Transcript The Empty Pew

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you."
1
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side.
2
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
3
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
4
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and
said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
5
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and
said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
6
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and
said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now
Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was
not with them when Jesus came.
7
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and
said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now
Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was
not with them when Jesus came. (John 20:19-24)
8
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you."
9
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
10
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
11
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
12
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones as you see I have."
13
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones as you see I have." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His feet.
14
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones as you see I have." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His feet. But
while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled,
He said to them, "Have you any food here?"
15
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones as you see I have." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His feet. But
while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled,
He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So
they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some
honeycomb.
16
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself
stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones as you see I have." When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His feet. But
while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled,
He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So
they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some
honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their
presence.
17
Then He said to them, "These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me."
18
Then He said to them, "These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me." And He opened their
understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures.
19
Then He said to them, "These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me." And He opened their
understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is
written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to
suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and
that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.
20
Then He said to them, "These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me." And He opened their
understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is
written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to
suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and
that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon
you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:36-49)
21
What Thomas
Missed
 Fellowship with his brethren, who could have
encouraged him.
 Hearing the words, "Peace be with you."
 Hearing the words, "As the Father has sent
Me, I also send you."
 Having his understanding "opened...that [he]
might comprehend the Scriptures."
22
What Thomas
Missed
 Having Jesus breathe on him.
 Being told to "Receive the Holy Spirit."
 Being told, "If you forgive the sins of any, they
are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any,
they are retained."
 An opportunity to see Jesus with his own eyes
and have his doubts erased, instead of spending
another week in continued disbelief.
23
The Empty Pew
Not the pew that is empty due to:
1. Physical sickness
2. Injury
3. Travel
4. Unforeseen circumstances
24
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty due to:
1. Spiritual sickness
2. Lukewarmness
3. Full-blown apostasy
25
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty due to someone, in
effect, saying:
26
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty due to someone, in
effect, saying: “I have more important
things to do than to assemble with the
saints.”
27
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty
28
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty, not because
someone’s plans to be sitting in it
backfired
29
The Empty Pew
The pew that is empty, not because
someone’s plans to be sitting in it
backfired, but because someone simply
did not plan to be sitting in it!
30
The Empty Pew
...does not sing!
...does not pray!
...does not edify!
...does not teach or exhort!
But the empty pew is not silent!
In fact, the empty pew...
31
The Empty Pew
SHOUTS a great deal about the quality of
some of the Lord’s people and some of
the Lord’s churches!
32
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
Elijah went through a period of great
discouragement when he felt
betrayed by others.
33
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done,
also how he had executed all the prophets with the
sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah,
saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if
I do not make your life as the life of one of them by
tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that,
he arose and ran for his life, and went to
Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his
servant there.
34
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
But he himself went a day's journey into the
wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom
tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It
is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no
better than my fathers!" Then as he lay and slept
under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched
him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then he
looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on
coals, and a jar of water.
35
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the
angel of the Lord came back the second time, and
touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the
journey is too great for you." So he arose, and ate
and drank; and he went in the strength of that food
forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the
mountain of God.
36
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
And there he went into a cave, and spent the night
in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord
came to him, and He said to him, "What are you
doing here, Elijah?" So he said, "I have been very
zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the
children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant,
torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets
with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to
take my life." (1 Kings 19:1-10)
37
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
This is how a gospel preacher feels
when he sees empty pews where
members should be sitting.
38
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
Gospel preachers have a right to feel
a sense of betrayal when those who
are supposed to be Christians
intentionally and willfully neglect the
worship of the Lord and the support
of faithful gospel preaching.
39
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas
has forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for
Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with
me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is
useful to me for ministry.... At my first defense no
one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not
be charged against them. (2 Tim. 4:9-11, 16)
40
A Discouragement to
Gospel Preachers!
Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas
has forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for
Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with
me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is
useful to me for ministry.... At my first defense no
one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not
be charged against them. (2 Tim. 4:9-11, 16).
41
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
It is a serious enough matter to
neglect and reject the gospel of Jesus
Christ for oneself.
42
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to
the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if
the word spoken through angels proved steadfast,
and every transgression and disobedience
received a just reward, how shall we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation, which at the first
began to be spoken by the Lord, and was
confirmed to us by those who heard Him. (Heb.
2:1-3)
43
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
It is even more serious to cause
others to neglect and reject it.
44
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible
that no offenses should come, but woe to him
through whom they do come! It would be better for
him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he
were thrown into the sea, than that he should
offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:1-2)
45
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
The child of God who chooses not to
assemble is not only neglecting and
rejecting the great salvation that is in
Christ Jesus, but is also causing
others to do so, by his/her influence.
46
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went
down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to
Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they
preached the word of God in the synagogues of
the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
Now when they had gone through the island to
Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false
prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who
was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an
47
intelligent man.
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
This man called for Barnabas and Saul and
sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the
sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood
them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the
faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled
with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and
said,
48
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
"O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the
devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not
cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon
you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a
time."
49
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he
went around seeking someone to lead him by the
hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw
what had been done, being astonished at the
teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:4-12)
50
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
The empty pew will not and cannot
have a positive influence on the lost.
51
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven." (Matt. 5:16)
52
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
The empty pew says to the nonChristian,
53
A Discouragement to
Potential Converts!
The empty pew says to the nonChristian, “It is not really all that
important to do what the Bible says.”
