Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

To Seek Or To Serve?
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. Why do you go to church...?
a. Some seek to be entertained
b. Others seek to encounter God
2. A news article suggest many young people are interested in the latter, but are often disappointed.
Some excerpts from the article:
a. It’s not that they don’t care. In a study, 80 percent of people in their 20s said their faith is very
important in their lives. Nearly 60 percent claimed to have made a commitment to Jesus Christ.
Three-fourths told the Barna Research Group of Ventura, Calif., that they prayed during the
past seven days.”
b. But in a typical week, just three out of 10 of them attend church. Only 30 percent of adults in
their 20s donated something to a church during the past year; the same percentage holds for
those who have read the Bible during any given week.
c. “One of the trends we're noticing is people are looking for something that's real,” said Charlie
Granade, singles pastor at Dayspring Baptist Church in Mobile.
d. “College students are looking for a worship service where there's nothing fancy,” Granade said,
adding that his church offers such an experience during its ‘Unplugged’ service on Monday
nights.
e. Sally Morganthaler addressed such desires in her book Worship Evangelism: Inviting
Unbelievers Into the Presence of God. “Young people want to encounter the ‘other’ at church,
but they are not finding it there,” she said. “They’re finding programs, they're finding games,
they’re finding cute things to do, but they're not finding an experience with the ‘other’ they
assume is there somewhere in the world.”
-- Young Adults Believe In God, Aren’t So Crazy About Church, By Kristen Campbell,
Religion News Service, January 3, 2004
3. My feelings were mixed as I read the article...
a. I am encouraged that people want to find God, and not be entertained in church
b. Yet I wonder if they realize there is more to church services than “seeking God”
[So I ask again, “Why do you go to church?” To be entertained? To seek God? Or is there another
reason, one that might be as important as seeking God? First let me say that..]
I. TO SEEK GOD IS GOOD
A. ONE SHOULD CERTAINLY SEEK THE LORD...
1. He is the source of sustenance and strength - Psa 34:10; 105:4
2. He is the source of wisdom and understanding - Pro 28:5
3. God wants us to seek Him - Ac 17:26-27
4. Jesus wants us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness - Mt 6:33
B. ONE WOULD HOPE TO FIND GOD IN CHURCH...
1. Paul wrote about possible reactions by visitors - cf. 1 Co 14:23-25
2. We should hope that our services draw people nearer to God, not away from Him!
Topical Sermons 349