1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,120 But it is my privilege to introduce the person that is preaching today. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:05,840 He is a Davenport native. 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:11,240 He's also lived in Moline and Jacksonville, Illinois, but mostly grew up in Galesburg, 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,240 for those of you who are familiar with that area, before he lived in Danville 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:22,680 and then found his way back to the good QC of A. The youngest son 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:29,080 of the presiding elder, Tyson J. And Purley Parks, Pastor Mason is ordained 7 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:35,160 in the African American Episcopal Church, has attended the Quad City Theological Center 8 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:40,720 and is currently enrolled at Andersonville Theological Seminary, working on an associate 9 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,000 in biblical studies on his way to earning his Masters of Divinity. 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:52,520 Mason is a proud and active UAW member of Local 865 and has worked for John Deere 11 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,200 in East Moline for 15 years. 12 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,400 My dad was there, that's his, that's his. 13 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:06,080 Since November of, or September of 2014, he has been the supply pastor for New Journey AME. 14 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:11,040 If you were at our service in the park this summer, Pastor Parks was one of the pastors 15 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,960 in his church, was one of the three churches that all gathered together. 16 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:19,040 That church is right down the road from the church I grew up at, at First United Pres. 17 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,160 And so I passed that building many, many times. 18 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,080 I've known Pastor Parks for the better part of a decade now. 19 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,880 And we probably, we met because of prayer meetings and because of activism and because 20 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,800 of NAACP meetings. 21 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:35,800 This is what I know about him. 22 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,120 He's always genuine, he's always authentic. 23 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,800 He says what he means and he absolutely means what he says. 24 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:47,080 And that's why I was deeply grateful when he said yes to preaching today. 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:59,520 So if you'll give a warm house welcome to Pastor Mason Parks. 26 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:05,120 Giving honor to God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Pastor Greg and his family, to 27 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:11,200 the staff, the leadership of this church, I thank you for this opportunity. 28 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,720 And to the local 865 member. 29 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:21,040 It is an honor and a privilege to be here to come and speak to you all. 30 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,640 Something that I've learned early is that people don't have to ask you to preach. 31 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:32,080 So to have someone in their pulpit is an honor and I thank God that Greg trusts me enough 32 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,680 to say a word. 33 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:38,120 I will be honest, I'm a little nervous because this whole setup is different than I'm used 34 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:39,120 to. 35 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,480 But I'm always nervous when I get up to preach because I feel like I'm getting ready to speak 36 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:44,480 on behalf of God. 37 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,520 You should be nervous. 38 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,400 So I do not take this lightly. 39 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:55,520 Before I start, I just want to tell a story I was reminded of. 40 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:01,780 Little Catholic boy lived next to a Baptist kid and the parents wanted them to kind of 41 00:03:01,780 --> 00:03:04,480 mingle with each other and learn each other's culture. 42 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:09,200 And so one Sunday the parents decided that they would let the Baptist kid go to church 43 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,860 with the Catholic people. 44 00:03:10,860 --> 00:03:16,320 And so he helped him understand genuflection, he helped him understand the different parts 45 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,440 of the Catholic church, helped him understand why everybody was drinking out of the same 46 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,360 cup during communion. 47 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:29,080 And then it was the Catholics boys turn to go to church with the Baptist kid. 48 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,600 When he was at the Baptist service, he helped him understand that when the choir was singing 49 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,240 and people were getting happy and shouting, they weren't really yelling or upset. 50 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,880 He helped them understand that when they would wave their hand, they weren't waving at anybody. 51 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,520 And when they would talk when the preacher was preaching, they weren't being rude. 52 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:50,560 The kid had the Baptist kid, the Catholic kid had a question because when the preacher 53 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,280 got up, he stood up and he did his watch like this and he took his watch off and he looked 54 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,200 at it and he set it on the counter and he started preaching. 55 00:03:58,200 --> 00:03:59,840 He said, what does that mean? 56 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,020 And the Baptist kid said, not a doggone thing. 57 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:07,640 I want you to know that I won't keep you long. 58 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:08,640 That's what I was getting. 59 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:09,760 That's what I'm going with this. 60 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:14,200 I'm not going to get up here and preach for an hour and blame it on the Holy Spirit. 61 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,400 I'm going to give you what I have and I'm going home. 62 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,400 And if you didn't get anything, you probably didn't want anything. 63 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:21,400 Amen. 64 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,360 The Psalm, the scripture I will be reading is Psalms 100. 65 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,280 If it is your custom to stand, you can stand. 66 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:29,240 If not, you can be seated. 67 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:30,240 It's up to you. 68 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:31,680 It is Psalms 100. 69 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,800 I'm going to be reading one through four, the King James version. 