Why Are You Here?

Message Transcription

Good morning, church. How can we just set it? Silence for a moment. I think something really glorious is happening outside. Can you hear it? I heard it on this side. It's raining. Can we give God a praise for that? That is so good. It's one of those slow rains where you want to build a fire and hang out with a blanket, and you're here. We got our own fire. Thank you very much. And if you're cold, cuddle to the person next to you. It's all good. We're in the Lord's house. Just watching the college students. That was an opportunity. You missed it. There you go. All right, great. So let's see if you remember this theological tool that most of us learned when we were children. Okay, so where's my teenagers? College students Down. There we go. Okay. See if you remember this to see if there was correct teaching at the Broadway church. Are you ready? Here's the church. Say it with me. Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people now. There was a problem. I was at bratty kid. I know that shocked you. But what would happen is I told my teacher, Will you open the doors? And there's no people. So we changed it like this in Dallas. Do you remember that? You were bratty kid, too. I see. Okay, so here we go. Here's the church. Open the doors and see all the people and then they were there.

That's amazing. Now, let me tell you what's been happening as of late. Not to depress anyone, but we go, here's the church, here's the steeple, open the door. And it's like, where's all the people? That's the phone call I usually get. Where did all of the people go? And before we think it's like a Church of Christ thing, it's an everything. There's no major denomination group growing in the United States. You're like, Oh, wait, non. Denham We used to be there once to non. Denham It's basically taking everyone that's from a Christian faith, throwing a little Holy Spirit in there and worship style. They're now their own denomination. So there's a problem. And we made it really evident after COVID because we did some really cool things when we couldn't gather together, we went online and as a coach of ministers, I talked to people all over the country and usually youth and children's ministers because we're younger. And the preacher looked at him, said, We got to go online. You got 5 minutes to do it. Go put my sermons online. The problem is not every children in youth ministry understands computers, so they're all stressed out going, I don't know what to do. I don't know how to make a YouTube channel, but we got all of our services online. Then COVID restrictions lifted. And for some churches now I want you to hear this. People didn't come back.

And it makes me ask the question why? Why did people just flock back in to where they were before? And I think it was an awakening, a time that we have before us that is incredibly important and a great opportunity because we get to rethink of that question of why are we even here on a Sunday morning instead of wrapped around that blanket in a fire? Why are we here? I know that you know the answer. I experience the answer every time I walk into Broadway. And if you're a guest at Broadway, if you're listening online, you need to get here and experience this family. Because I cannot walk through the I literally walk to the door. And there's Gary, Welcome to Broadway. And I know he was waiting for me, but he knew where two coffee stations were. That was incredible. But when you go to the coffee station and you meet a friendly face. And you feel welcome. And then I walk into a door in 2 seconds. I get a hug from one of my favorite people in the world, and he held on to me and I just needed that, you know what I'm saying? There's a reason that we're here that goes beyond checking the list. So here is my reduction. I can do this. I'm a doctor. Okay? I'm just going to reduce down to a few scriptures of why I believe that we need to be here.

And if you're listening online and you can't be here, I mean, I understand that. But if you're just kind of keeping a distance and it's not because of COVID, you get your Jesus on and then you leave. There's a reason we assembled together that may surprise you that we remembered post-COVID that maybe we didn't know before COVID. So let me give you some of my top things that I've heard from people. One, is this the reason why we don't go to church and this is the one that kind of bothers me, but it's true. I can use technology and this is an actual phrase for my Jesus show. Because it was kind of fun that we would never attend another worship service. But we get on the phone and go, Oh my word, I'm doing something naughty. I'm listening to a Baptist preacher. It's all right. I have a cappella music playing in the background, but I'm listening to this. Or there's other individuals that would just kind of listen to all of these teachings all around the country, like I've done what I did and I even know how to get unleavened bread. And if I have saltines, I even take the salt off of them. And sometimes they use real wine. But I got the stuff covered. And I have communion. So why do I need this? One of the saddest things is finding churches that do the Jesus show really well.

