Our first meeting at CrossRoads was on a Thursday night. It was a small Bible study and I didn’t want to interfere with the Wednesday night meetings of the other churches around the area.
That was April/May 1999 but the inevitable was bound to happen.

I still continued to go to church at Attoyac Baptist on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s and then have my little Bible study on Thursday.

I began to work toward getting chairs and rearranging things. This continued into September and then it was time.

I told Pastor Johnson at Attoyac that I was about to start a church at the crossroads. I still remember his words, “I knew that was going to happen.”
I assured him it had nothing to do with him; that I wasn’t against him and I wasn’t taking any of the church members away. I also thanked him for his mentoring and tutelage over the past year.
The only church members that began attending CrossRoads were Linda’s sister and husband.

Our first Sunday service was on October 10, 1999 in a 30X30 room of the building. The present day sanctuary was still dark, dank, and dirty.
I know in the Sunday’s that followed, many attended out of curiosity. We had 76 chairs and I remember one Sunday only 4 empty chairs.

I’ll be honest with you – we’re not busting at the seams when it comes to attendees. I have visitor cards for well over 150.
Some came for a while and left.
Some came for years and left.

In all my years as pastor I have discovered the many of the reasons why people leave.

First, they don’t hear what they want to hear.
It is written – for a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Tim 4:3-4
I don’t scratch ears; I preach the truth of God’s word.

Second, they have unforgiveness in their heart. They leave because of a grudge against someone else in the church.
It is written – if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matt 6:14-15
And then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matt 18:21-22

Third, they don’t find friendship in the fellowship. Most people continue to attend church, not because of the service, but because they have made friends.
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prov 18:24
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Prov 27:17
You must have friends and be friendly in order to enjoy the fellowship of church.

I will admit, I have probably insulted my share of people. It has taught me a great lesson in what to preach.
I have probably insulted others because I dabbled in religion rather than preaching Jesus. I may have disrespected what they believe.
For example, if a Muslim visits your church and the message is anti-Islamic, you will not win that Muslim to Christ.
Though I don’t agree at all with Islamic doctrine, people aren’t won to Christ with an Islamic or anti-Islamic message; they are won by the message of Christ.
Paul said, “When I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:1-3

It is also written a brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, Prov 18:19
And it is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Rom 14:21

1 Cor 1:1 – Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
1 Cor 1:23-24 – we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
2 Cor 4:5 – For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,

The word for today – PREACH JESUS!