You may not know Me, but I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1) You are unique and special, I know when you sit down, when you rise up, (Psalm 139:2) and I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) I made youin My image, (Genesis 1:27) and even numbered the very hairs on your head. (Matthew 10:29-31)
I chose you when I planned creation, (Ephesians 1:11-12) and knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) You were fearfully and wonderfully made asI knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13-14) I have even written all your days in My book. (Psalm 139:15-16)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11) because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) Only in Me will you find true peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My Son, Jesus. (John 17:23) He died for your sins so that you, a sinner, and I, the most Holy God, could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you, (1 John 4:10) and His resurrection sets you free from the fear of death and slavery to sin. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
When you repent of your sins and receive My Son Jesus as your Savior, you will receive power as the Holy Spirit indwells and works through you, bearing much spiritual fruit and even miracles. (John 15:5)
If you draw close to Me by spending time with Me in My Word and in prayer, you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2) You will come to KNOW Me, not just KNOW ABOUT Me, and I will answer the two greatest questions in your life: “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” (Ephesians 2:5, Matthew 28:19-20)
This means no matter what age you are, young or old, you can live these days with great purpose and meaning, for I have something in mind to accomplish in and through you in every season of your life. This is incredibly powerful when you begin to grasp it. It means life is never over. Never. You have stepped into the stream of eternal life where you live real life with Jesus from now on into heaven. (Isaiah 58:10-11)
You will be coming out of the darkness to join Christ, the light of the world, who overcomes darkness and evil so that all who follow Him will become free of sin and spiritual darkness. (John 8:36)
You are not here by chance, but for such a time as this, (Esther 4:13-14) created to do good works which I have prepared in advance for you to do. (Ephesians 2:10) I am calling you, (Ephesians 4:1) equipping you, (Ephesians 6:10-20) and sending you out to reach the lost souls who don’t know Me, with My Truth, Compassion, and Love. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Time is short, and I am inviting you to join Me in a great spiritual adventure. It is truly exciting, it is the most important thing you will ever do in your life, and you will never be the same. (Romans 12:2)
Then I will welcome you home through the gates of heaven, where I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7) My great desire and passion has always been to live with you forever. Won’t you join Me?
I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear or read this verse, it always sends chills down my back. Here is the full passage:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
There may be millions of people around the world, and probably people that you and I know, who claim to be Christians, and “do good works”, but will be sent to the Lake of Fire because:
they do not do the will of God the Father,
they don’t know the Lord, and/or
they are workers of iniquity.
This is really heavy and even scary. But when we examine it carefully, we will discover good news for true believers.
Key Point #1: Calling upon the Lord and claiming justification by works is not sufficient to go to heaven.
Works righteousness – trying to attain righteousness by our works, even prophesying, casting out demons, and doing many wonders in Jesus’ name, does not qualify us for salvation.
They may KNOW ABOUT THE LORD (as many pagans do), but have not surrendered to Christ, so they don’t KNOW THE LORD. Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
Salvation comes only from a true surrender of one’s heart, mind, and soul to receive Christ, who died for our sins.
The Gospel doesn’t just save us; it changes us into new creations in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17
Key Point #2: People can “do good works” and yet never surrender to and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They are in effect CINOs – Christians in Name Only.
Key Point #3: There is power in the name of Jesus, even when used by individuals who do not know the Lord.
Key Point #4:Observe why, and upon what grounds, He rejects them and their plea—because they were workers of iniquity.
The Greek word for “iniquity” is anomia, which literally means “without law”. In the biblical sense, it refers to being in opposition to God’s moral will – acting as if God’s commands don’t matter.
Outward religion without inward regeneration is “iniquity”.
Key Point #5: THE GOOD NEWS is that although doing good works doesn’t earn salvation, when we have true faith in Jesus Christ, it will lead to obedience to God’s will, a life of good works led by the Holy Spirit, and eternity with Christ in Heaven.
Christ didn’t come just to create another RELIGION. He came that we may be set free of sin and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him.
Religious acts like worship services become hollow if they are not grounded in faith in Christ and a desire to live a life with God. Those who settle for doing good works and going through the motions at church are missing out on the greatest adventure in the world – life in the Spirit.