70 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,840 So whatever version you have may differ, but follow along the best you can. 71 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:42,480 It reads this, Psalms 101 through four. 72 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,160 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 73 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,040 Serve the Lord with gladness. 74 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,500 Come before his presence with singing. 75 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:53,540 Know ye that the Lord, he is God. 76 00:04:53,540 --> 00:04:57,080 It is he that hath made us and not we ourselves. 77 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,040 We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 78 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:06,480 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. 79 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,800 Be thankful unto him and bless his name. 80 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:10,320 You can be seated. 81 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,360 I want to preach from the sermon subject this morning. 82 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,280 I used to think church was boring. 83 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:18,600 If you would bow with me as I go to God in prayer. 84 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,560 Father God in heaven, I come before you now thanking you for this opportunity to stand 85 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,840 behind your sacred desk and preach your word. 86 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:29,800 I pray that you remove any nervousness, any fear, any negativity, anything that is not 87 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:30,800 of you. 88 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,440 Remove it out of my heart, out of my mind. 89 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,360 Remove it out of this atmosphere and allow me to preach with power and conviction. 90 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,040 Not that I will look good, but that you will get the glory in the end. 91 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,760 I pray that you open ears, hearts, and minds to receive a word that will encourage, a word 92 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:50,560 that will inspire, a word that will convict, and a word that will do absolutely anything 93 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,000 but allow us to remain the same. 94 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,640 In Jesus' mighty name I pray. 95 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:56,780 Amen. 96 00:05:56,780 --> 00:06:03,360 I used to think church was boring. 97 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:09,880 As I stand here before you today, son of a presiding elder, child of the parsonage, and 98 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:17,420 the proud pastor of New Journey AME Church, I must admit I used to think church was boring. 99 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:25,400 I have been blessed by God with a loving family, a great job, local 865, and peace of mind, 100 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,720 but I used to think church was boring. 101 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,600 I have personally experienced God's grace and his mercy. 102 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,760 I watch how he's added to and subtracted from my life the people, places, and things that 103 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:45,360 were there for my good and his glory, but yet and still I used to think church was boring. 104 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,540 Psalms 100 is a hymn of praise. 105 00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:51,560 It causes us to marvel at God's providence and sovereignty. 106 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,720 It is a reminder that God is worthy to be worshiped and praised. 107 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:00,120 That praise should be a natural reaction to his greatness, and worship should be done 108 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:07,440 from a genuine appreciation and not performance based on what, based because we feel like 109 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:08,960 we have to. 110 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:14,280 And being in his presence is an honor that should produce both reactions. 111 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,320 And if I can make it plain in the Mason Parks version, when I preach and I go through scripture, 112 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,320 I have the Mason Parks version. 113 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,640 This psalm is simply an informative reminder that we ought to be mindful of how we enter 114 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,080 into worship. 115 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:30,640 That every now and then a song should hit us to where we have no choice but to shout 116 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,240 thank you Jesus. 117 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:37,480 That from time to time the preach words should touch us in such a way from either encouragement, 118 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:43,240 inspiration, or conviction that we have no choice but to say hallelujah or amen. 119 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:48,400 That we should not just show up to be here to check off a box, but be active and attentive 120 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:53,520 because we know that if it had not been for God on our side, we wouldn't have made it 121 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,120 through the many storms of life that could have taken us out. 122 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,680 And because of that, we show up to worship him. 123 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:06,480 And if I could make it even more plain, this psalm encourages us to be an active participant 124 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,800 in worship, not because of what God has done. 125 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:15,320 We can be appreciative of what God has done, but simply because of who he is. 126 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,560 As I reflected on this text in this sermon and I was just thinking about the text and 127 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:24,800 thinking about my worship now, how God has changed my life and how he has used me. 128 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,400 It forced me to look back at how I used to be. 129 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:32,600 And it forced me to realize that as much as I enjoy worship now, how much I used to think 130 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,080 church was boring. 131 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,320 And it forced me to ask the question, well, why did I think church was boring? 132 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,600 And the first thing I came up with is I used to think church was boring because I didn't 133 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,720 know Jesus for myself. 134 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:49,680 I used to think church was boring until I decided I was going to get to know Jesus for 135 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:50,680 myself. 136 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:53,480 See, there was a point in time when I was a kid, my father was a preacher. 137 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,660 He let it be known, you better find your way to church. 