Sermon Summary: Spooking the Herd: Church Habits that send people running – Part 2
Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

This message explores how church culture can unintentionally “spook the herd” — especially when we treat church like a Country Club, only welcoming those who look, think, or act like us. In Luke 15, we see that people who were nothing like Jesus actually liked Him. His willingness to befriend those labeled as outcasts caused tension with religious insiders, but Jesus wasn’t afraid of their opinions — because lost people mattered deeply to Him.

Too often, our fear of being judged by other Christians keeps us from reaching out. But Jesus challenges that mindset. He meets people where they are in order to lead them to something better. He values every person — so much so that He would leave the 99 just to find the one who’s wandered off.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to do the same. Befriending someone or showing acceptance doesn’t mean we’re endorsing sin — it means we’re reflecting the heart of God. When we shift our focus from comfort to compassion, the church begins to look more like Jesus.

Bottom line: If unbelievers matter to God, they should matter to us.

Challenge: Identify one person you’ve kept at a distance because of your differences — and take a step toward them this week.

Church attendance in America is in decline, and one of the top reasons people leave ishypocrisy. Jesus warns us not to judge others without first examining ourselves. This doesn’t mean there’s no right or wrong—it means we must hold ourselves to the same standards we expect of others.

Loving people doesn’t require us to affirm every behavior, but it does mean we accept others without ignoring our own shortcomings. Jesus calls us to remove the “log” from our own eyes before pointing out the “speck” in someone else’s.

Bottom line: Failure doesn’t make you a hypocrite—judging others while ignoring your own failures does.

Challenge: Identify a behavior that bothers you in others and consider how you might be guilty of something similar. Commit to addressing it in yourself.

Let’s be the kind of church that examines itself regularly—so we don’t spook the herd.

Notes:

A study in 2022 shows the decline of American Christian churches in 1072 90% of Americans would tell you they are Christian. In 2020 it was only 64%

Have you noticed it? People who once sat beside you are not there anymore?

Every few years they do a survey on why people have left the church and at the top of the list almost always is HYPOCRISY

Today’s question: How do we avoid spooking the herd by stepping into the hypocrisy trap?

This verse (7:1-2) is popular for 2 reasons

1- it is profound

2- it popular because many people have misinterpreted it and they really like their misinterpretation.

Jesus is not saying there is no right or wrong

Jesus called us to love everyone, BUT he did not call us to affirm all behavior. There is a difference and that is important. We can and should affirm and accept people no mater what sin they engaged in, BUT we can not affirm the sin.

Jesus is saying whatever standard we hold people to is the standard he’ll hold us too.

You’re not ready to point out the speck in your friends eye if you have not first recognized the log in your own eye.

If we want to help others to address their issues, the first thing we should do is to work on our own issues.

Bottom line: A hypocrite is not simply someone who focuses on criticizing others for their failures while ignoring or excusing their own.

In Other words: failure doesn’t make you a hypocrite. Judging others for the same or similar failures you refuse to see (or address) in yourself does.

Challenge: Pick one behavior that irritates you when you see it in others and consider how you may be guilty of something similar then resolve to work on that short coming in your own life. When we address the log in our own eye we’ll be less likely to spook the herd.

Today’s fathers are often caught in a swirl of mixed expectations—be strong but sensitive, firm but fun, a provider and always present. With so many voices, the role of a father has become confusing. But Jesus simplifies it: the greatest call is to love God and love others. That’s the foundation of biblical fatherhood.

So what should a father contribute to his children’s lives? More than rules or resources, he should model and teach what it means to love God and love people. This isn’t just relevant for dads—it matters to all of us. Whether we are fathers, married to one, have one, or are raising a future one, the influence of fatherhood shapes lives.

Paul echoes Jesus’ words in Ephesians 6:4, urging fathers to raise their children with patience, love, and godly instruction. That means walking with them at their pace, showing grace when they fail, encouraging their strengths, and using discipline to restore, not just correct.

As Tim Elmore said, “We have to prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.” And the best way to do that is to reflect the love of our Heavenly Father—steadfast, gracious, and full of truth.

Have a Blessed Day