You Have More Excuses than a Kangaroo looking for its baby as to why you can’t come to churc

Introduction
1. Ever since I’ve been a Christian since 1981 I think I’ve heard every excuse that there possibly could be as to why people can’t and won’t come to church.
2. The worst part of it is that they proclaim to be Christians! I came from a bible-believing and soul-winning church – an evangelistic church and was trained and equipped to be the ultimate soldier for Christ.
3. I remember so many times going out, knocking on doors and asking and saying, “Good afternoon or evening. My name is Wayne Patterson. I’d like to invite you to our church.”
4. Right off the bat, “Are you a Jehovah’s witness? I see you carrying a bible. Are you a Mormon?” I’d say ”No I’m a bible-believing Christian who has the love of God in him and loves God with all his heart and has the love to reach out and go out of my way without any excuse to tell you about the saving grace and knowledge and give you an invitation to our church and an invite to receive Jesus Christ as your own personal savior.”
5. Right off the bat it would be “Well I’m already born again.” “Do you go to Church?” “No, we’re more home Baptists.” “Mam or Sir, that doesn’t cut it.”
6. “Why not?” Because the bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
7. “Well I don’t care. I still am not going to go. I am satisfied with receiving Christ as my own savior and that’s all I need to do.”
8. I said to the lady that this is wrong thinking. You have a duty, and responsibility.
9. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal savior, the bible says this in 2nd Timothy 1:6: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. You don’t have an excuse as to why you can’t be in church.
10. You don’t want to be the one getting in by the skin of your teeth. You want to hear Jesus say to you as it says in Matthew 25:23: His lord said unto him Well done, good & faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
11. This is what you want our Lord and savior to be saying on the day of your departure. You never want to hear him say, when he asks you “Did you go out and tell people about me?
12. “No Lord I was shy.” Did you share your testimony with anyone? “I didn’t feel it was necessary.” Did you ever encourage people to come to church?
13. “ I think I did once.” Did you ever pray for anyone’s healing? “It was none of my business. I don’t interfere in other people’s things.”
14. His words to you may be these. The bible says in Matthew 7;23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
15. Christians, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal savior, the excuse then was that you were lost, but now you have no excuse because you’re saved.
16. You are called to do everything you possibly can do. As we are created in the image of Christ to be Christ-like. We must seek and save that which is lost.

As you were once lost and now you are found. I plead with you today. Your best is what God is looking for, without any blemish or spot and without any excuse.
He gave his life for you. Reach out so another life can be given to Him. Now let us look into our message,

You Have More Excuses than
a Kangaroo looking for its baby
as to why you can’t come to church!
Why do people give excuses for things they know they can do?
1. Some give excuses and do not do what they are called to, because they lack the faith to step out in their callings. James 1:6-7: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Every one of us have a mission, a calling, and a purpose. It’s time to be confident and faith-filled and obedient!
2. Some give excuses because they prefer not to work at all. 2nd Thessalonians 3:10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. There are a lot of people that are having their EBT shut off during this shut down. What is interesting, is that the majority of those that are experiencing this are those who are not legitimately disabled but those who choose to live solely off the government. We all need to work either in voluntary ministry service or in a vocation.
3. Why do people call themselves Christians if they don’t want to be Christ-like?
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What’s the purpose of being a Christian?
1. We always get our definitions from the AV1611 King James Bible dictionary, which defines a Christian as the following;
2. A believer in the person and teachings of Christ.
3. A professor of his belief in Christ.
4. and the definition that we are focused on in this message is A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the Christian faith, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by living the life Christ exemplified.
5. So to sum it all up, a Christian is someone who is Christ-like. We are made in the image of Christ. Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. So if you are a Christian, the image of Christ should reflect off your life and testimony.
Do you not know that you have the power of the Gospel and the Spirit that drives it to change the course & direction of one’s life if you apply yourself?
1. Remember that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God. Romans 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. You have the power of God if you have received the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. The Power of the Gospel of Christ, and the Spirit of God can change your course and direction, from a life of sin and emptiness, to an abundant joy-filled life. Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Gospel and the Spirit of God does the course correcting and transforming as you hear and study the Word of God.
Do you carry a bible? Do you study the bible? Do you know anything about the bible? If you don’t it’s time you did.
1. It is important to carry a bible because it is your witness, as we say every time we get together. Deuteronomy 6:6-8: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. In this day that we live in, everything we say relating to the gospel must be backed up by scripture or it will be under scrutiny and rejected.
2. Do you study or even know anything about the bible? Remember that Jesus is the Word, so the more of the Word you know, the more of Him you know. John 1:1-4: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Clearly you see here that Jesus IS the word, and Jesus IS God. So get to know more of that book and you’ll get to know more of our awesome God!
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We’re living in the last Days, the Laodicean Church Age.
1. Let’s look at Revelation 3 verses 14 to 18 and see if it matches with the times in which we live.

