THE CHURCH'S CALL TO ITS PEOPLE...DON'T BE THE DEATH OF ME

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 
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       The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.
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When I left my second pastorate in 1968 to begin to travel around the world speaking and presenting One Man Dramas we had an attendance on Sunday morning of over 400 people.  We had grown from 8 that first Sunday morning to a membership of over 800.   The last time I preached there, several years ago, they were down to 40 in attendance.  

And I have wondered to myself, Why?  And (yet) I know the answer.  My old Church has fallen victim to the "Let John do it” syndrome.  Let John evangelize, neighbor to neighbor.  One opportunity after the other lost (because the members thought,) Let John do it.   (And because it is so much easier to go to another thriving church than to help keep a faltering one alive and well.)

(SINCE THEN IT HAS COME BACK, AS A LARGELY SPANISH CONGREGATION...BUT A GROWING CONGREGATION BECAUSE THE NEW LEADERSHIP AND ITS MEMBERSHIP HAVE MADE IT SO)

Why do some churches die?  First, because they become spiritual Dead Seas, always feeding in on themselves.  Like an old car constantly recharging the battery but never driving out of the driveway.  Why do some churches die?  Secondly,  because they fall victim to an ill-conceived assumption, that they are limited by geography.  Thirdly that religion is a Sunday thing and not be remembered or discussed on other days or other places.  Fourthly, that whatever needs to be done to keep a church alive must be done by the clergy.  Since laymen outnumber clergy believing this fourth reason to be true is enough in itself to court disaster.

Why do some churches grow?  Because it’s members won’t shut up about their Lord or their church. 

A young man one day deciding that he would confound a philosopher decided that he would go before him with a bird in his hand and he would say to the philosopher, “Is the bird alive?”  If the philosopher said he was alive, he would crush him, and if he said he was dead, he would open up his hands and would let him fly away free.  So the time came and he stood there and he asked the fatal question and the philosopher just looked at him and said, “As you will, my son, as you will.” 

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       Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS

       Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very     Much The Same? (July 2012)

       Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

       Spring (May 2012)

       Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

       Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

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Poor Richard's Almanack for the 20th Century

Sixty Plus and Not Holding

Boundaries Unlimited

I Am

The ABC"s of Parenting and Grandparenting

Letters to America

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