May 30, 2024 / The Church is not a Gym!

5.30.24

Hey, Calvary Fremont –

 The Church is not a Gym!

 Many people go to Church like they go to the Gym – It’s primarily for their benefit.

 At the Gym, people focus on self. They’re not there to help others work out or get healthy. They are focused only on their goals: their looks, their health, their selfies, their dates, or whatever it might be.

 Sure, they may “spot” someone here or there, but usually because they “spotted” for them first. They reciprocate. Their monthly Gym fees are payments for access to focus on self.

 The Church is not intended to be like a Gym. The path to growth is putting yourself at least third, but surely not first.

 The key to spiritual growth is following the greatest commandment and the one that’s like it – to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as Christ has loved us. When you love God and love your neighbor– that’s Church!

 Scripture directs us to express our love for God and our love for others; we are to worship Him in all the ways He’s designed according to Scripture; and we are to use our spiritual gifts to build up the body, “every part doing its share” in love (See Eph. 4:16).

 As a result of loving God and loving people, much to our surprise, we grow as a by-product! No self-focus needed. When we love God and serve others, we grow inadvertently. It’s counter intuitive to us – but it’s Biblical, and it works!

 Man-centered sermons and self-help slop work against God’s clear design – and the Church suffers for it. These kinds of Gym Sermons don’t make disciples.

 “Was the worship good?”, we’re asked by someone who missed Church. I hope our answer is, “I hope it blessed Him.” But unfortunately, we can even make singing worship songs about us! That’s how self-consumed we are.

 “How was the sermon?”, they further ask. What if we answered: “God’s word is amazing. The pastor taught on how to love people in need, and God led me to apply it by loving a needy single mom after the service”. Instead of assuming the sermon is supremely for our benefit, the path to growth is applying it for the benefit of others.

 Yes, God wants us to grow – He set the church up for that purpose. But the path is not focusing on self – the path is focusing on God and others.

 The Church is not a gym. If applicable, cancel your gym membership mentality at church and start growing.

 Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastors Pat and Tim