100 Sermon Illustrations on Attendance

When Major-General O. O. Howard [of the Civil War and Nez Pierce war] was on the Pacific Coast, some of his friends wanted to honor him by having a reception, and they decided to have it on Wednesday night. It was to be a great affair, and the President had given it his sanction. Then someone said, “We had better let him know so he will he ready on Wednesday evening.” Finally they went and told him, “General, Wednesday night we want to see you on a matter of business.”

“Well, gentlemen. you cannot see me on that night because I have a previous engagement.” Finally they said, “It is a celebration, and the President of the United States has given it his approval.” And the old veteran, his eyes flashing, stood up and said, “You know I am a church-member, and I promised the Lord, when I united with his church, that from time to time on Wednesday night I would meet him in prayer-meeting, and there is nothing in this world can make me break that engagement.”

They had the reception, but they had it on Thursday night. When I was out there I asked, “Where is the man who has the greatest influence?” And they said, “It is not a minister of the gospel; it is Major-General Howard.”

________

J. Wilbur Chapan, “Present Day Parables.”

Isn't it a shame that we have to encourage people who claim to

be saved to come to church. We have to work at encouraging them

to come to Sunday School. We have to write post-cards, phone

them, and visit them before many of our members will come.

- Unknown

Old John was a man of God and loved his village chapel. One

day he was stopped by an acquaintance, who, by the way, was an

ardent angler. "I say, John," said the angler, "I have often

wondered what attraction there is up at the village chapel. You

go week after week to the same old chapel, see the same folks,

sing the same old hymns." "Wait a minute," interrupted John.

"You fish very often at the same spot, and in the same water, do

you not?" "Yes, that's true," agreed the other. John smiled, and

then exclaimed: "Well, you do not, for the water you fished in

yesterday has passed on to the sea; and every time I go up to

the chapel the Lord has something fresh for me." --Sunday School

Times

Date: Oct 20 1998 15:23:33 EDT

From: LemmonsAid

Subject: An Ode to the Dislocated

++++++++++++++++++++… … … … … …

My Source: GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT

Vol XII, #42, October 18, 1998

Little Rock, Arkansas

++++++++++++++++++++… … … … … …

Author: Dalton Key

++++++++++++++++++++… … … … … …

AN ODE TO THE DISLOCATED

I looked around our Bible class

Last Sunday, and ‘tis true:

Familiar faces greeted me,

But I couldn’t locate you.

And Sunday night–it was the same–

It made me feel so blue;

Though heartened-by the ones who came,

I couldn’t locate you.

Then Wednesday evening brought us back,

The usual mid-week crew,

I searched, and hoped, and searched some more,

But I couldn’t locate you.

It seems so often when we meet,

And find our favorite pew,

That something’s missing, something’s wrong–

We just can’t locate you.

You’re missed, you know; we want you back;

You need to be here, too.

We’d hate to search through heaven,

Unable to locate you.

My Source:

THE INFORMER

Volume 52, #49, 9//26/99

Author: Ben Vick

File Under: Attendance

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BECAUSE

by Ben Vick

"BECAUSE" is a conjunction that means: (1) for the reason that; since; (2) the fact that; that. It is also used as a preposition to mean by reason of or on account of. Whether the word is used in a sentence as a conjunction or as a preposition, it tells the reader that something is to follow, usually an explanation or reason for a certain thing or action. But perhaps we have all heard it used when what follows the "BECAUSE" was nothing. The listener has had then to fill in the blanks, guessing at the excuse or the reason. A small boy was asked by his father why he had disobeyed his parents. The child's response was, "BECAUSE why?" The boy answered, "Just BECAUSE." Such might lead to a spanking just on the principle of "BECAUSE."

We have heard it said that when someone was asked by she did not go to Bible classes and worship with her children, the response was, "BECAUSE." It has been the experience of many preachers and elders to hear all sorts of excuses as to why people do not attend services. The usual ones are:

"I don't have time,"

"I work late,"

"Company came over just as we were leaving

for services,"

"I had a headache,"

"My dog got sick."