138 00:08:56,660 --> 00:08:58,880 At some point, you better hit that service. 139 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,240 As a kid, I was forced to go. 140 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,680 Then in my teenage years, he let it be known, yeah, you're in my house, so you're going 141 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,520 to obey my rules. 142 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,560 So what I would do is I would kind of slack off. 143 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:10,600 And then I knew about when he would be preaching. 144 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:11,760 So I would put on my suit. 145 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,480 I would walk down the alley and make it to church about the time he was preaching, stay 146 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,800 in there for about 20 minutes and leave. 147 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,680 I was there just because I had to be. 148 00:09:20,680 --> 00:09:24,080 Then even as an adult, I would go, but it wasn't that I wanted to be there. 149 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:28,280 I wanted to check the box off to show that I went to church because I wanted to be a 150 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:29,280 better person. 151 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,880 But I really had no intention on changing or getting anything out of it. 152 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,600 I just wanted to be there because it made me feel good. 153 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,120 But when I decided to get to know Jesus for myself, when I decided that I was going to 154 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:46,120 change my life and no longer show up to church just because I didn't want to go to hell, 155 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,280 but to because I wanted a relationship with the Lord and Savior who gave his life for 156 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:55,440 me, who shed his blood and covered all of my sins, that's when it changed for me. 157 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:56,440 That's when it clicked. 158 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,640 I had to decide that I wanted to get to know Jesus. 159 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:05,680 And today someone may be asking, that sounds like me, but how do I get to know Jesus for 160 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:06,760 myself? 161 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,400 I would say the same way you get to know people. 162 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,160 You have to first be open to the relationship. 163 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,140 You have to spend time with him. 164 00:10:14,140 --> 00:10:16,720 You have to ask questions and you have to do research. 165 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,200 If you meet a new friend or even someone in a more romantic relationship, you have to 166 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,120 first and foremost be open to the relationship. 167 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,640 If you're not open to the relationship, it doesn't matter what they do for you or with 168 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:28,640 you. 169 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:29,640 It's not going to go that far. 170 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:34,600 You have to be open to them, but then you have to spend time with them, genuine time 171 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:35,600 with them. 172 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,520 That's the same thing we have to do with the Lord. 173 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,980 Spending time in his word, getting to know him, asking questions about the word. 174 00:10:41,980 --> 00:10:44,960 That's why you have a pastor who studies, so you can ask him questions. 175 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:49,440 That's why you have other people in a loving church family that can strengthen you and 176 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,100 encourage you and be there. 177 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:54,020 You have to do your research, right? 178 00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:59,760 You have to allow God to reveal himself to you and I promise you, he will. 179 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:04,080 Just like any other relationship, to build a relationship with our Lord and Savior, it's 180 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,720 going to take time. 181 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,800 You have to realize that your faith is going to be strengthened over time. 182 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,840 No one gets saved immediately and your faith is just strong. 183 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:15,600 It takes some ups and downs of life. 184 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:20,280 It takes some disappointments for God to then show up and you'll realize he is who he said 185 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:21,280 he is. 186 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,940 He said he'll never leave me nor forsake me and you'll realize that he won't. 187 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:31,680 There was a time when I thought I knew Jesus, but now I'm sure I do because being in his 188 00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:37,560 house of worship, it recharges me, it rejuvenates me and it excites me. 189 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:43,120 But before I knew Jesus and all that he had done, I used to think church was boring. 190 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,320 So I used to think church was boring until I decided to know Jesus for myself. 191 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,880 I also used to think church was boring until I decided to move for God and not wait for 192 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,320 God to move for me. 193 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:55,320 What are you saying, preacher? 194 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:59,280 I used to think that if I go to church and I sit there long enough that eventually the 195 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:04,280 Holy Spirit was going to show up and he was going to get me happy and I would be excited 196 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:09,080 and I would enjoy the songs and I would say amen because he forced me to and I realized 197 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:10,880 it doesn't work like that. 198 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,520 I had to make a decision to show up with the heart of worship. 199 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,280 I had to make a decision to say, I don't care what anybody else is doing. 200 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:22,600 They can be down, they can be whatever, but I'm going to praise him because I know who 201 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,320 God is to me. 202 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:30,400 If you are waiting for God to force himself upon you, you will just be waiting. 203 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,840 Something that I've learned is the more you get into God, the more God will get into you. 204 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,000 I had to make that decision. 205 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:42,060 I had to begin to come to church with an open heart and an open mind to receive something, 206 00:12:42,060 --> 00:12:45,160 to be encouraged and inspired, instructed. 