Greetings Flag Branch members and friends and thanks for taking the time to join me, Pastor Jordan, for some Fine Points from Sunday’s service and message “UnAppealing Appeal”.
Our Live Stream was lost during the preached word, but we were able to record the rest of the message and service and it is available at our website. There is also about a 4 or 5 minute audio related distortion in the sermon.
We are always disappointed when our online and streaming audience encounter any problems. We are constantly seeking to improve our delivery and online worship experience and take any setback or interruption very seriously. And now a few fine points from yesterday’s message.
The text for the message provides much needed insight for the reasons why churches struggle to reach and retain people for Christ. To put it bluntly and plainly, Christ and His Church is unappealing to the unregenerated heart, mind and spirit. The prophet said as much in the text.
He said that Christ was unappealing, there was nothing about Him that caused people to desire or gravitate toward Him. In fact, they look upon Him as being afflicted and struck of God. He had none of the world’s goods which people measure success, status and value by. He was acquainted with suffering and grief which no one wants a part of. And on top of all this, He died in one of the worst possible ways.
So when we see that people are not running to get to and into the church, it is because the church and Christ has no appeal for hearts and minds that are informed by the ways and standards of the world.
Amazingly, all the things that Christ stands for and brings which people find unappealing, those who get to know Him and place their faith in Him find those same unappealing things appealing. They are attracted to His love, His mercy, to His suffering. They understand what He did and why He did it in order to redeem them from a depraved and self-centered life.
They begin to see humanity differently, see the world differently, see their future and destiny, calling and purpose all differently because they have been changed from within. When we begin to look forward to Sunday, forward toward meeting and encouraging other believers, look forward to sacrificing and giving, forward toward worshiping and praising God we no longer find Christ and His Church unappealing, but appealing.
It is sad and disheartening to see people’s reaction and response to the gospel, but it is totally understandable because we have all been where they are. Speaking for myself, Christ and His church had no appeal for me. I looked for any and everything except the church. This is our natural state, the state we are born into. But by the grace of God, that I once wanted no part of is what I desire most.
Just as it happened to me, as it has happened to some of you who are listening to or reading this now, we are called to help it happen for others beginning with those who are closest to us. When that which was unappealing is now appealing, we can know we are close to or within the kingdom of God.
You can hear the complete sermon by clicking the sermon title above. You can also see and listen to our previous Sunday School, Missions and BTU sessions by clicking this link. Be sure to download our mobile app on your phones and mobile devices to get the latest news, updates and shortcuts to all of our ministries, functions and activities.
Click the SS Daily Bible Readings for an excellent devotional and preparation for the upcoming Sunday School lesson. Don’t forget to leave a comment or question down below. As always, remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