On and on we could go. There are about as many varied excuses as there are faces in a crowd.

When people begin to make excuses about why they are not attending Bible classes and worship services, it would be good for us to try to help them remove their excuses. O.T. Starling, my wife's grandfather, on a Saturday was trying to get a man to go to church services the next day. The man used the excuse that he could not go BECAUSE he was trying to remove a tree stump and would probably have to work on Sunday to get it removed. Brother Starling, who was in his eighties at the time, without a word in response to the man, went home, got his tools and proceeded to remove the stump. The man was at church the next day. We know there are times when the ox falls into the ditch, but there is no need to push him into the ditch nor for his falling into the ditch every week. Regardless, let us help our brothers and sisters in Christ to remove the ox from the ditch if we can.

But the excuse, "BECAUSE," is difficult, if not impossible, to answer. I suppose that it is just as good an excuse as any of the others that I have heard down through the years; for after all, one excuse is just as good as another, since all excuses are nothing more than dressed-up lies. One who does not attend Bible classes or worship services, "JUST BECAUSE," evidently, recognizes that the does not have a good excuse; so he, basically, is saying, "I do not know why I am not attending the services of the church."

Let those who use the excuse, "BECAUSE," for not attending church, turn temselves around and look with us at some divine "BECAUSES" for being faithful to the services of the church.

BECAUSE of God's love for us, we should faithfully attend the services of the church. Loyal service to him is nothing in comparison to what he has done for us. John wrote, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us" (1 John 4:9-10, 1 John 4:19). We often sing...

Why did He drink the bitter cup of sorrow, pain, and woe?

Why on the cross be lifted up?

BECAUSE He loved me so!

What have we done in comparison to His sacrifice? All the time, energy, and talents placed upon the altar of sacrifice for Jesus is nothing in view of what He has done for us (2 Corinthians 8:9).

BECAUSE of the brevity and wickedness of this world, we should use our time wisely. Paul said, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-16). We should buy up the opportunities to learn the will of the Lord. What better place to do so than in Bible classes each Sunday morning and Wednesday night?

BECAUSE the old devil is on the prowl, we should attend the services of the church. Peter wrote, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). We need to be sober, i.e., calm and collected in spirit, and "vigilant," i.e., give strict attention to or be cautious, because the devil is out there, seeking to devour us. What better way to be prepared to meet our adversary than to fill our hearts with the word of God (Psalms 119:11; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 John 2:1)?

Most "BECAUSES" people use for not attending church services are just excuses; but in the case of some, they are standing with the church at Ephesus. jesus gives the real reason why some were not what the should have been when He said, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4). If your "BECAUSE" is followed by the explanation of having left your first love, then we urge you to remember from where you have fallen, repent, and do the first works (Revelation 2:5). Do this today before it is toolate. Remove the "BECAUSE" and attend the services of the Lord's church.

An elderly grandmother had to go to work in spite of arthritis and

advancing years. She worked as charwoman in a big city hotel, on the

job at the stroke of six every morning,. Said a guest to her one day,

"So you wash this floor six mornings a week?" Then he added, "Well,

at least on Sunday morning you can sleep in. I hope you get plenty of

rest that day."

The grandmother looked at him with a smile. "No, that's the

morning I get up early, too, to take my grandchildren to church."

The stranger paused, "Wouldn't it help you to keep going if you

slept in that one morning a week?"

The elderly lady leaned back on her knees, her red hands in the

pail of water beside her, "Oh, it's going to church on Sundays that

keeps me going the other six days of the week!

A man had been looking for a good church to attend, and he happened

into a small one in which the congregation was reading with the

minister. They were repeating:

"We have left undone those things which we ought to have done and

we have done those things which we ought not to have done."

The man dropped into a seat and sighed with relief, "I've found my

crowd at last."

An Indian in his preparation for the Sabbath Day services said he

made his body very clean from head to foot, and then, instead of

laughing and chatting idly with his friends - to use his own words, -

"I sit down and think Jesus until it is time to go." How many of us

"think Jesus" just before church time?

