The Main Thing

Nov. 11, 2013 Monday Message:

When we go to the place of the dead, our time of judgment, we’ll find that a number of things we spent considerable time on aren’t even on heaven’s agenda.

It won’t matter if we sang hymns or contemporary worship songs – classical, folk or rock & roll. The important thing will be that we sang to the Lord.

Whether church starts at 9am or 10am isn’t important. We just need to get together and worship.

What color should we paint the classrooms? Do we need cushions on the pews? Communion once a month or every week? How many candles on the altar? Should your Pastor preach wearing a fancy robe, suit and tie, or jeans and a t-shirt? Yikes!

Jesus didn’t offer direction on any of these things. But he DID tell us to make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and to teach others. So when we get to the next reality, the question won’t be, “Did you wear red for Pentecost?”

It’ll be more like, “Did you help others make a decision for Jesus?” I don’t mean just hearing about Jesus, but actual conversions? Hell will be full of people who have heard about Jesus, but never got around to closing the deal.

Now I need to back up and say that all the previous things about leading a church are important. They can help draw people in, make them feel comfortable, cause them to return and be welcomed into our Christian community. But the long-term goal is more than just getting people in the door – it’s about changed hearts; it’s about making disciples. That’s the mission Jesus called us to.

“The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.” (Alistair Begg)

Norton Lawellin

Join us this Sunday as Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Nov. 17, Pastor Michael Pilla opens up Luke 18. See you at church!

NL