Matt Sparks is the Lead Pastor of Anchor Church. In this blog post Matt talks through our current sermon series, Dating the Church, and explores what commitment to the local Church looks like.
I kind of follow the NRL. And by kind of I mean I love State of Origin, but club football seems like a long commitment to me. Origin is an easy three-week commitment. It works for me!
If you asked me which team I ‘follow’, I’d say the Parramatta Eels. Partly because they were my local team growing up and partly because I’ve got a huge man-crush on Jarryd Hayne. But here’s the thing, I’ve only been to one game, I’m not a member, and I don’t own a jersey. To my mates who are die-hard fans, I’m a lukewarm supporter at best.
Sadly, many people treat the church in the same way. A yearlong commitment to the church is too much. We’d prefer something more manageable, convenient even.
Fear of commitment means we often sit loosely with God’s people. Rather than an all in commitment to the people of God, we end up dating the church.
I’ve heard of people who say they attend our church, who’ve maybe been to one Sunday gathering. We’ve become all too comfortable with the phrase ‘church shopping’.
In our sermon series DATING THE CHURCH, we explore what it means to be all-in on our commitment to the local Church, in the areas of our time, treasure and talents. Far from being a series that lays on the guilt for non-commitment, we want you to see that 100% commitment to the body of Christ is as much about your joy as it is God’s glory.
The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
We believe that community ought to be life giving, faith-filling and essential to a fruitful walk with Jesus.
Matt Sparks
Lead Pastor / Planter
Join us this Sunday as we continue our Dating the Church sermon series.
10:30am at The Factory Theatre
105 Victoria Road Marrickville