One Mind about NASCAR, Meatloaf and Camping!

Yesterday at the E-Free Church in Gaylord, MI we concluded our "I LOVE MY CHURCH" message series through Acts 2:41-47. We saw in verse 42 that the early believers had an attitude of community that involved continually being in "one mind." Why can't the local church be like that today? Why is there so much disunity in the Americanized Church?

I think the problem is that we have taken our "consumer driven culture" and brought it into the church. We live in a culture that is all about our preferences. It's all about getting things our way, kind of like Burger King:

Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce;

Special orders don't upset us;

All we ask is that you let us;

Serve it your way!

So when we come to church we want it to be like our trip to Burger King. As a result, as we are driving home after church or sitting around the Sunday lunch table our conversation immediately and naturally goes to, "Here is what I liked about church today and here is what I didn't like about church today." Folks, listen, we will never be of one mind in whatever church we attend unless we are willing to check our personal preferences at the door. Unity of mind in the church does not center around preferences but rather around purpose.

For example, I don't like NASCAR. It just doesn't make sense to me...turn left...turn left...turn left...turn left. But if the leadership of our church decided to have a NASCAR themed activity in order to point people to Jesus...I'M IN! Why? Because our unity of mind shouldn't focus on our preferences but rather on our purpose!

Here is another example. I don't like meatloaf! I think it is a horrible thing to do to hamburger. But if the leadership of our church decided to have a Meatloaf Festival in order to point people to Jesus...I'M IN! Why? Because unity of mind shouldn't focus on our preferences but rather on our purpose!

One more example. I hate camping. In fact, I'm pretty sure it just might be one of the levels of hell. But if the leadership of our church decided to have a big camping event in order to point people to Jesus...I'M IN! Why? Because unity of mind shouldn't focus on our preferences but rather on our purpose!

I'll say it again, the local church will never be able to be unified in mind until we each check our preferences at the door. Unity doesn't center around NASCAR, meatloaf or camping, it centers around Jesus! Unity of mind doesn't center around preferences but rather around purpose!