207 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,080 Lord knows I needed to be convicted. 208 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,200 Too many times we want to come to church, but everything else for conviction because 209 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:52,200 we got it all together. 210 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:53,200 We're super saved. 211 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:54,640 We're super holy. 212 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,560 We were born with a Bible in one hand and a hymn book in the other. 213 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:59,020 You can't tell us anything. 214 00:12:59,020 --> 00:13:00,020 We don't do wrong. 215 00:13:00,020 --> 00:13:04,440 No, you need the word to keep... The Bible says he corrects those that he loves. 216 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,840 You need to come and hear a word every now and then that makes you say, I can be better. 217 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,960 I can do better. 218 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:16,400 Come with an open heart and open mind to receive something, to be encouraged, inspired, instructed 219 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,200 or convicted. 220 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,400 Something to cause self-reflection to help you grow. 221 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:22,920 This is something that I learned too. 222 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:28,280 You've got to block out everyone and everything that isn't enhancing our worship service. 223 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,600 Something that I had to do is I had to separate myself from them people who wanted to talk 224 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,520 to me all through worship service. 225 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:38,120 I had to stop entertaining the phone calls after service where people who were dissecting 226 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,680 the service and picking the service apart and telling you what Pastor Greg meant instead 227 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:44,720 of what he was really trying to say. 228 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:46,440 I know you guys don't do that. 229 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,520 I know you guys don't do that. 230 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,280 I'm talking about those people that are here. 231 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:56,280 But we have to realize that we have to make sure that our hearts and minds are clear. 232 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,440 Even when we come to worship, how are you preparing yourself at home? 233 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,400 Think about it like this. 234 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,440 Maybe you guys have been saved your whole life, but I wasn't so I'll just talk about 235 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:07,440 me. 236 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,840 I used to like to party, but before I went to the club, I was already getting prepared 237 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:12,840 at home. 238 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,840 Now I know you guys didn't do this, but before I went to go have a good time, I started it 239 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:17,840 off at home. 240 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,240 That's how we should be when it comes to worship. 241 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,640 Worship is the party, but before we get to the party, you ought to have some worship 242 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,040 music at home. 243 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,400 You ought to be playing something in your car that has your heart and your mind right. 244 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,840 You should have already been praying and reading your Bible. 245 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,360 So when you get here, you're ready to go. 246 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,280 What I'm trying to say is that if you want to clap your hands, stomp your feet or get 247 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:43,600 up and run, if you want to shout glory hallelujah, say thank you Jesus or amen. 248 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:49,100 If you want to wave your hands or sit and cry silently, do what you feel because not 249 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:51,040 everyone knows your story. 250 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,980 Not everyone knows what you have dealt with or are dealing with right now. 251 00:14:54,980 --> 00:15:00,160 Not everyone knows what you have had to overcome and therefore not everyone can or wants to 252 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,560 understand your praise, but give God glory anyway. 253 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,800 Trust me when I say you better move for God instead of waiting for God to move for you. 254 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:14,720 I know because I was that way and I used to think church was boring. 255 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,880 Last but not least, I used to think church was boring until I realized going to church 256 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,000 was about being proactive and not reactive. 257 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,440 I used to think that church, I like to call it, I used to try to get high on God. 258 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:31,160 See when you get high, again I know you guys never did this, but I ain't always been saved 259 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:36,320 so I used to participate in things that I know you would never think about doing right. 260 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:40,240 But we get on this high right, we come to church and we get on this high and we're up 261 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,440 here and then we don't think about God. 262 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:43,480 We don't think about church. 263 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,240 We don't think about worship until we're low again. 264 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,960 And then just like any other thing, we come and try to get a hit until we get back up. 265 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:52,920 We can't be that way. 266 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,300 That's being reactive. 267 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:57,080 So I only come to church when my marriage is in trouble. 268 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,120 I only come to church when they're talking about laying off on the job or my money is 269 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:02,120 a little funny. 270 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,720 I only come to church when things are going bad. 271 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,000 We've got to make sure that our church and worship is a part of our routine, that it 272 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,360 is a part of our life. 273 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,220 You know being a Christian is a lifestyle, right? 274 00:16:14,220 --> 00:16:19,000 We have to make sure and realize that it's being proactive because the reality is life 275 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,440 is going to happen. 276 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:25,400 And if you don't have one, the full armor of God, life will end up taking you under. 