wondered what would happen if football coaches approached their work like most church ministers are expected to.

For example, I wonder what would happen if when a player was too busy to show up for practice, the understanding coach simply said, “We’ll miss you. I hope you’ll be able to make it next week sometime.” Imagine the players leaving practice and hearing the smiling coach say, “Thanks for coming. I hope you’ll come back tomorrow.”

If a football team operated like a typical church ministry, we might expect concerned parents to call the coach, saying, “Can you tell me what’s been going on in practice? My son says it’s boring, and he doesn’t want to come anymore. I was wondering, could you make it a little more fun for them? And by the way, you might want to talk to the coach at the school across town. He seems to have the right idea.” The coach might send out quarterly questionnaires about what the players would like to change about the team (I can just imagine the answers: “shorter practices,” “more winning”).

A coach, responding like a typical church minister, might first feel guilty that the practices were not meeting the boy’s needs, and he would try to adjust his program to suit this boy (and every other boy who complained). Between trying to keep everybody happy and giving every student a good experience, the coach would squeeze in a little football practice. And what kind of season would this coach have? It’s a safe bet that the coach wouldn’t be the only one who felt like a loser.

Real community means real responsibility for each other. It means a commitment to be there for each other even when the schedule is tight and when motivation is low. But the typical Christian adult in our culture knows little about commitment to community.

Our Place Is:

IN HIS HAND—PLACE OF SECURITY

John 10:28 KJV (WS)

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

2. ON HIS SHOULDER—PLACE OF STRENGTH

Luke 15:5 KJV (WS)

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

3. IN HIS BOSOM—PLACE OF LEARNING

John 13:25 KJV (WS)

He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

4. AT HIS FEET—PLACE OF COMMUNION

Luke 10:39 KJV (WS)

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.