A Sermon from the Badlands and the Prairie of Western South Dakota

Harvey Dunn SD prairie painter

www.scatteredchristians.org

M Paulson
Kadoka, South Dakota

August 1, 2010
Audio sermon
Video sermon

I am not against the local church as there is a purpose and design.  See Ephesians 4 vs the modern church false design today of Acts 2.
I am not against the need of having a pastor - we can have pastors today, contrary to those who rebel from any authoritative preaching.

However, we are not guaranteed nor are we promised a local church or a pastor nor should we stay with one 'no matter what' he preaches.  A 'bad' pastor is not the lesser of two evils.  From such turn away!!!

So for you that have chosen to leave your church and don't what to do now - this sermon is for you!
For you who are struggling with your local church, take heed to this sermon and examine your reasons for staying.

Was it a right decision?

• Does it please God to leave a local church to then have no church anywhere to attend?
• Did you leave to please man?
• Did you leave because of your personal pride, getting preached at, etc.
• Did you leave because you didn't 'like' the pastor, etc.
• Do you leave or stay based on pleasing your wife, husband, kids?
• Did you leave to please God?
• I Thessalonians 4:1
• Galatians 1:10

• Church organization has corruption
• Especially financially within the local assembly!
• As a member, you could get stuck with your part of the fine, penalty, etc.
• The leadership is the women
• no matter how holy and devout they are, it is wrong!
• Poisonous doctrine
• music
• no kjb
• kjb but not rightly dividing
• pressure to give to build to bring them in
• no walk talk
• all grace and no rebuke, etc.
• no 'Paul Only'
• the real God is taught as an unknown God
• Hebrew / Greek baloney
• preaching of improving old nature through Biblical psychology preaching and counseling
• Pastor not I Timothy 4:6
• Pastor not I Corinthians 4:17
• Pastor not Titus 2
• serious immodesty issues
• SS not teaching but all about playing and having fun - leading kids to the Lord by fear and for numbers...
• Part of the folly of modern Christianity
• see II Timothy 3:1-9
• causes our kids to stumble that they see the godliness without power
• grow up and want out because it 'doesn't work' with what they hear compared to what they see
• grow up and fall for the folly - and put on an act - and stay out of their Bible but stay loyal to the minister of Satan

• Read I Corinthians 7:16 - and think again about staying
• Read II Corinthians 6:14-18 - and think again about staying
• Do you still ignore those other verses Paul teaches about 'from such turn away,' 'avoid,' 'have no company with,' etc.

You are addicted to / you have been brought under the power of one or more of the following:

