Sometimes if members would put themselves in the shoes of the preacher and asked this question: what if the preacher?

1) DID NOT ATTEND THE SERVICES
KJV Hebrews 10:22-26
 22.  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
 23.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
 24.  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
 25.  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK THE KINGDOM
KJV Matthew 6:33
33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2) DID NOT PREACH/EVANGELIZE
THE COMMAND TO PREACH TO THE WORLD
KJV Mark 16:15-16
 15.  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
 16.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

THE EXAMPLE OF DAILY PREACHING 
KJV Acts 5:42
42. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

WE ARE THE SALT AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
KJV Matthew 5:13-16
 13.  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
 14.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
 15.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
3) DID NOT VISIT THE AFFLICTED
KJV James 1:27
27.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

4) WAS IGNORANT NOT HELPING THOSE IN NEED
CLOTHED OR FED NOT
KJV Matthew 25:34-46
 34.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
 35.  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
 36.  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
 37.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
 38.  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
 39.  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
 40.  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 41.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
 42.  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
 43.  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
 44.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
 45.  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
 46.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

DO GOOD TO ALL
KJV Galatians 6:10
10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

5) DID NOT HAVE A PRAYER LIFE
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
17.  Pray without ceasing.
18.  In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

AS DID THE APOSTLES
KJV Acts 6:4
 4.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

IN THE WORK WITH PRAYER
KJV Acts 2:42
42.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

6) DID NOT CONTRIUBUTE
THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (EXCLUDES NO ONE) JUST AS THE LORD’S SUPPER (ACTS 20:7)
KJV Acts 6:4
 4.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

7) DID NOT PREACH AND TELL THE TRUTH
THE WORD IS TRUTH
KJV John 17:17
 17.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

WE ARE NOT BESIDE OURSELVES WHEN WE TEACH TRUTH
KJV Acts 26:24-25
24.  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
 25.  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

WE SHOULD NOT MAKE ENEMIES BY TEACHING TRUTH
KJV Galatians 4:16  Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

WE ARE TO TEACH IT IN LOVE
KJV Ephesians 4:15
15.  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

THE TRUTH SETS US FREE AND LIES ARE OF THE DEVIL
KJV John 8:32-45
 32.  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
 33.  They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
 34.  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
 35.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
 36.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
 37.  I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
 38.  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
 39.  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
 40.  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
 41.  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
 42.  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
 43.  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
 44.  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

8) FELL AWAY
SIMON WANTED FAME - 
KJV Acts 8:13-24
 13.  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
 14.  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
 15.  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
 16.  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
 17.  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
 18.  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
 19.  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
 20.  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
 21.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
 22.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
 23.  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
 24.  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

DO NOT PUT THE PREACHER ON A PEDISTOOL!  YOU’RE NOT BETTER/WORSE
 
 
 
 

Copyright 2000 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.