54
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects indifference and lack of
concern for spiritual goals.
55
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
And He Himself gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of
the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no
longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery...56
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
... of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow
up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit
together by what every joint supplies, according to
the effective working by which every part does its
share, causes growth of the body for the edifying
of itself in love. (Eph. 4:11-16)
57
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Surely our goals in assembling
together for the worship of God are
the highest.
Why do we assemble?
Why are you here today?
58
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here to edify and to be
edified?
The empty pew says:
59
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here to edify and to be
edified?
The empty pew says: “I don’t want to
edify or to be edified!“
Are you here because you want to
grow spiritually?
The empty pew says:
60
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here to edify and to be
edified?
The empty pew says: “I don’t want to
edify or to be edified!“
Are you here because you want to
grow spiritually?
The empty pew says: “I don’t need—
or don’t want—to develop myself 61
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here out of concern for the
body of Christ?
The empty pew says:
62
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here out of concern for the
body of Christ?
The empty pew says: “I am not
concerned for the church!”
Are you here because you want to
prepare yourself to help save the
lost?
The empty pew says:
63
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here out of concern for the
body of Christ?
The empty pew says: “I am not
concerned for the church!”
Are you here because you want to
prepare yourself to help save the
lost?
The empty pew says: “I am not
64
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here because you want to go
to heaven?
The empty pew says
65
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Are you here because you want to go
to heaven?
The empty pew says: “I don’t know
for sure that I even want to go to
heaven!”
66
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
67
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will
surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer
burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that
which costs me nothing." So David bought the
threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of
silver. (2 Sam. 24:24)
68
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice.
69
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice unto the Lord my
God.
70
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice unto the Lord my
God that which costs.
71
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice unto the Lord my
God that which costs me.
72
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice unto the Lord my
God that which costs me nothing.
73
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
It reflects an unwillingness to
sacrifice!
There are five basic attitudes toward
sacrifice.
I will not sacrifice unto the Lord my
God that which costs me nothing.
Some will only sacrifice that which
they cannot use for anything else. 74
A Discouragement to
Other Members!
We all could be doing other things
than attending a gospel meeting this
week.
Unfortunately, there are probably
some who will be doing other things.
Thus, their pews will be empty.
They will be saying: “Sorry, God, but 75I
have something more important to
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Satan wants us to be lost!
76
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
77
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Satan wants us to be lost.
The empty pew encourages him in his
efforts to keep and/or pull people
away from God.
78
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Satan and his ministers have many
“wiles,” “schemes” or “fiery darts”
with which they would take
advantage of us.
79
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For
if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven
that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are
not ignorant of his devices. (2 Cor. 2:10-11)
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived
Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(2 Cor. 11:3)
80
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Satan and his ministers have many
“wiles,” “schemes” or “fiery darts”
with which they would take
advantage of us.
The person who would be sitting in
the empty pew is telling Satan, as it
were:
81
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Satan and his ministers have many
“wiles,” “schemes” or “fiery darts”
with which they would take
advantage of us.
The person who would be sitting in
the empty pew is telling Satan, as it
were: “You won’t need those with
me.”
82
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
God has given to us all the armor we
need to stand against Satan.
83
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in
the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole...
84
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
...armor of God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand
therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of
faith with which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the...
85
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
...helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God; praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints. (Eph. 6:10-18)
86
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
God has given to us all the armor we
need to stand against Satan.
The person who would be sitting in
the empty pew has either never taken
up the armor of God or he has long
since put it aside.
87
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
If Satan had a trophy case,
88
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
If Satan had a trophy case, I imagine
“the empty pew” would be in the
most prominent position.
89
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
If Satan had a trophy case, I imagine
“the empty pew” would be in the
most prominent position.
Every time your pew is empty
90
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
If Satan had a trophy case, I imagine
“the empty pew” would be in the
most prominent position.
Every time your pew is empty, when
it need not be
91
An Encouragement
to the Devil!
If Satan had a trophy case, I imagine
“the empty pew” would be in the
most prominent position.
Every time your pew is empty, when
it need not be, it represents a victory
of Satan.
92
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
The empty pew doesn’t make an
audible sound.
But if it did, that sound would
probably be the wailing and gnashing
of teeth.
93
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
"And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt.
10:28)
94
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
"And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt.
10:28) "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast
out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 8:12)
95
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
"And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt.
10:28) "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast
out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 8:12) "'And cast the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
(Matt. 25:30)
96
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Heaven is a prepared place for a
prepared people.
Those who could have filled an
empty pew will be lost eternally,
97
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Heaven is a prepared place for a
prepared people.
Those who could have filled an
empty pew will be lost eternally, not
because their pews were empty,
98
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Heaven is a prepared place for a
prepared people.
Those who could have filled an
empty pew will be lost eternally, not
because their pews were empty, but
because they failed to prepare
themselves for heaven.
99
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Surely, no one wants themselves or
anyone else to be lost for any reason.
But wouldn’t it be sad if you were
lost
100
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Surely, no one wants themselves or
anyone else to be lost for any reason.
But wouldn’t it be sad if you were
lost simply because you were so
disinterested in preparing yourself
for heaven
101
A Harbinger of
Lost Souls!
Surely, no one wants themselves or
anyone else to be lost for any reason.
But wouldn’t it be sad if you were
lost simply because you were so
disinterested in preparing yourself
for heaven that your pew was
unjustifiably empty much of the
time?
102