A man once said to me, "Pastor, I come to church to get my battery charged. If I don't feel any better after hearing the sermon than I did before, why should I bother to come?" Clearly, this man would not "endure sound doctrine" if it brought discomfort or conviction to his soul.
How about you? What is your purpose in attending church services? If I understand Paul's words in the fourth chapter of Ephesians, the pastor/teacher has a responsibility to teach God's Word in such a way that true saints will be brought to unity concerning the faith and their knowledge of the Saviour.
The Apostle Paul declares that the ultimate goal of preaching and teaching the Word of God is to bring the church to the "measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;" that is, His Character, His Mind, and His purity of life. It is to establish believers in doctrine that is "according to godliness," and to protect them from the subtle heresies. It is to equip them to be effective servants who, in turn, will make their own loving contribution to the building up and strengthening of the Body of Christ. It is to bring about a radical change in their lifestyle, displaying them in sharp contrast to those who are:
Paul goes on to say that the preaching of God's Word should challenge believers to recognize that we have:
And that we are being;
And that we have put on;
The remainder of this fourth chapter of Ephesians is devoted to specific examples of behavior that are consistent with the fact that we have "put off the old man," and have "put on the new man," which, of course, is the new life we have received from Christ.
This places a heavy responsibility on the pastor of the local church; especially if he must also "charge the battery" of each member of his congregation each Sunday and send everyone home feeling "better than before!"
Perhaps we should re-evaluate our reasons for attending church services. If the pastor is called to lead the church to such lofty heights of spiritual maturity through preaching and teaching, does it not follow that his hearers must listen to the message with a view to being changed by it? Paul declares that:
As God's Word is applied, and His purpose accomplished in your life, you will increasingly find its preaching a delightful and refreshing experience. Your "battery" will need "charging" much less frequently!
However, if you must think of the church as a service station, then try to remember that proper operation of any vehicle requires more than a fully charged battery. There is even a danger that one may overcharge a battery! And perhaps what you really need is an "oil change," or a "shot of grease" here and there.
Your spiritual "engine" may not be running smoothly, due to insufficient "spark" or a dirty "filter."
Malfunctioning "valves" may have caused internal pressures to rise to dangerous levels. Your "steering mechanism" may be defective, making it difficult to stay on the straight, narrow road.
You might even need a "wash job!"
When I explained all this to the man who wanted a "battery charge" every Sunday, he promptly blew a "head gasket!" But, even with a blown "head gasket," he still insisted that all he really needed was a "battery charge!"
Next time you feel like your pastor is trying to "overhaul" you with his preaching, consider that the person sitting next to you may be getting his "battery" charged, or even a beautiful "wax job!"
Many repairs can be costly and painful, especially in older models, but they are sometimes necessary. And remember, the same message from God's Word that cuts you down and fills you with shame can also lift you up and fill your heart with joy and victory.
As you sit under the preaching of God's Word, allow God's Spirit to perform whatever repairs and adjustments are needed. (doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness) to "tune up" your spiritual life and equip you for maximum performance, maximum service, and maximum satisfaction.