Things To Avoid While In Church

II Tim. 2:19-26

(1 TIM 3:15) "BUT IF I TARRY LONG, THAT THOU MAYEST KNOW HOW THOU OUGHTEST TO BEHAVE THYSELF IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH."

(1 COR 14:40) "LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER."

God has a pattern for each of His churches as to how they should be operated. A pattern how the services should be conducted, and how the membership should behave themselves.

Note: 2 Tim. 2:19-26

There is a very interesting phrase in Vs. 20, "great house". What is "a great house"? This is talking about a local N.T. Church. In every local N.T. Baptist Church there are vessels of gold and silver, vessels of honor; yet in the same church there are vessels of wood and earth, and vessels of dishonor. In Vs 21 he says, (2 Tim 2:21) "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

In Vs. 19 the thought is "to depart from iniquity". In Vs. 21 a church member is to "purge himself from these". Who are "these"? That is those that are involved in iniquity in Vs. 19, and those that are vessels of dishonor in Vs. 21. He is saying that you and I as vessels are to be vessels of honor, and in being such we must depart from those who are in iniquity, and those who are vessels of dishonor. Notice these four verbs in Vs. 21-24:

Purge - Vs. 21. Flee - Vs. 22 Avoid - Vs. 23 Not strive - Vs. 24.

All of these are connected together tonight as we discuss "Things To Avoid While In Church."

I. Avoid Those Who Are Snooping or Snoopers - Gossipers - Busybodies - Slanderers.

II. AVOID THOSE WHO ARE SLOTHFUL OR SLUGGARDS

III. AVOID THOSE WHO EXALT SELF

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN CHURCH!!!

I. GALATIANS 5:22.

II. GALATIANS 6:2

III. THE GOLDEN RULE

If you will make these things those of which you involve yourself and avoid the negative group, then you will be a vessel unto honor.