- {Home Mission Echoes}

FACTORS KEEP MEMBERS COMING TO CHURCH

Mark Wingfield for Associated Baptist Press writes: "The best remedy for

inactive church members is to catch them before they drop out, Chip Miller

advises. While it may not be obvious to those who aren't looking, people

on their way out the church's back door almost always give clues of where

they're headed, said Miller, a consultant with the Kentucky Baptist

Convention. One simple indicator is worship participation. For example, a

person or family may begin moving farther back in the sanctuary on Sunday

mornings than where they usually sit. Their worship attendance may become

less frequent before they stop attending altogether. Sunday school

attendance may begin sliding as well, Miller said. Or a person may stop

attending committee meetings or participating in some other group or

activity. Or parents may begin letting their children drop out of church

activities as an early step toward a full exit. The extensive research of

John Savage on this topic shows that 'a pattern of attendance indicates

what's going on at a deeper level,' Miller said. Particularly with worship

and Sunday school in a Baptist church, if anyone is absent seven

consecutive Sundays, 'he's in trouble,' Miller warned. Another key is to

understand what keeps a person bonded with a church, Miller added. He

cited three essential factors: o The person's faith is being fed. o The

person is part of a group where people know one's name and finds identity

and support. o The person has a sense of ownership in what the church is

doing. 'When one, two or three of these begin to unravel, you've got

trouble,' Miller. The best way for a church to prevent people from sliding

away from active participation is to learn to listen, Miller said. But in

addition, keeping an accurate record of attendance and then reading those

records also is vital, he said. 'If you don't hear us, at least see us.'"

(Baptist Today, Feb. 19, 1998)

Reported in Parables, Etc. 15:12 (February 1996).

The announcement that the Clevleland Browns were moving to Baltimore after 30 years in Cleveland devastated many people. Among the many Browns fans interviewed, one man sat in his pickup truck and wept as he said, "Now me and my family will have no place to go on Sunday."

Some years ago a news reporter invited people to send in their response to the statement, “Why I don’t go to church.” After he had received a number of replies, he decided to show the weakness of their alibis by inserting the word “movies” wherever “church” appeared in their letters.

Here is a sampling of his column: One said, “I am out of the habit of going to the movies, that’s why I no longer attend.” Another wrote, “I know a man who has gone to the movies for years, and he is no better than I am.” Still another remarked, “There are as many good people outside the movies as inside.” Some commented, “I stay away from the movies because I went when I was a child.” A number of other excuses were given which proved equally absurd when “movies” was substituted for the word “church.”

A Christian wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained for all to read, that it did not make sense to him to go to church every Sunday.

“I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can’t remember a single one of them. So I think I’m wasting my time… and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving one at all,”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what the menu was for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be dead today.”

