ALL THE RIGHT MOVES – ALL THE WRONG MOTIVES (1 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: I Corinthians 13:1-3
This content is part of a series.
All The Right Moves – All The Wrong Motives (1 of 4)
Series: All You Need Is Love
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 13:1-3
OPEN: Jesse James was one of the most famous men of the West.
For a period of about 15 years, Jesse James and his gang committed 26 holdups where they made off with approximately $200,000 and killed at least 17 men (many by Jesse’s own hand). Jesse James was one of the West’s most notorious outlaws.
And yet, very few people know that Jesse James was a very devout churchgoer. Why, shortly after he killed one man in a bank robbery James was baptized in the Kearney Baptist Church in Kearney, Missouri. Then he killed another man, a bank cashier, and joined the church choir and taught hymn-singing.
He loved to go to church but he couldn’t always show up on Sundays. On 2 Sundays he had to work.
He had a couple of trains to catch.
APPLY: If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Jesse James was a very good church member. I mean – he was baptized, sang in the choir, taught hymn-singing and was fairly regular in church attendance.
But, of course, he was also a thief and a murderer.
He had all the right moves… but all the wrong motives.
That happens a lot in church.
Usually it’s not quite that obvious as it was in Jesse James’ life but there are many church goers who say one thing and do another. What does the world call folks like that?
(those who say they’re Christians but don’t act like it).
Hypocrites.
* A recent survey listed the top 10 reasons why people didn’t go to church.
Can you guess what the top reason was?
Hypocrisy
(ON Mission, July/Aug 2001, p. 46-48)
* One of the top 5 topics Jesus addressed in His ministry was hypocrisy (73 vss).
* And in a survey taken several years ago where people “ranked” the seriousness of sins, hypocrisy was in the top 20. It was regarded as more “serious” than homosexuality, living together, and abortion. (“People” Magazine as a result of a lengthy questionnaire on Jan. 13, 19 ...
Series: All You Need Is Love
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 13:1-3
OPEN: Jesse James was one of the most famous men of the West.
For a period of about 15 years, Jesse James and his gang committed 26 holdups where they made off with approximately $200,000 and killed at least 17 men (many by Jesse’s own hand). Jesse James was one of the West’s most notorious outlaws.
And yet, very few people know that Jesse James was a very devout churchgoer. Why, shortly after he killed one man in a bank robbery James was baptized in the Kearney Baptist Church in Kearney, Missouri. Then he killed another man, a bank cashier, and joined the church choir and taught hymn-singing.
He loved to go to church but he couldn’t always show up on Sundays. On 2 Sundays he had to work.
He had a couple of trains to catch.
APPLY: If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Jesse James was a very good church member. I mean – he was baptized, sang in the choir, taught hymn-singing and was fairly regular in church attendance.
But, of course, he was also a thief and a murderer.
He had all the right moves… but all the wrong motives.
That happens a lot in church.
Usually it’s not quite that obvious as it was in Jesse James’ life but there are many church goers who say one thing and do another. What does the world call folks like that?
(those who say they’re Christians but don’t act like it).
Hypocrites.
* A recent survey listed the top 10 reasons why people didn’t go to church.
Can you guess what the top reason was?
Hypocrisy
(ON Mission, July/Aug 2001, p. 46-48)
* One of the top 5 topics Jesus addressed in His ministry was hypocrisy (73 vss).
* And in a survey taken several years ago where people “ranked” the seriousness of sins, hypocrisy was in the top 20. It was regarded as more “serious” than homosexuality, living together, and abortion. (“People” Magazine as a result of a lengthy questionnaire on Jan. 13, 19 ...
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