We're talking incredible preaching. We have lights, we have actual instrumental, or we have great a cappella and we have great visiting. And we don't only have regular coffee with syrup, we have cappuccino. I mean, they have everything. And people still didn't come back because something was missing. And this is going to be a key. I can go on my phone, I can go on my computer and have my Jesus show. It's more than just about the professionalism. Yes. Any time that we do something before God, we have to give our best. Amen. We want to give our best. It is an awful thing. If Gary just showed up and said, I know we practice in the key of flat, but I'm just going to go minor, I mean, just because I can. None of us would like that. But we're not talking about excellence. We're talking about people who have this idea that I just show up and I get a service and then I come back home. Can't I do that wrapped in a blanket around my fire? Here's another thing that I hear of why we didn't come back. I love Jesus. I don't love his people. All I can say this is welcome to the crowd, right? This has been one of those things that we've struggled with forever. And if you're listening, guess what a hypocrite is someone who deliberately lives an alternative lifestyle that says I will have no other gods but practices other gods.

Someone who says, Of course I won't use the Lord's name in vain, but when they're out in the world, you don't even know if they know the Lord. I understand that they're everywhere. But the Bride of Christ is a broken, beautiful mess. Amen. And it's what we have. When you go into a place that just feels different, you're like, Well, I know what that person does. Guess what? We know what we do. We are not saying when we come together that we are perfect, but we honor the one that made us perfect. Amen. So if you want to find a hypocrite, yeah, we all can. You may be looking at one. But we love our Jesus and our Jesus loves the bride of Christ. And there's still something about that broken, beautiful mess that we need. Or Jesus wouldn't have established it. Right? There's something about it. Here's another thing that I hear. Those people are so judgy. I don't want to be around them. And if I hear this in another Bible class, I'm probably going to scream because I try not to open my mouth up. And we have Bible classes, but people are like, Here's what we need. We need to be more like Jesus because he didn't judge anyone. He judged everyone. It's his reaction to that judgment that we miss. And so we have this idea, Well, I just need to come to a place that accepts me as I am.

Broadway, Will. Every church will. But don't tell me I don't want to hear anything that's going to make me feel bad about myself. Well, then go to a daytime talk show. All right. Your special, Your wonderful. Your special. We think you're wonderful and your special. But we're also that broken, beautiful mess, right? If I'm standing in front of you and just thought, I'm going to go stick my hand right over here in this light socket, just for fun. Most of you are like, That's a crazy illustration, Dave. Go for it. But if I keep doing it, eventually Gary's going to say There's something wrong. Let's tackle the guy. He is shocking himself in a light socket on the stage. In our world, we believe that love is God. So if you love me, I can do whatever I want. How are we doing with that world? The Bible says God is love. So judgment and mercy are together. I need someone to tell me every once in a while in the House of the Lord. Dave, I saw what you did. That's really not very cool. Get your finger out of the light socket. That's called love. And I'm sorry if it feels like judgment, but I need a place where someone will speak truth to me in a way that is filled with love. I feel so judged. Why? Maybe you need that from people who love you.

Again, That's a whole different sermon. I'm not going to talk about it. This one to. My kids don't understand what's going on here. Well, then stop taking them to tech games. That's one of the dumbest things I ever hear from people. Well, my kids don't understand what's going on here. And this grape juice and crackers talking about body and blood. And it's weird. Will you dress your kids up as soon as they come out of the womb? Here's your red and black. And you're like, There you go. And you take him to a game like this is what? And I ask you, why are you doing this? Putting earmuffs on your kids. People are going nuts. Well, this is our team. Guess what? This is our team. I don't even remember when I learned this. You know. Some of you parents who haven't been parents very long. And I can say this because now I'm a grandfather, you're like, Well, I'm going to let my own kids decide. Bull. They watch us. Faith is sometimes caught before it's ever taught. They just know when you sing that song, Mom and Dad, that you have tears in your eyes and they need to watch those tears. They have no idea why we get quiet when we take the Lord's Supper and why we reflect on in the beautiful words our sister gave us. We don't really know what's going on, but somehow that's something significant.

