Francis Chan: Why People Hate Church

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of a church's actions reflecting its faith. The speaker shares personal anecdotes and scripture references to highlight how the world views the Christian Church as ineffective in its words and actions. The main point is that we should strive to be a giving church, where our good deeds bring glory to God.

Key Scripture References

• Matthew 5:16 - This passage emphasizes the importance of our actions reflecting our faith. Jesus says, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven." This is a call to action for believers to live out their faith through serving others.
• Luke 21:1-4 - In this passage, Jesus teaches about giving from the heart. The widow's two coins are worth more than the rich people's donations because she gave out of her poverty and not just from her wealth.
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - This passage encourages believers to give generously and with a cheerful heart, knowing that God will provide for their needs. It says, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." This emphasizes the importance of giving without expecting something in return.
• Proverbs 19:17 - This verse reminds us that lending to those who need help is a wise investment. It says, "Whoever lends to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." This highlights the importance of giving to those in need.
• 1 John 3:17-18 - In this passage, John emphasizes the importance of loving our brothers and sisters by meeting their physical needs. He says, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can God's love be in that person?" This encourages believers to prioritize serving others.
• Matthew 25:31-46 - In this passage, Jesus teaches about the importance of serving others. He says that those who serve the least of these will be rewarded by God. This emphasizes the importance of giving and serving others as a reflection of our faith.

Church Giving Trends

The speaker shares statistics from a Christian organization called Empty Tomb, which studied giving trends in churches across America. The data shows that as income has increased, giving has decreased. In 1921, churches gave an average of 2.9% of their income to the church. By 2004, this number had dropped to 2.5%. This highlights the need for believers and churches to prioritize giving and serving others.

Cornerstone's Giving

The speaker shares statistics about Cornerstone's giving. In the past year, the church received nearly $5.9 million in contributions. However, if the average household income of members is assumed to be around $85,000, this could translate to an estimated household income of over $127 million. If 10% of this income were given to the church, it would amount to over $12.7 million. This highlights the potential for Cornerstone to give more generously and serve others.