Church Is Not A Business | Sermon Only | 2-15-26 | Church as Unusual Series | Rev. Reginald Wise скачать в хорошем качестве

Church Is Not A Business | Sermon Only | 2-15-26 | Church as Unusual Series | Rev. Reginald Wise

Happy HBCU Sunday YT Family! Today, we didn’t just celebrate the legacy of our beloved HBCUs; we also concluded our Blue Print series with a powerful word! Deriving from Mark 11.15-19 , Pastor Wise preaches from the sermonic subject Church Is Not a Business . Today’s sermon serves as a powerful call to return to the spiritual roots of the faith. Pastor Wise examines Jesus’ cleansing of the temple to argue that the church should be a house of prayer and reverence rather than a marketplace of commerce and consumerism. Pastor Wise opens by distinguishing between church as usual and church as unusual. He uses the story of Mary Lumpkin—who transformed a slave jail (the Devil’s Half Acre) into a place of education (later Virginia Union University) —to illustrate that sometimes places, not just people, need liberation. In the text, Jesus enters the temple not as a meek and mild figure, but as a liberator flipping tables to reclaim a space that had been corrupted by unauthorized renovations. 1. Get Rid of Commercialized Church: Pastor Wise addresses the institutional shift from ministry to marketplace. Pastor Wise highlights that while the selling of animals was practical for sacrifices, it became a distraction and a tool for exploitation. The church often falls into the trap of measuring success by numbers and revenue rather than faithfulness and righteousness. Pastor Wise warns that a swelling church is not a growing church. Using the term “non-prophetic” Pastor Wise describes churches that silence difficult truths to protect donor dollars or tax statuses. The "pay-to-play" atmosphere in modern Christianity—charging for mentorship, selling "holy" oils/cloths, or promising miracles in exchange for specific financial seeds. While businesses strive to be "in the black" (profitable), Pastor Wise argues the church must stay "in the red"—focused on the red letters (the words of Jesus) and the red blood of Christ, which is the only thing that can truly save and deliver. 2. Get Rid of "What’s in it for Me" Worship: Pastor Wise shifts the focus from the leaders to the pews, addressing the heart of the worshiper. Jesus didn't just drive out the sellers; He drove out the buyers as well. Transactional worship is a consumerist approach where attendance is based on personal preference—choosing Sundays based on the choir, the specific preacher, or whether food is being served. Pastor Wise asserts that believers are called to be contributors. Worship is not about what we get, but what we bring to God. Drawing from Psalm 24 , he reminds us that despite dirty hands, we are invited into God's presence. Therefore, worship shouldn't require a script or a prompt; it should be a reflexive response to the memory of God’s goodness and deliverance. Finally, Pastor Wise emphasizes that when the church moves away from the business model, it makes room for the Glory of God. He encourages us to use our voices as instruments, moving past the need for entertainment or professional ministry to find authentic, personal encounters with the Creator. We hope you loved the Blue Print Series ! Have a great week, and we will see you next Sunday! Watch the Full Livestream version here:    • Church Is Not A Business | 2-15-26 | Churc...   Watch the Full Blue Print Series Here:    • Church As Unusual | The Blueprint Series   Watch Our Sermon Only Playlist Here:    • Sermon Only   Video Chapters 0:00 Scripture Reading and Prayer 2:58 Church Is Not A Business Sermon Starts 12:39 1. Get Rid of Commercialized Church 21:42 2. Get Rid of "What’s in it for Me" Worship 35:53 Call to Salvation and Join the Church 39:18 Special Announcement