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Why would anyone join a Church?
John 3.1-12
Intro: When members of the Wednesday evening Theological Workshop
were confronted with this question they had some decisive things to say. "Why would anyone want to join the church? Anyone? speaks more derisively than the question, "Why would you join the church, or why would I. The person on the street might be anyone and unless he had been exposed to the faith might well respond, "Yes why the (bleep) would anyone want to join the church."
Assuming some exposure: 1) for what I get out of it. Its
difficult to be a lone Christian. I need help. 2) I have a self and
a faith to share—something to give because he first loved me—
I share love 3) By the miracle of God's love—what I am and what I have
may just help someone.
Another responds with these words. "To become more knowledgeable of God and our relationship to him. To be helped and to help others in their problems, to reinforce the congregation as a unit for good in the community. To be one to encourage others to become members.
Membership in the church should help me keep my faith in God, his love and his justice, and also inspire me to work for them. I would join the church for the strength gained from being with people who are Christians and as such are not in agreement with the predominant values of our culture, writes another. Well, why would anyone join a church.
I. There are all kinds of churches—just as there are all kinds of people.
A. Personality types.
1.There are churches perched on the hillside over looking winding rivers. On cold wintery nights the moon shines on the snow covered steeple.
2. There are churches on storefronts with Woolworth's on one side and Ace Hardware on the other. The sign in the window says Sunday school at 10 church at 11; Prayer meeting on Wed., at 7.
3. There are churches high in the moutains where it takes time to climb, and where men or women go to stay, possibly to spend their lives to meditate and pray.
4. The are churches with stained glass windows, and pipe organs whose music vibrates pew and altar, whose pulpits are adorned with beautiful wood, but are empty except for the few that paid admittance to see its beauty. and
5. There are arguing churches, churches who struggle with great difficulty seek their peoplehood. There are selfish
churches, proud churches, dying churches, sick churches, praying churches, singing churches, hoping churches, and faithful churches.
Object Description
| Title of Sermon | Why Would Anyone Join a Church? |
| Author | Landwehr, Arthur |
| Subject | Types of Churches, Rebirth |
| Date of sermon | n/a |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Number of Pages | 3 |
| Language | English |
| Biblical Book | John |
| Verses | 3:1-12 |
| Notes | includes confirmation document |
| Rights | For permission to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use this image, please contact The Styberg Library by phone (847)866-3909 or email styberg.library@garrett.edu |
| Collection | The Arthur Landwehr Sermon Collection (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) |
| Identifier | 502 Why Would Anyone Join a Church.pdf |
Description
| Title of Sermon | Page 1 |
| Biblical Book | Biblical Book |
| Collection | The Arthur Landwehr Sermon Collection (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) |
| Transcript | Why would anyone join a Church? John 3.1-12 Intro: When members of the Wednesday evening Theological Workshop were confronted with this question they had some decisive things to say. "Why would anyone want to join the church? Anyone? speaks more derisively than the question, "Why would you join the church, or why would I. The person on the street might be anyone and unless he had been exposed to the faith might well respond, "Yes why the (bleep) would anyone want to join the church." Assuming some exposure: 1) for what I get out of it. Its difficult to be a lone Christian. I need help. 2) I have a self and a faith to share—something to give because he first loved me— I share love 3) By the miracle of God's love—what I am and what I have may just help someone. Another responds with these words. "To become more knowledgeable of God and our relationship to him. To be helped and to help others in their problems, to reinforce the congregation as a unit for good in the community. To be one to encourage others to become members. Membership in the church should help me keep my faith in God, his love and his justice, and also inspire me to work for them. I would join the church for the strength gained from being with people who are Christians and as such are not in agreement with the predominant values of our culture, writes another. Well, why would anyone join a church. I. There are all kinds of churches—just as there are all kinds of people. A. Personality types. 1.There are churches perched on the hillside over looking winding rivers. On cold wintery nights the moon shines on the snow covered steeple. 2. There are churches on storefronts with Woolworth's on one side and Ace Hardware on the other. The sign in the window says Sunday school at 10 church at 11; Prayer meeting on Wed., at 7. 3. There are churches high in the moutains where it takes time to climb, and where men or women go to stay, possibly to spend their lives to meditate and pray. 4. The are churches with stained glass windows, and pipe organs whose music vibrates pew and altar, whose pulpits are adorned with beautiful wood, but are empty except for the few that paid admittance to see its beauty. and 5. There are arguing churches, churches who struggle with great difficulty seek their peoplehood. There are selfish churches, proud churches, dying churches, sick churches, praying churches, singing churches, hoping churches, and faithful churches. |