No comment on the sermon contents anymore

~~~~~~~~~~

Another Version:

A Christian wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

“I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can’t remember a single one of them. So I think I’m wasting my time … and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor”column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what the menu was for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be dead today.”

No comments were made on the sermon contents anymore.

“The lips of the righteous nourish many …” — Proverbs 10:21a (NIV)

The pastor’s reasons for not attending sports events:

1. Every time I went, they asked me for money.

2. The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.

3. The seats were very hard.

4. The coach never came to call on me.

5. The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

6. I was sitting with some hypocrites – they came only to see what others were wearing.

7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.

8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.

9. The games are schedules when I want to do other things.

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyhow.

12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. — Hebrews 10:25.

No doubt the spiritual instincts of the children of God would lead them always to desire to be together. For my own part, I cannot understand a child of God who on principle could abstain from any occasion that summoned around the name of the Lord Jesus the members of the household of faith … It is simply a question whether we value Christ; whether we are truly walking in the Spirit, if we live in the Spirit … Only the circumstances in which we are placed in this world necessarily hinder it. May the conscience be exercised as to what may be allowed to hinder. — C. H. Mackintosh.

Lord, we know how true Thy promise to be with us where we meet,

When in Thy loved name we gather to enjoy communion sweet.

When we’re called to follow Christ, we’re also called to belong to the Body of Christ.

When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God’s instrument on earth. We are his hands, his feet, his eyes and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.

The Apostle Paul tells us, “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (Ephesians 2:10, Msg).

Yet one of the biggest hurdles we face as pastors is convincing attenders that they need to commit themselves to the church family and become members. Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans who move from one church to another without any identity, accountability or commitment.

Here are several biblical reasons we can teach to our congregations on why every believer needs to be committed and active in a local fellowship --

A CHURCH FAMILY IDENTIFIES US AS GENUINE BELIEVERS.

I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35, NLT).

When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, race and social status, it is a witness to the world. No one believer can be the Body of Christ on his own. We need others in order to fully express the shape God has given us. It is when we are together, not when we’re separated, that we are his Body.

A CHURCH FAMILY MOVES US OUT OF SELF-CENTERED ISOLATION.

The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love. As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor” (1 Corinthians 12:26, NCV). Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other.

Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16 (NIV): “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers -- a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.

A CHURCH FAMILY HELPS US DEVELOP SPIRITUAL MUSCLE.

No one will ever grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle. The Bible says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16, NLT).

Over fifty times in the New Testament the phrases “one another” or “each other” are used. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other and many other mutual tasks.

This is biblical membership! These are the “family responsibilities” that God expects every believer to fulfill through a local fellowship. We need to ask those who attend our services, “Who are you doing these with?”

THE BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS EVERY ONE OF US.

God has a unique role for every believer to play in his family. This is called your “ministry,” and God has gifted you for this assignment: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church” (1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT).

The local fellowship is the place God designed for his children to discover, develop and use their gifts. Even those with a wider ministry need to understand that their first responsibility is to the local Body. Jesus has not promised to build anyone’s ministry; he has promised to build his Church.

A CHURCH FAMILY HELPS US STAY FOCUSED ON DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.

None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track. The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV).

We are called and commanded to be involved in each other’s lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after them and bring them back into the fellowship. James tells us, “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back” (James 5:19, Msg).

SATAN LOVES DETACHED BELIEVERS -- unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God’s family and unaccountable to spiritual leaders -- because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics.

The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other Christians. The Christians in Macedonia understood this. Paul said, “First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God’s will, they gave themselves to us as well” (2 Corinthians 8:5, TEV).

We must remind those who fill our buildings each Sunday that joining the membership of a local church is the natural next step once they become a child of God. You become a Christian by committing yourself to Christ, but you become a church member by committing yourself to a specific group of believers. The first decision brings salvation; the second brings fellowship.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say we must have our names on a church membership roll to be saved. That doesn't mean, however, that joining with other believers in a local church is not vital to our spiritual growth. Gathering regularly for worship and instruction encourages love for others, good works, and mutual accountability (Heb. 10:24,25).