Well, our kids don't understand it. Then stop taking them to Disneyland and to tech and to the Cowboys game at LSU game saying, Well, that's what we want them to be raised with. You want them to be raised with Christ to. So help them catch this. And isn't it great? And one of the oddities of churches of Christ, I need you to say this before we see this, before we go backwards in time. Every major denomination I could list names of major preachers and pastors, and I get phone calls from one person in particular at a big church, and they said, I'm supposed to talk to you. And here was the statement in question. Supposedly you have kids in the assembly. How in the world is your senior pastor go for that? And I was dumbfounded, going. When when have I ever been in an assembly in our fellowship where we didn't have kids? And I find us being. 10 to 15 years. Remember when we used to fight over gyms, The family life centers that were really gyms? Because we wanted to be behind the Baptist by ten years. Guess what? We're ten years above everyone else because we actually let kids in our assemblies. And we love the noise and real life uncaged teenagers as well. We're odd in that regard. Everybody's trying to be like us because there's something about the connection that is caught.

Even when it can't be taught. Amen. So once you go to Hebrews ten, I got to give you some Bible and then we're going to land the plane. Why Hebrews ten starting in verse 19, you've heard this. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way open for us through the curtain that is His body. And since we have a great priest over the House of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with full assurance that faith brings. Having our heart sprinkle to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he promised is faithful. And so we could stop there and say, That's why I'm online. Dave. I don't need to be here. I accept the Jesus. Why do I need the body? Here it is. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Not giving up. Meeting together is somewhere in the habit of doing. Now, here's what we would do with that verse. We would make our assembly an act of obedience. And so if you are second or third generation, you've always come in. If you're my age, you used to get pins. We had merit badges. And if you didn't get that, I'm sorry you missed out.

It was greatly motivated by I had a merit badge and if you had perfect attendance, you got to put bars on there like a scout. Does anybody remember that? It was awesome. So we were raised with this idea of it is another thing that we have to do because God's going to check attendance. Well, the problem is, as soon as we realize that's bad theology and God's not going to pull out the medals, it's about the grace of God. Some of us went the other way, like true Americans. Okay, then we don't need it. But hear what the author of Hebrews says. We get together to encourage one another. And then after that statement, it says, and we gather together. What does this say to encourage? One another and all the more as you see the day approaching. There is something encouraging to be together. Because the time I can't tell you all the stories, but I could go on and on and on with the body of Christ in our personal journey, Lisa and his family, where they just showed up. It may have been a worship service when Lisa, years ago, had a first diagnosis of cancer. And so we were meeting at the hills and we were going to kind of walk through the first Easter service and it was really awesome. But Lisa just got her diagnosis and as a staff we worshiped and it was still an amazing moment and the worship team was doing their deal and it was just our staff and Lisa stood up to declare a praise and she's just weeping.

I still remember this. And everybody stood and it changed the room. When we were worshipping to God and weeping together for my wife. And the encouragement could be felt everywhere. And I know you've had those experiences as the 2022. When my wife got through with her last big surgery and I got a call from downstairs from security, when an elder in the Lord's church lied to try to get up to my wife trying to go through UTI, South-West Security, who said, My name is David Frase, I'm here to see my wife. How am I? So I call down there and I'm like, You can't do that. You're. And he's just smiling from ear to ear. And he goes, Man, can we just pray together? I love that. Don't you? Now, here's where the rub is. And we're going to get to some of you haven't experienced that yet. But the Bible has something to say about that as well, because you're like, But you're David and you say, everybody knows you, you know? No, no, no. It's. That's not the reason those people showed up. And there's not the reason why the people are sitting next to you this morning. Amen. Because there's something unique about this body verse, Corinthians 12, another verse that we love At First Corinthians 12, Paul talks about this body in verse 12.

That's all put together in special ways. The Holy Spirit makes us get of this one body, no Gentiles, male or female, all these beautiful things, and that just we are all part of one body. Then he disciplines this, saying everyone, whether it's noticeable or not, has a part. And I love this line of verse 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal. Equal concern for each other. And here's the ideal If one part suffers like we're suffering for Karl. Every part suffers with it. Do you know, Carl is You're listening. How many people told me not to go long because they're about to get into a van and join you? If one part is honored. Every part rejoices with it. That's what's supposed to happen. You're like, But, Dave, sometimes I feel alone. Remember, we are broken. Beautiful bride. Sometimes we we are guilty of. And I want you to go over to James, too, because we got to see this with our own eyes in James chapter two. The writer of James says this. Starting of verse one, my brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes and a poor man and fill the old clothes comes in. If he shows special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, Here's a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, you stand there or sit on the floor by my feet.

Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? So commercial like Broadway. If I can just give this commercial. I've never once been in this building where I've witnessed any kind of favoritism. And I go to a lot of churches and one of the games I like to play is to play Secret Shopper especially. I haven't spoken there and I just kind of walk in. I checked the coffee again, checked. Y'all are good, but I got to walk around and I'm like, Is anybody going to say anything to me? And I understand because what you're thinking is what I say, Well, it's your responsibility as well. But if some of our largest churches, even the welcoming people, just talk to each other and say, Hey, Gary, and there's someone else that walks by and I'm like, Hey, do you see me? And they usually feel bad when they get up and speak. I think it's a really fun game, but some of you feel that way lost in a crowd that if I wasn't here, no one would miss me. I'm telling you, it's not true here at Broadway. And I would say it's not true in most of our communities of faith. We used to during our mixtures.

And please don't think light of me and well, you probably already judge me, but part of the judgment. But that's what Jesus would do. Just be kind. I would play the Cheers theme song. And if you remember the Cheers theme song, I want to go Where? What? And there. Always glad. There you go. All you people see, we're broken, broken. Beautiful mess. Watching a beer show. So anyway. To this day, we still play that. Because everyone needs to know there's a place. Where people welcome you no matter where you are, that you're glad that you're there. And you leave better than you came. And it takes intentionality. There's always a story or a moment where people finally buy into that and everything makes sense in favoritism begins to diminish. And I still remember the two gentlemen on one side, there's a guy named Kate Stone and great young man, and Cade was the king of Fort Worth, Christian Oak. He literally was the quarterback. He was the homecoming king. He dated the pretty girls. It was like Cade was the king. And on the other side was was was Mr. Walker Burns and Walker Burns down the street was rich in high school. He was the king of Richland High School. He was the quarterback and he dated the beautiful girls. And all this these two kings became friends. And it was through some intentionality. And that's not supposed to happen sometimes in our world, because at Richland there's bad things that happen and maybe you can hear words spoken.

Out loud because the same words are being whispered at Fort Worth. Christian But I mean, there's the difference. These two became friends. And then when that happened, magic begins to happen. The kids begin to set together. Because the Kings brought their kingdoms together. And when that began to happen, there was a young man that lived with his grandparents. And it was during and this this phase is coming back college and teenagers. This is, I don't know, wearing the white shirt. Just kind of a white shirt, untucked jeans type look. And he didn't have the money for that. So he got his grandfather's old shirt and it would just be back, you know, his grandfather's shirt. And I'm like, What's going to happen? Kade and Walker befriended this young man. They didn't make it announce. Nobody even knew it. I just started noticing. And they always talk to this young man and then this young man came to camp and this young man came to all of our activities. And finally I walked up to him knowing the answer. And I said, Why do you keep doing this? And I called him by name. Why do you come to this church? And he said, If I wasn't here, Cayden Walker would miss me. Isn't that beautiful? You know those stories. Yes, we're not perfect, but when the Body of Christ works, it's incredible.

So the last one, Philippians two. You know this one, it's right at the very beginning before one of the wonderful songs that has been sung for centuries about the church, about how our Christ, even though exalted, humbled himself and and found us in favor instead of showing favoritism to the greatest, he showed favoritism to us all. In this, a beautiful picture of what we should be about, if there's any encouragement. For being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete. Paul's like, You really want to make me happy. Then be like minded and have the same love being one in spirit and one of mine do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit rather than humility. Value others above yourselves and not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of others. So I don't know what's going to happen after COVID, but it kind of, I can tell you. That it's not going to be better microphones or better worship orders. It's not going to be a different sound. It's not going to be moving your building somewhere. It's all of these things are superficial. And all over the country, there are churches that are beginning to grow because the assembly here's a big word I'm going to leave with you and just drop there and I want you to feel good about the assembly at Broadway.

