No Perfect People Allowed!

No Perfect People Allowed!




The title of this lesson is also the title of a book written by John Burke. In this book…the author explains the steps that are necessary in “creating a come as you are culture in the Church”…

The opening sentence from the book is kinda’ interesting…



“What do a Buddhist, a biker couple, a gay-rights activist, a transient, a high-tech engineer, a Muslim, a twenty-something single mom, a Jew, a couple living together, and an atheist all have in common? They are the future church in America.”

When we walk out our own front door it becomes very clear that the “Leave it to Beaver” and the “Andy Griffith” life styles no longer exist in America. Everything in life has changed including the church and how it reaches out to the seekers (lost people) of its current generation.



In the fifties and sixties it was just expected that on Sundays…every business was closed…you and your entire family would get up…put on your Sunday best and head out the door to church.



But now…50 years have passed…and instead of finding businesses closed on Sunday…It’s hard to find a business that isn’t…and very rarely do you find a family with all its members attending a Sunday morning service.



We shake our heads in despair while whispering under our breath… “What has become of this generation”. And as disappointing as it is for us…what we often fail to remember is “what’s God think about all this?” God’s number one concern is making sure we understand that even though we personally may have failed Him. He still desires for us to daily seek Him out and ask Him to forgive us of our sins. His intentions have always been for our best interest…Quite the opposite of the world which we all live in. And like it or not…We all have been born into a world that has become filled with excuses…materialism…and counterfeit gods… keeping us from learning the truth about God.



After reading the opening sentence from the book “No Perfect People Allowed”…it leads to a question…what is it that’s so special about God and the Church that attracts a person into making a life changing decision?



Is it the friendly welcome that people receive when they first walk in the front doors of the church…is it the inviting smell of fresh brewed coffee … Is it participating in the much needed worship service…or maybe just maybe… It’s listening to the life changing message that Jesus Christ has to offer.



You see…God has always had a plan….We are His Plan…His plan is one of purpose…His plan is one of forgiveness…and His plan has a future… In Jeremiah 29:11, He says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

His plan has always been about purpose…this is why over 2000 years ago He sent His Son to this very earth to personally show us by example the correct way to live life by.



In Romans 12:9-21 is where we find the “Marks (Responsibilities) of the true Christian”

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.



Here we read where the Apostle Paul shares with us some very important scripture about how Christians should live their lives. (But what about those who don’t go to church?)



What we just read does not register with the world outside the church. The world outside the church is filled with hurting people…people who are being mentally and emotionally beat up. People who daily are being taken advantage of… in their jobs…by their families… and by their friends. They feel that no one cares about them…And no matter what they do…the current situation they find themselves in will never change.



(All they know is the world will beat you up…spit you out…and leave you lying to die). This is why it is so important for the church to do its best to create a come as you are atmosphere.



An atmosphere where people feel welcome…where they feel important…where they feel they can make a difference…and where they can find God…meet with Him and change.



Gods plan was for the church to be a place where people can seek shelter from the storms of life.

See what Jesus said: 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

I have often heard it said that “Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners”.



Church should be a place where people can count on people to be their friends and not have to worry about being taken advantage of. This is why it is important for the church…(Christians ) to do their best to live their lives by what Paul shared with us from Romans 12:9-21…

It’s true…Gods plan is about a Purpose …But his plan is also about Forgiveness.



Romans 6:23… “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”



God’s plan of forgiveness is all about us…There is not one person here today that doesn’t deserve His free gift of forgiveness.



Just recently churches all around the world celebrated the resurrection of their Lord and Savior.(Easter Sunday) God not only sent His Son to this earth to teach us how to live…but He sent His Son to the cross So we could live.



When this thing every one of us calls life is over…the only thing that is going to be important is… did you ask Jesus into your life…and did YOU share Jesus with others. Life is not about how you look…who you hang around with…what you’ve been able to accomplish… It’s about Gods plan…and US…



God’s plan is a winning plan…It’s a plan of purpose…forgiveness and It’s a plan with a future.

Let’s end this lesson by reading from Philippians 3:20-21…20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.



Paul reminds us that Heaven is the place where God dwells…and where Christ Is present. It is the believer’s home…where their names have been registered…and their inheritance awaits. Eternity is going to be for a very long time…I hope and pray that we will all be there together someday…….