OUR SPECIAL GUESTS

I. WHY ARE YOU HERE TODAY?

1. You Were Invited Either a friend or family member asked you to come today. In Luke 14:16-24, a certain man makes a great supper and invites all his friends but they made excuses. So he sent his servant out to the highway and hedges to find guests. Our guests today represent the family and friends that did not make excuses, but came.

Acts 17:11, “These were (the Bereans) more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” 2. You Are Inquisitive

3. You Have Initiative The act of taking charge! You want to find the truth! Feel the truth! Experience the truth! Luke 11:9, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

I. WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE?

1) No Piano, Nor Instruments The piano cannot bow in prayer, or please the heart of God in public worship. Heb. 2:12, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

2. No Pictures of Jesus on the Walls Exod. 20:4, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” During the time of Christ, it is interesting that not one portrait, statute, or any such visual identifiers are erected of Christ.

3. No Tithe Envelopes in the Pews 1 Cor. 16:1, 2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 3. No Tithe Envelopes in the Pews

4. No Women Standing in Leadership Positions Over Men 1 Tim. 2:11, 12, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.   But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”  1 Cor. 14:34,35, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” 

5. The Lord Supper Being Served Occasionally Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” 5. The Lord Supper Being Served Occasionally

5. The Lord Supper Being Served Occasionally 1 Cor. 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”  5. The Lord Supper Being Served Occasionally

II. WHAT WILL YOU FIND?

1. The Whole Gospel Being Preached Rom. 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2. The Character of Christ Exhibited Col. 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” 2. The Character of Christ Exhibited

3. A Spirit Filled Worship 1 Pet. 4:14, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

John 4:23, 24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

III. WHAT WE HOPE YOU LEAVE HERE WITH…

1. A Prayer For the continued success of this small group of believers. For the value of being with the Holy Trinity, the angels, and the saints. To find your way back.

2. A Blessing “It was good for me to be here today!” “It was good to feel the love!” “It was good to join in true fellowship!” 2. A Blessing

3. A Thought

1. I Need To Change Psa. 80:3, 7, 19, “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”

2. I Need to Commit Psa 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

3. I Need For God to Take Control

Jer. 29:11-13, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.   Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”