But here is the secret in all that we do, and it's not going to blow you away. Authenticity. It's authentic. You ask the college students, they know how to tell you, but it's either authentic or it's not right. You just walk in and go, I don't know. Yeah, okay, I like this and I don't like something else. You can do the same thing. So when it's authentic, it doesn't matter. The Jesus show, people want to be there, no matter the quality of it. And and even though you're sitting there going, I like Jesus, but I don't like his people, when you run across authentic people, all of a sudden you want to be in the midst of them. And when you're sitting there going, Oh, y'all are so judgy. If someone's authentic, I want somebody authentic to look at me and say, David, stop with the Lightning plug. Oc because you know they love you. And they accept you. That's the key. Be authentic. Just like Philippians two says, when you have something to share and love, share it and love when you have something to rejoice over, Paul says, rejoice, be sad together, be the body of Christ. I don't encourage lying to get through security, but if it works for you, do it. Broken, broken. Beautiful mess. So two weeks ago, I was speaking at Park Avenue. And I was speaking about, you know, family things.

And Park Avenue's up there in the Denison area, and there's a lady that has known me since I was a baby that's a member there. And so every time I speak up there, she comes up and goes, Hey, you know my brother. Yes, I do. We were in youth group together and it's a great reunion. That takes me back to the early days of when I learned this and saw all the people. People that I still love and cherish. But then another lady walked up. It said something about her dad. Now, let me give you a back story. I'm not second or third generation church. My mom and dad came out of bad marriages. Mom had a daughter and they moved to Lewisville. They didn't have air conditioning, so they hung outside the house. When I was born, my uncle bought air conditioning for our house. And so they'd stay outside like some of you probably did. And they smoked cigarettes and drank beer with the neighbors. You know, that was just like what you did in Texas. Every once in a while you threw some some sun tea in and made good use of the sun. Right. Well, they used VBS as babysitting. And so here they are, two newly married. They got a young daughter. They would send her off to all the vacation Bible schools. And my sister went to the Church of Christ Bible School.

And told the preacher, I think my mom and dad are going to hell because they smoke and they drink beer. So he comes to our house and says, Are you Henry in Latin phrase? And he just starts laughing. He goes, I think your daughter thinks you're going to go to hell. And it started a conversation. And from that conversation, my mother and father who were already walking, were accepted Christ, but walking away decide, I guess we'd better get our act together. And so my sister and I were raised with that drug problem being drug to church. Right. But it started from a single preacher. Thank you. That was kind of slow, but so we were raised not knowing anything but that. And it all started with this preacher. Well, two weeks ago, this lady comes up and says, well, my dad was the first preacher at that church. I said, What was your dad's name? I mean, we just got teary and I'm like, Do you really realize the reason I'm preaching at your church today is because your dad came over to my house and talked to my mom and dad. And they came to church. And she just teared up and said, Thank you for bringing my dad back to life. I shouldn't be in front of you. Most of you can tell similar stories. See, it's not about your generations. We've always been at Broadway. No one cares. What they care about.

Is in your reclaim those roots to say we're here because this is our family and we do not welcome you into this. That's authentic and that's different and real. Amen. So look to the person, the right and left. Say, I'm glad you're here. Turn around and look at those people like he's alone. Look at him. There you go. If you're visiting with us and you feel so awkward right now, I'm so glad. If you're watching online and you can't be here, please come back. But for all of us. Just take a deep breath for a second. Let it out. It's good to be home. It's good to be home. Let's pray, Father. Thank you. Even though we are that broken. Beautiful mess. Thank you for giving us each other. It's so hard to speak these words, looking out to an audience with their individuals that have loved me for so many years and individuals that I have loved for so many years, individuals who we cried together and we've laughed together. Individuals who've been on camps together, individuals who've been at games together. The breadth of relationship in your kingdom is amazing. And it's not by accident. Thank you for putting us together the way you put us together. Thank you for helping us learn how to work through struggles together. Thank you for the glorious beauty of authentic community, and I pray that we will just continue to press into that. Through Jesus, we all say, amen. Let's stand and sing together.