Let’s first look at verse 14: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Did you notice that this verse goes right in line with what we just read from John Chapter 1? Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God, meaning He was the creator – God right from the beginning.
Have you ever taken a drink out of a water fountain and found it to be lukewarm. The metal fountains were always nice and cold, but the white ones were always lukewarm and terrible tasting. Let’s read verses 15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Now it is important to remember, that Jesus is talking to a church. He is not spewing individuals out of His Mouth. The church in this Laodicean Church Age has become watered-down and giving a very lukewarm message as we often hear as we travel.

Jesus gives the diagnosis of the ailment that is plaguing the church today in verse 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, & increased with goods, & have need of nothing; & knowest not that thou art wretched, & miserable, & poor, & blind, & naked: Those that have this world’s wealth think they are all set! What do I need a savior for? I’ve got everything I need. I’ve lived a good life.
Now let’s see the prescription in verse 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Are you rich in the spiritual riches that don’t burn up when the fire of this world’s cares gets hot? Are you clothed with the righteousness of Christ and the peace and joy of the Lord that passes all understanding? Or are you fully engulfed in the chaos and strife of the Laodicean Church Age?
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We’re living in a time when everyone seems to have the right to do whatever they want. Even Christians believe this who proclaim to be Christians.
1. This sounds very much like the mixed-up world that the prophet Isaiah saw. Isaiah 5:20: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! We don’t have the right to do whatever we want, but we are to offer our lives as a living sacrifice according to Romans 12 verse 1.
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The bible says we are to preach the word in season and out
1. Paul gives this exhortation in 2nd Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. This is not just an exhortation to pastors and teachers, but for all Christians. We are all to preach the word to those who are lost and in need of a savior. We are all to reprove and rebuke those who are misrepresenting the simplistic salvation message of Jesus Christ. We are all to exhort one another so that all will come to sound doctrine.
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The bible is filled with patriarchs who had more excuses than Carter had liver pills to neglect or discard their responsibilities. They try to make you believe if they could that there was a black cat in a dark closet only to find out it’s just another excuse to escape responsibility.
1. Moses met God at the burning bush with a bushel of excuses as to why he couldn’t go to Egypt. God brushed off every excuse. For example, Exodus 3:10-12: Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. After a bunch of other excuses, Moses did finally carry out his responsibility at least partially.
2. There was a rich young ruler that met Jesus and gave an excuse as to why he couldn’t follow Jesus. Luke 18:22-24: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! We need not be so attached to this world’s treasure that it hinders us from following Jesus wholeheartedly.

Jesus gave a parable where a man held a banquet and had many guests that he had invited, and they all gave excuses as to why they couldn’t come. Luke 14:16-20: Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. What did the man do in response? He sent his servants out to the highways and byways to compel the lost to come in and THAT my friends, is what Jesus has directed you and me to do.
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The kangaroos seem to know how to find their own.
1. Yet how much more wisdom, knowledge, grace & mercy, love & understanding has God given us to reach those who are less fortunate to bring God to their hearts & salvation to their souls.
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Story A Lost Sheep & the Shepherd
1. A lost sheep, separated from the flock, endures a lonely and frightening journey through the wilderness, fearing predators as it wanders further into the unknown.
2. Meanwhile, its shepherd, after noticing the sheep is missing, leaves the rest of the flock to search for it, calling out its name until he finally finds it, often caught in thorns, but still alive.
3. Overjoyed, the shepherd gently lifts the weary animal onto his shoulders, carries it back home, and celebrates its return with friends and neighbors, filled with relief and joy for finding the one that was lost.
4. The sheep’s perspective: The sheep feels the deep isolation of being lost, wandering with a growing sense of panic and fear as the familiar flock recedes and darkness falls.
5. The shepherd’s action: The shepherd’s love for his sheep compels him to leave the comfort of the ninety-nine to search for the one. He perseveres through the search, which is often described as long and arduous, driven by his commitment to rescue the lost sheep.
6. The moment of rescue: When the shepherd finds the sheep, often in a state of distress, he reacts with immense joy and relief.
7. He carefully puts the sheep on his shoulders, a position of honor and safety, and begins the journey home.
8. The return and celebration: Back at his home, the shepherd gathers his community to celebrate. He calls his friends and neighbors to share in his happiness, proclaiming, “Rejoice with me, for this sheep once was lost, but now is found.
9. As a Christian who is Christ-like, the love He has for lost sheep should radiate from your life. Will you do all you can to see the lost sheep in your family become rescued, saved, and heaven bound?
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Conclusion
1. Based on this message, what excuses do you really have for not winning the lost and sharing your testimony? What excuse will you give God when it’s all said and done?
2. Has this message changed your life and thinking? Has it encouraged you to step up to the plate to be a Christ-like Christian, for we are nothing more than vapors in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow.
3. Every day must be the best opportunity and day to tell someone the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

You Have More Excuses than a Kangaroo looking for its baby as to why you can’t come to churc

You Have More Excuses than a Kangaroo looking for its baby as to why you can’t come to churc

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