Welcome To Duck Church

It was another hot Sunday in Waco, Texas, when the duck family waddled down the road to duck church. The asphalt absorbed the sun’s rays and transferred that heat up their webbed feet. The heat radiated off the long stretch of road and caused the distant horizon to quiver and the poor ducks to roast. “Ah, my webbed feet, hurt,” moaned Tommy Duck.

“Mine too,” whined Billy Duck.

“Now, now kids, we are nearly there to duck church,” comforted Mama Duck.

“But Mama Duck, we do this every week. What is the point,” complained Tommy Duck.

“Well, Tommy Duck, Grandpa Duck said since 1888 that our family must walk to duck church and hear dying duck sermons each week so we can enter heaven,” explained Mama Duck.

“That is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard,” whaled Billy Duck.

“Billy Duck, don’t insult Grandpa Duck, for he is a wise duck who knows all!” scolded Mama Duck.

“Fine,” grumbled Billy Duck.

When the family got to duck church, they sighed in relief and went into the building. “Where is Preacher Duck?” questioned Mama Duck looking around.

“I don’t know,” said Tommy Duck.

“Hallelujah!” proclaimed Billy Duck.

“Watch your mouth Billy Duck,” rebuked Mama Duck.

“Hello, I’m Pastor Pintail,” said Pastor Pintail walking up to the Duck Family.

“Where is Preacher Duck?” questioned Mama Duck looking straight at the new pastor.

“Oh, I’m filling in for Preacher Duck this morning,” answered Pastor Pintail.

“Well, I can’t wait to hear you preach,” Said Mama Duck.

“You better preach better than the other one. I need a good sermon for once,” professed Billy Duck.

“Billy Duck, that’s it! You’re grounded!” yelled Mama Duck.

“For what! Asking for a good sermon?” said Billy Duck.

When church service began, they all sang a few hymns: “Shall We Gather at the River?” “Under His Wings” and “Down at the Cross.” There was communion and then an offering, after which they all joined in singing the “Duxology.” No choir song was scheduled that day, but Sister Mildred Mallard sang a special; then, it was Pastor Pintail’s time to Preach.

“My fellow Ducktions, if you have your Bibles, please turn to Exoducks 19:4. This is what it says ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.’ Brother and sister ducks,” he said. “I have heard your cries and complaints about the insufferable heart, and I have felt the pain of the asphalt on my own, webbed feet.

“But I have good news for you. Look at those appendages on your sides! They are called wings. They were made for us to use to fly, so we could be above the hot asphalt and enjoy the cool breeze in our faces. I want to see you flap those wings and learn to fly!” concluded Pastor Pintail.

Then, near the front, a duck rose in the air; then another in the back. Then another, and another! Soon, the sanctuary was filled with flying ducks. Some flew in a circle around the room. Others got fancy and did figure eight’s. A few even tried to fly upside down, but they soon “quacked up.” Revival had broken out. They all came forward for reducktication at invitation time. Then some old coot was called upon to quack out a beneducktion. “Weeee,” shouted Tommy Duck and Billy Duck in joy flying through the air.

“Heresy,” screamed Mama Duck. Grandpa Duck said since 1888 that our family must walk to duck church and hear dying duck sermons each week so we can enter heaven.” “But Mama Duck, this sermon is good. I learned something,” Moaned Billy Duck. “Me too,” whaled Tommy Duck. “It doesn’t matter. Grandpa Duck was wise, for he knows all.” Mama Duck ranted over and over, grabbing her duck kids as they waddled home. The moral of the story is Legalism kills the Church. Consider Change. Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” You can’t go to church. Church is something more than what you do once a week. But sadly, we get stuck in our ways, and we tend to think that our traditions will bring us to heaven. We get so set in our ways that we believe that all we need to do is sing a couple of hymns, pretend to pray, and then listen to a twenty-minute sermon. Then we take it a step further and say this is how everyone must worship God. We get so focused on our traditions that we forget that we need to stay focused on Christ. That we need to live for Christ. That worshipping God is more than just going to a building on Sunday. We worship God through our actions. We worship God through our words. We worship God through being like Jesus. Will you worship Jesus this week through your actions? Will you worship Jesus this week through your words? Will you consider a change in how you view worship?

Original Illustration on https://lestark1.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/the-parable-of-the-duck-church/

Nichols, Jim. Sandaled Stories: Lessons and Sermons From The Parables of Jesus. Self Publishing Platform. 2019. pp. 9-10.