10/05/2026
What if we’ve checked all the boxes…but missed Jesus?
Pastor Cheri’s sermon this Sunday was titled “Don’t Just Check a Box.” Her scripture was Matthew 7:21–23, where Jesus warns us that simply saying, “Lord, Lord,” or doing religious things is not the same as truly knowing and following Him.
Sometimes our Christian life can become a checklist.
Go to church — check.
Read the Bible — check.
Sing the hymns — check.
Put an offering in the plate — check.
Take Communion — check.
We’ve checked all the boxes, so now we go on with our lives and do whatever we want.
But following Jesus was never meant to be a checklist.
We can sit in church every Sunday and still miss Jesus. We can know the Bible stories, know the hymns, say the prayers, and do all the “right” things—and still only know about Jesus instead of truly knowing Jesus.
There is a difference.
Following Jesus means loving Him, trusting Him, listening to Him, and allowing Him to change the way we live. It is a relationship that goes with us when we leave the church doors—not something we check off for the week.
The boxes themselves aren’t bad. Going to church, reading our Bible, praying, giving, and taking Communion are all important parts of our faith. But they should flow from our relationship with Jesus, not take the place of it.
So maybe the question for us this week isn’t, “Have I checked all the boxes?”
Maybe it is:
“Do I really know Jesus—and does the way I live show that He knows me?”
Don’t just check the box. Choose Jesus. Follow Jesus. Know Jesus.