Why are People Not Coming to Church and to Christ? 06-07-2026

This powerful message confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: our silence about our faith may be keeping others from encountering Christ. Drawing from John 12:42-43, we explore how even early church leaders believed in Jesus but refused to confess their faith publicly because they feared losing their social standing and valued human approval more than God's approval. The core question posed is deeply personal: Are we the reason people aren't coming to church or accepting Christ? Many of us have gifts from God that we've either turned into mere talents for personal gain or left dormant out of fear. The message challenges the excuses we hear on the streets—from COVID concerns to church hypocrisy—and asks us to examine our own authenticity. Are we living lives that draw people to Christ or push them away? The sermon identifies four critical barriers: people who see themselves as 'basically good' and don't think they need Jesus; fear of social rejection that keeps mouths closed; the lie that worldly status matters more than eternal things; and resistance to the Holy Spirit's drawing. The call is clear: we must move beyond being 'basic' Christians who are satisfied with mediocrity and instead become bold witnesses who share our faith, even when it's uncomfortable. God has prepared a table for us, but we must come to Him and then go out to share what we've received.