277 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:30,120 You've got to come to church not because you simply need God in this moment, but because 278 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:34,680 you need him in every situation and aspect of your life. 279 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,200 We have to realize that we can't use church as a bargaining tool either. 280 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,600 You know God, if you get me out of this, I'll go to church next Sunday. 281 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,520 I know you guys never did that, but I've done that before. 282 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,560 Or we use it as a badge of honor and say, well Lord, you should do this because I went 283 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,480 to church last Sunday. 284 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:56,620 Church should be used as an offering and service to a holy God who deserves all of us. 285 00:16:56,620 --> 00:17:03,520 If you are, and one thing that will help us is being attentive, right? 286 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:08,960 Understanding that God can and God will minister to you if you are open to receiving it. 287 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,800 That's part of being proactive. 288 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,560 Don't wait for all hell to break loose to search for Jesus. 289 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,720 Have him on the inside so when the devil attacks you, you will be prepared. 290 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,420 I'd rather be ahead of the game than behind the game. 291 00:17:23,420 --> 00:17:26,720 Without an offense, even the best defense will lose the game. 292 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,680 I know because that's how I used to live and worship. 293 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,480 And when I did, I used to think church was boring. 294 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:40,400 As I close and I look around and see young faces and older faces occupying the pews, 295 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:45,680 it causes me to reflect back to a time when I was a kid and the pews myself. 296 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:51,360 Then growing to be a young man searching for peace, understanding and deliverance from 297 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:52,920 the issues of life. 298 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:58,100 And now at 45, when I take a stroll down the back streets of my mind and I remember the 299 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:02,660 fun of the world, partying all night Fridays and Saturdays. 300 00:18:02,660 --> 00:18:07,840 Then waking up on Sundays and coming to church because that's what I was supposed to do. 301 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,600 Through it all, God still loved me and he kept me. 302 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,960 Irregardless of that fact, I used to think church was boring. 303 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:21,520 But as I began to find myself in trouble that I couldn't get myself out of, as I saw some 304 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:27,400 of my friends, associates and the people around me getting shipped off with almost as much 305 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:33,440 time as they were old, as some fell to suicide, murder and even committing murder. 306 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:38,280 As I had many sleepless nights from my own convictions from being caught between a push 307 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,680 from God and a pull from the devil. 308 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:45,480 Like the prodigal son, one day it clicked and I came to myself. 309 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:50,160 I realized that the world was the devil's playground and that he plays for Keats. 310 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,400 It was in that moment that I understood that church was not boring. 311 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,960 That church was and is a place where we can become whole. 312 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,640 A place where we can get grounded, strengthened, encouraged and inspired. 313 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:07,360 I found that church is not boring, but more like the weight room for someone wanting to 314 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:08,560 get stronger. 315 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:14,320 A diet for someone trying to lose weight or the gym for someone desiring to get in shape. 316 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:20,080 I also realized that the word of God is like a textbook when you have an open book test. 317 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:22,080 Instructions when you are trying to assemble a grill. 318 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,440 You ever try to put a grill together without the instructions? 319 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,200 That's why you need to read your Bible. 320 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,520 A recipe when you're trying to bake a cake. 321 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:36,680 I found out that the name of Jesus is like Batman's utility belt, Superman's cape or 322 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,360 spinach to Popeye when he needs a boost. 323 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,880 You better learn to call on the name of Jesus. 324 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,920 I learned that prayer is like shining the stunder cat symbol in the sky, pressing the 325 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,400 life alert call button. 326 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,720 You remember that commercial, I fall and then I can't get up and then they show up. 327 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,880 They show up to help you or calling a big brother when the threat of a bully is around. 328 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:03,460 You see, saints, as I got older and experienced life, I found out exactly what church is for, 329 00:20:03,460 --> 00:20:04,800 but I'll be honest. 330 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:10,560 I used to think church was boring, but I am thankful that God does not treat us as our 331 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:12,020 sins deserve. 332 00:20:12,020 --> 00:20:15,600 That it is because of his goodness that we are not consumed. 333 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:21,060 That as I was learning and growing, he was not only there, but placed the right people, 334 00:20:21,060 --> 00:20:25,400 right church family in my life to nurture me and help me grow. 335 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:30,440 I thank God that his heart didn't stop chasing after me like the song said. 336 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:36,320 That he revealed himself and I know who he is to me because of that, church is no longer 337 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:43,660 boring, but more like a weekly family reunion, a celebration, a party if you will, to celebrate 338 00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:45,940 God and all of his majesty. 339 00:20:45,940 --> 00:20:48,740 So get to know Jesus for yourself. 340 00:20:48,740 --> 00:20:55,160 Get into him so he can get into you and don't wait and don't want him as a reaction, but 341 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,720 desire him to be proactive because life is waiting to swallow you up. 342 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:05,000 And if you do these things, you will no longer think church is boring. 343 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:19,360 Amen.