• Are you addicted to the preaching and teaching?
• you should - but it sure puts you on the spot to have to come up with your own studies and family sermons, eh?
• Well, we at www.scatteredchristians.org are still here for you!
• I will put you into your Book like you should be.  II Timothy 2:2
• Then God can show you things all on your own.
• Are you addicted to the convenience and ease of driving to church, etc.?
• Pastor did the studying for you!
• Pastors wife might have taught your wife!
• Those 'spirit led church women' guide it all with their self-claim of devout and honorable form of Christianity
• Those folks with lower standards than yours make you feel better about yourself  - see II Corinthians 10:12
• Your kids are happy with their 'fun' SS and teen group - so if they are happy, why take them out?
• Maybe the church can get your kids 'saved' - then it isn't your responsibility to live what you believe.  See I Timothy 4:16
• Drive to - sit and listen and mumble a song or two - live through a special performance by the "Fat Sisters of Sensual Songs" - listen to a sermon ( or at least hear it, anyway) - shake a few hands - hug a few 'other' women or men - yell at your kids for running around in God's house - happily load the car and don't come back for another week - certainly not in the evening and NEVER for the mid-week service.
• How more convenient can you get but at your own home?  You don't have to go anywhere or dress up - you can even sleep-in - stay in your jammies for the sermon, etc. If this is your reason for leaving, by the way - YOU ARE WRONG!
• Someone else does all the cleaning, etc. at the church so that has been nice... etc.
• Are you addicted to giving your money now?
• Addicted or just no more tax write-off
• especially at the end of the year when you 'needed' to give for that tax-blessing...
• Can't ignore the issue, though - Paul does talk about it.  I encourage you "non-givers but don't gi, but really could but don't feel guilty" - AND those "non-givers who really can't and feel guilty" to see I Corinthians 16; II Corinthians 8,9
• If you love God and are thankful for how he has prospered you in spiritual matters, etc. then your love will carry your giving on... Give to those who feed you and to those who need you!
• Are you addicted to your pastor?
• That is understandable, but...
• Going to church because of the pastor is a tribulation feature...
• Jude 16
• Hebrews 13:7,17 are tribulation verses about the 'relationship' between the people and the pastor.
• That is false teaching if the pastor puts this on you today!
• Pastors do have a purpose, so for those who think we should NOT have a pastor, read Paul's writings again.
• Ephesians 4:11,12; II Corinthians 1:24; II Thessalonians 5:12,13
• But if your pastor doesn't fulfill these verses - avoid; from such turn away; have no company with; his good words and fair speeches will destroy your family without you even being aware.
• A bad pastor is NOT the lesser of two evils!
• Are you addicted to your building - your plant - your place of worship, etc.?
• Is it a 'cool' place to go?
• Is it a historical building?
• Is it a modern flash of financed fleshy fun - fountains, coffee bars, etc.
• What can be better than one own's home?
• Well, it did you ladies out of the house, eh!
• And now you have to clean your own place in case someone would ever come and visit your home church???
• Are you addicted to Sunday and Wednesday 'only'?
• Colossians 2:16 takes care of that - but still - are you so routed to Sunday and Wed that you just can't do a 'different' day?
• If you work a night shift or weekends, etc. why not do something for the family on Monday, etc.
• It means nothing to God!
• Are you addicted to the fellowship / the brethren?
• This seems to be the hardest
• Were the 'brethren' doing their job scripturally?
• laborers together with God; be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality; rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep; be of the same mind one toward another; no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way; edify another; receive ye one another; admonish one another; members should have the same care one for another; whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it; restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; bear ye one another's burdens, comfort one another, edify one another.  See chart God's Builders.
• Are these folks good friends or are they the very ones Paul tells you to 'avoid' - 'have no company with' - etc.
• Has the crowd become what Paul didn't want to find when he visited the Corinthian churches!
• I Corinthians 1:11; 3:1-3; 5:1,2; 6:1; 8:1-4; etc,
• The Corinthian church is a lot like our churches today - see above verses!

What an opportunity to teach your family the right stuff without all the religious game, etc. attached!

• However, from what I have seen, today's family can't do it!
• Most families are so dysfunctional, they can't handle a home church, study, etc.
• The roles are mixed up - the husband and wife couldn't take each other
• The husband has no idea what the Bible says or how to say it other than to just bash or speak love...
• One of the member's 'change' as Paul asks for would shake up the rest of the family!
• Family members have always had someone else do the study and teaching for them!
• Many can not even just read - let alone get any understanding or thoughts out of what they are reading.
• KJB too hard?
• It is the bible with the most 1 - 2 syllable words.
• How can that be so hard?
• Singles? - do Paul's advice
• I Corinthians 7:7-9, 32-34+
• love God's grace if you have to 'live' wrong 'for now.'
• but don't sit around and let it happen, either.
• make a point to follow Paul's teachings the best you can wherever you can - don't give in to Demas!

• Acts 26:16
• Romans 15:16
• Ephesians 3:7
• Colossians 1:23
• His 'assistants'
• Colossians 4:7
• Ephesians 6:21
• Colossians 1:7
• I Thessalonians 3:2

Today, God's word - the light - is the King James Bible.

You will do fine without your church IF you stay in the Book and take heed to Paul's teachings!

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Mike Paulson
Trying to do the work of an evangelist by teaching Paul's gospel of the Risen Saviour!
www.scatteredchristians.org

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The entire King James Bible is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO us!
We learn from the "For" and we learn to apply the 'TO!"