Church = Hospital! Right or Wrong?

Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3
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Scripture

Acts 3

Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Observation

People without Christ come to our churches wounded and crippled. They come with all their hurts, hang-ups, and habits. God is drawing them to a new life. He desires to set them free! Our church should be the place where they find healing! It has to become a hospital.

Do you feel tension in your church that is created by long time church members who want the church to revolve around them and they want the church to meet their wants and their desires. They seem to come each Sunday trying to find something that isn’t right that they can mumble about. They sometimes even say, “but what about us”, all you think about are people that don’t know Christ.

Let me ask you a question, “If you have been in church for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years or more how many sermons have you listened to, and how many Bible studies have you attended?” The answer is probably thousands! In Matthew 9:12 “Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Application

What person crippled by the sins of this world needs my attention today? Who needs yours?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be like Peter and John today. Give me compassion for those that are sin sick that need a touch from you. Lord, make me sensitive to the needs of the people around me. Show me what to do. How to really help the people that I see in need. I love you Lord. You are my Strength for today. Lord, may we bring you Glory as we worship you this morning. Touch lives through your Word. Amen.


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