Who do you want in your church? People that look like you, or people who need to be there?

About 20 years ago I stopped dressing up when I went to church. One day, it just struck me to go to church in a pair of cut off sweat pants, and an old t-shirt to see how people would receive me. It was an interesting experiment that I continue to this day.

Somehow, in today's society, church has become this social club where they want to attract a certain type of person, and friends can congregate. It's the new social setting...

But, how would your church react... no, how would you react if a homeless person came in and sat next to you?

True story, I was attending a church in NY and we were serving a dinner. One of the homeless people that came from a local shelter came in and sat next to me. One of the women in the church got really offended that he was there because he was ruining her meal. The young man was truly offended because he truly loved coming to the church, and this was the first time in a long time that he was receiving a great meal.

I tried to explain to her away from the group the importance of the mission of the church and why it's important that we open our doors to people like this. She very angrily responded - which ended a great multi-year friendship between her family and mine... It didn't end because I wanted it to. It ended because she was offended when presented with the truth.

What would you have done in a similar situation?

Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2:17

In this case... both people needed Jesus... only one person realized it.

Let us struggle to reach out to those who truly need Jesus, whether they realize it or not.

Not making progress? Try something else...

Any great change in life comes starts with making the decision that there is some change that needs to be made, then deciding to make that change. That, simply put is what it means to repent. To change your mind.

For most of my adult life, I have struggled with my weight. I have always used the excuses to justify why I hadn't started the change.

• My knee hurts from a malicious kick I received when playing soccer
• My ankles hurt because I ran so much when I was younger, I've worn the enamel from the bones
• My lower back hurts from getting kicked... when I played soccer
• There are plenty of people who are fatter than I am

There is always an excuse. But when you realize how the extra weight is causing the knee, ankle, and back pain, you can do one of 2 things... live with it - let it get worse or change your mind.

I repented, cleaned up my diet, I've been going to the gym... and I see the change!

What does that have to do with Christianity? Everything!

Any great move of God begins with repenting. The realization that the way your life is going needs to change.

Repentance is a major theme is the Bible. We'll take a look at 3 instances - spend some time this week looking at more examples and meditate on where the people were before, and how repentance changed their lives.

1. Mark 1:4-5 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan confessing their sins.
2. Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
3. Acts 17:29-31 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

I think this is probably why it was easier for the people who were poor, sick, or rejected by society to accept Jesus. Their lives needed a change. It's much harder to realize that when you have 300 channels of cable tv, a car, and a job.

Let us struggle to remember repentance is key - let us not get so comfortable with ourselves that we forget that and begin to make excuses for our sins. Furthermore, let's share the gospel of repentance with those around us that we see hurting... they're probably ready to hear a message of hope.