THE DEATH OF CONSUMER CHRISTIANITY

THE DEATH OF CONSUMER CHRISTIANITY

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23–24

Big Idea: Jesus never called customers. Jesus called disciples.

Maybe one of the greatest things that could happen to the Church in our generation would be the death of consumer Christianity and the resurrection of biblical discipleship.  

 
INTRODUCTION — WHEN CHRISTIANITY BECOMES SOMETHING WE CONSUME

We shop for churches.

We compare:

Preachers
Worship
Programs
Ministries
Building

The question quietly becomes:

“What do you have for me?”

There is nothing wrong with good preaching, good music, strong ministries, or wanting our children taught well.

The problem begins when following Jesus becomes primarily about what we receive instead of who we become.

When:

- Church becomes a product.
- Worship becomes entertainment.
- Preaching becomes content.
- Christians become customers.
- But Jesus never called customers.

He called disciples.  

Jesus said:

Deny yourself.
Take up your cross.
Follow Me.

 
1. JESUS DID NOT CALL US TO BE CONSUMERS — HE CALLED US TO BE DISCIPLES

A. Consumer Christianity puts ME at the center.
The world says:

Find yourself.
Promote yourself.
Protect yourself.
Indulge yourself.
Put yourself first.
Jesus says:

“Deny yourself.”

That does not mean I am worthless.

It means I am no longer the center.

Consumer Christianity asks:

“Did I like the music?”
“Did I like the preacher?”
“Did somebody notice me?”
“Did I get anything out of church?”

Maybe Jesus would ask:

“What did you bring?”

Did you bring:

Worship?
Prayer?
Encouragement?
Compassion?
A servant’s heart?
Did you notice the person sitting alone?

Did you see the person who was hurting?

B. Christianity is surrender, not satisfaction.
Romans 12:1 — “Present your bodies a living sacrifice…”

A living sacrifice.

Not a satisfied customer.

Not a spectator.

The altar is not where we negotiate with God.
The altar is where we surrender.

There is a difference between:

“Jesus, bless my plans.”

and

“Jesus, my life is Yours.”  Pasted text

 
2. CONSUMER CHRISTIANITY ASKS, “WHAT CAN I GET?” — DISCIPLESHIP ASKS, “WHAT CAN I GIVE?”

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…” Mark 10:45

Jesus came to serve.

The King washed feet.

Jesus:

- Touched lepers.
- Welcomed children.
- Stopped for beggars.
- Sat with broken people.
- Walked toward people everybody else walked around.
- Ultimately gave His life.

A. If following Jesus makes us more demanding rather than more serving, something is wrong.

The closer we walk with Jesus, the more we should look like Jesus.

And Jesus was a servant.

B. Ministry is not somebody else’s job.

We sometimes say:

“That is what we pay the pastor for.”

“That is what the staff does.”

“That is what the ministry team does.”

But Ephesians 4 says pastors and teachers equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Christianity is not a spectator sport.

There are no bleachers in the Kingdom of God.

Every believer can:

- Encourage.
- Pray.
- Serve.
- Love.
- Carry somebody’s burden.

C. Availability is the beginning of ministry.

People say:

“I wish God would use me.”

The answer is simple:

Make yourself available.

We don’t do great things for God.

We make ourselves available for God to do His work through us.

You don't need:

- A title.
- A microphone.
- A platform.
- Your name in the bulletin.

Somebody needs:

- Prayer.
- Encouragement.
- A meal.
- A ride.
- A hospital visit.
- Somebody to listen.
- Somebody to remind them they haven't been forgotten.

That is ministry.

Stop asking:

“What does this church have for me?”

Start asking:

“Lord, who can I serve?”  Pasted text

 
3. CONSUMERS LEAVE WHEN THE COST GETS TOO HIGH — DISCIPLES STAY WITH JESUS -John 6

Jesus fed the multitude.

The crowd loved the bread.

Jesus said:

“Ye seek me… because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
They liked what Jesus gave them.

Then the teaching became difficult.

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” - John 6:66

They liked:

- The bread.
- The miracles.
- The benefits.

But when discipleship became difficult, they walked away.

Jesus asked the Twelve:

“Will ye also go away?”

Peter answered:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
That is discipleship.

A. Following Jesus will sometimes cost us.

There will be:

- Unanswered questions.
- Hospital rooms.
- Funerals.
- Disappointments.
- Pain.
- Seasons when heaven seems silent.
- Moments when Scripture confronts us.

That is when we discover whether Jesus is really Lord or merely our supplier.

Can I worship when I don't understand?

Can I trust when I cannot trace His hand?

Can I follow when following hurts?

Consumer Christianity says:

“Jesus, take care of me and I'll stick around.”

Discipleship says:

“Jesus, You are Lord whether the road leads through green pastures or the valley of the shadow of death.”  

 
4. THE CHURCH IS NOT A MARKETPLACE — IT IS A BODY

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
You don't consume a body.  1 Corinthians 12:27

You belong to it.

The Bible calls the Church:

A body.
A family.
A flock.
A household.
Those are relationship words.

And relationships require grace.

A. Church can get messy.

People fail.

Leaders fail.

Christians disappoint each other.

Sometimes there are legitimate biblical reasons to leave a congregation.

But there is a difference between biblical conviction and constantly shopping for a church that perfectly satisfies our preferences.

You will never find a perfect church.

And if you do find one, don't join it—you'll ruin it.

Because the Church is made up of people like us:

Saved by grace.

Still growing.

Still learning.

Still needing mercy.

B. Jesus said the world would recognize us by our love. - John 13:35

Not:

Our building.
Attendance.
Music.
Programs.
Online following.

But:

“If ye have love one to another.”

Maybe revival begins when:

Somebody notices the lonely.
Somebody carries a burden.
Somebody forgives.
Somebody stays.
Somebody asks, “How can I pray for you?”

That looks like Jesus.  

 
THE DEATH HAS TO BEGIN WITH ME

This sermon is not primarily about everybody else.

It is about me.

Ask:

Have I made Christianity about my comfort?
Have I made church about my preferences?
Am I more interested in being served than serving?
Do I want recognition more than faithfulness?
Do I follow Jesus because of what He gives me—or because He is Lord?
Am I carrying a cross, or trying to make the cross comfortable?
Jesus said:

“Take up his cross daily.”

Daily.

Every morning:

“Lord, this life belongs to You.”

My time.
My plans.
My gifts.
My resources.
My reputation.
My future.

Use me.
Send me.
Interrupt me.
Correct me.
Change me.

That is discipleship.  Pasted text

 
CLOSING — BACK TO THE CROSS

At Calvary there were no comfortable seats.

There was a cross.

Jesus did not stand at a distance and tell us He loved us.

He gave Himself.

Hands pierced.

Feet pierced.

Blood shed.

Life given.

And when I look at the cross, it gets difficult to keep asking:

“What am I getting out of this?”

The cross changes the question:

“Lord, after everything You have done for me, how can I give You my life?”

Maybe the Church doesn't need another gimmick.

Maybe we simply need to get back:

Back to Jesus.
Back to the cross.
Back to Scripture.
Back to prayer.
Back to serving.
Back to loving people.
Back to making disciples.

Let consumer Christianity die.

Let spectator Christianity die.

Let comfortable Christianity die.

And let biblical Christianity rise:

Cross-carrying.
Bible-believing.
Spirit-led.
People-loving.
Gospel-sharing.
Servant-hearted disciples.

And may it begin with us.

May it begin with me.