1 / 14

The empty pew

The empty pew. Why is it empty?. Unavoidable circumstances (“ox in ditch,” Luke 14:5) Total indifference (wayside, Mark 4:15) Prioritizing other activities over spiritual activities “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

alma
Télécharger la présentation

The empty pew

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The empty pew

  2. Why is it empty? • Unavoidable circumstances (“ox in ditch,” Luke 14:5) • Total indifference (wayside, Mark 4:15) • Prioritizing other activities over spiritual activities • “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

  3. When is it empty? • When we don’t plan to fill it (Ezra 7:10) • When we don’t commit to filling it (Nehemiah 4:6) • When we don’t pray to fill it (Matthew 17:19-21) • When we do not seek joy by filling it (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

  4. Whose pew is empty? • Mine? I must put the beam out of my own eye first (Matthew 7:3-5) • My children’s? I must be the spiritual leader in my house (Ephesians 6:4) • My brother’s? I must take opportunities to edify (James 5:19-20) • My neighbor’s? I must take opportunities to teach (Matthew 5:16)

  5. The empty pew

  6. Why is it empty? • Unavoidable circumstances (“ox in ditch,” Luke 14:5) • Total indifference (wayside, Mark 4:15) • Prioritizing other activities over spiritual activities • “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

  7. When is it empty? • When we don’t plan to fill it (Ezra 7:10) • When we don’t commit to filling it (Nehemiah 4:6) • When we don’t pray to fill it (Matthew 17:19-21) • When we do not seek joy by filling it (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

  8. Whose pew is empty? • Mine? I must put the beam out of my own eye first (Matthew 7:3-5) • My children’s? I must be the spiritual leader in my house (Ephesians 6:4) • My brother’s? I must take opportunities to edify (James 5:19-20) • My neighbor’s? I must take opportunities to teach (Matthew 5:16)

  9. Empty pews • Separate Brethren • Local churches are given to bring saints together (1 Corinthians 12:14-18) • Absences encourage brethren who are present to drift apart • We drift even further from those who are not present

  10. Empty pews • Stifle Worship • It’s difficult to “sing with the spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:15) when we can’t hear one another • Singers who feel like soloists don’t want to sing out • If we don’t feel like a group, it’s tough to worship as a group (Acts 20:7)

  11. Empty pews • Quash Enthusiasm • Gospel meetings are largely designed to give the church a “shot in the arm” • Lackluster participation can turn a big positive into a big negative • We have a duty to be encouragers (Hebrews 10:25), not discouragers

  12. Empty pews • Discourage Workers • Many work extra-hard to help the cause of Christ during a gospel meeting • When hard work is done in isolation, discouragement sets in (1 Kings 19:10) • We do more good than we know by holding up the hands of workers (Exodus 17:12)

More Related