I read an article some time ago that likened the Christian without a church to:

* a student who won't go to school

* a soldier without an army

* a citizen who won't vote

* a seaman without a ship

* a child without a family

* a drummer without a band

* a ballplayer without a team

* a honeybee without a hive

* a scientist who does not share his finding with his colleagues

Nature teaches the need of Sabbath-rest for souls.

For all organic life God has provided periods of repose, during

which repair goes on in order to counteract the waste caused by

activity. In the spring-time we see movement and stir in gardens,

fields and hedgerows, which continues till the fruits are gathered in

and the leaves fall; but then winter's quiet again settles down over

all, and nature is at rest. Even the flowers have their time for

closing their petals, and their sleeping hours come so regularly, and

yet are so varied in distribution among them, that botanists can

construct a floral clock out of our English wild-flowers, and tell the

hour of night or day by their opening or closing. The same God who

created the flowers and appointed the seasons, ordained the laws of

Israel, and by these definite seasons of rest were set apart for the

people -- the Sabbath, the jubilee year, and the annual festivals.

Indeed, in every age and in every land, the coming of night and the

victory of sleep are hints of what God has ordained for man. -- A.

Rowland, LL.B.

By J. Wilbur Chapan, "Present Day Parables."

A pastor was being patronized by a millionaire. "I never go to

church, pastor," the millionaire said, "Perhaps you've noticed?"

"Yes, I have noticed it," said the pastor gravely.

"Well, the reason I don't go to church is that there are so many

hypocrites there."

"Oh, don't let that keep you away," said the pastor, smiling,

"There's always room for one more, you know."

- Anthology of Anecdotes p. 170

An unknown writer offered the following analysis of why some people

attend church:

Some go to church to take a walk;

Some go there to laugh and

talk.

Some go there to meet a friend;

Some go there their time to

spend.

Some go there to meet a lover;

Some go there a fault to

cover.

Some go there for speculation;

Some go there for

observation.

Some go there to doze and nod -

Some wise go there to

worship God.

- {Proclaim, }July-Sept, 1975, p. 32

Old John was a man of God and loved his village chapel. One

day he was stopped by an acquaintance, who, by the way, was an

ardent angler. "I say, John," said the angler, "I have often

wondered what attraction there is up at the village chapel. You

go week after week to the same old chapel, see the same folks,

sing the same old hymns." "Wait a minute," interrupted John.

"You fish very often at the same spot, and in the same water, do

you not?" "Yes, that's true," agreed the other. John smiled, and

then exclaimed: "Well, you do not, for the water you fished in

yesterday has passed on to the sea; and every time I go up to

the chapel the Lord has something fresh for me." --Sunday School

Times

Recreation is my shepherd,

I shall not stay at home;

It maketh me to lie down in a sleeping bag;

It leadeth me down the interstate each weekend.

It restoreth my suntan;

It leadeth me to state parks for comfort's sake.

Even though I stray on the Lord's Day,

I will fear no reprimand, for I am relaxed;

My rod and reel they comfort me.

I annointed my skin with oil,

My gas tank runneth dry;

Surely my trailer shall follow me all the weekends of summer,

And I shall return to the house of the Lord this fall.

But by then, it will be hunting season and football season,

And that's another psalm.

- Copied

Every Sunday morning without fail an elderly man could be seen

walking to church. Everyone in the block knew he was deaf, unable to

hear a word of the congregational hymns, the choir music, or the

sermon. A cynical neighbor wrote him a note, "Why do you spend your

Sundays in church when you can't hear a word?"

He answered, "I want my neighbors to know which side I'm on!"

To stay away from church services because we have so many other

engagements and so little strength left is like staying away from the

table because we are so weak and hungry, and it takes all our time to

sweep and wash dishes. The church is the place to get spiritual

strength for other duties, just as the table is the place to get

bokily strength.

- {The Christian Endeavor World}

Because you are poor. There is no admission charge.

Because you are rich. We can help cure that.

Because it rains. You go to work in the rain.

Because it is hot. It's hot at your house, too.

Because it is cold. It's warm and friendly inside.

Because no one invited you. People go to the movies without being

begged.

Because you have little children. What if you didn't have them any

longer? We have a

well-supervised nursery.

Because you don't like the preacher. He's human like you.

Because your job makes you tired. You may lose your job.

Because there are hypocrites. You associate with them daily.

Because you have company. They will admire your loyalty if you bring

them along. Or tell

them to wait until you get back.

Because you need a little weekend vacation occasionally. If your soul

takes a vacation from

God, it's not good.

Because your clothes are not expensive. Our church isn't supposed to

be a fashion show

anyway.

Because our church standard is too high. Take a look at the Bible

standard if you think ours is

high!

Because the church always wants money. So does your grocer.

- Author Unknown

Reported in Parables, Etc. 15:12 (February 1996).

The announcement that the Clevleland Browns were moving to Baltimore after 30 years in Cleveland devastated many people. Among the many Browns fans interviewed, one man sat in his pickup truck and wept as he said, "Now me and my family will have no place to go on Sunday."