Three critical questions:
Do you KNOW the Lord and the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, or just KNOW ABOUT Him, like knowing about Trump or Putin?
Do you know the Lord’s calling upon your life – what He is calling you to do and become?
Are you fulfilling that calling? If not, WHY NOT?
Time is short, and He is inviting us to join Him on a great spiritual adventure. It is truly exciting, it is the most important thing we have ever done in our lives, and we will never be the same. God loves us more than we can imagine, and He can’t wait to welcome us home through the gates of heaven.
So we need to stand strong, be bold, and be courageous, speaking His Word and His Truth with love and compassion to all He brings across our path.
In “The Poor Will Always Be With You, PART I”, we learned that people can be materially rich and spiritually poor. Without Christ, they are headed for the Lake of Fire. This is true poverty.
Limited resource persons are image bearers of God, and God tells us to care for them as He cares for us. In Matthew 25, Jesus, spoke to His disciples about the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, and those in prison: “‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:31-40 So how we relate to the poor is a serious matter.
Some Ways We Can Minister to Them
NUMBER ONE: Ask the Lord – how should I help them, because we don’t know who this person is or what is going on in his/her life. Then respond accordingly, as led by the Holy Spirit. There are many ways to help them, only one of which is money.
Sometimes their greatest need is for someone to recognize them and treat them as human beings. Or perhaps they need a mentor who can meet with them and counsel them on their life journey.
Many churches have outreach initiatives to serve limited resource persons with spiritual and physical needs. We can join those, or start a new one in our church as the Spirit leads. And there are non-profits formed to serve limited resource persons who always need volunteers.
We can inquire about their situation, be compassionate, honest, and caring, help them as best we can, and point them to other resources.
We can ask the hard but important questions, speak the truth with love, hold them accountable, set boundaries and limits as appropriate, and pray for them – when we are with them and when we are not.
Sometimes God allows or even causes crises in our lives to show us the limitations of our own abilities so we will cry out to Him.
We should help them discover and fulfill the Lord’s calling for their life rather than merely meeting their physical needs. Rather than just giving them fish, we can teach them how to fish AND BECOME FISHERS OF MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE LORD’S KINGDOM.
Blessing Bags
When we see someone with a sign asking for help, if prompted by the Lord, we can give that person $5 or $10 (or better yet, a coupon for food) with a Bible passage or New Testament. The money gets their attention and they then read the passage or the Word.
Some churches prepare and give out Blessing Bags – small bags with some food, a bottle of water, and a New Testament or booklet with scripture. It feeds their bodies and their souls.
In Real Life:
If I was thirsty for water and to know God, would you bring me water and teach me the Word of God?
If I was hungry, wounded, and homeless, would you feed me, ask me my story, and bind up my physical and heart wounds with God’s words of compassion, and help me find lodging?
If I were in your church without a friend, would you leave your comfort group and ask me out for lunch?
If I was sick, would you visit me, and maybe get groceries for me?
If I lack glasses or shoes or clean clothes, would you help me?
If I was in prison, would you visit me and pray with me?
If I was broken-hearted, would you lead me in the Word so I’d find comfort there?
So let us always remember – Jesus said: “What you do for the least of these My brethren you do to Me.”
A Final Warning
Matthew 7:13-14 states: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
If you have wondered why there are few who find the narrow gate, the above questions provide some clues. The message from the Lord is clear with regard to how we are to relate to limited resource persons. So let us go forth and help others who are less fortunate than we are, for we will then be doing the work of the Lord – for our joy and His glory. And let us “not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2
To most people, the most important words for them are THEIR FIRST AND LAST NAMES. We can talk about sports, politics, and the weather all day long, but when someone mentions our name, we perk up because the conversation has suddenly become personal.
Introduce yourself to the person next to you waiting to get your car serviced, or the checker at the grocery store, and ask them their name, and you will see their countenance light up.
They light up because when we ask someone their name, it communicates that WE SEE THEM – as unique persons, who are special and have their own life story. And asking their name is the first step to exploring WHO THEY ARE.
This takes on particular significance when we realize that 52 million people – over 20 percent of the American population, experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. With over 340 million people in the United States, somehow they have fallen through the cracks; no one sees them or recognizes them as unique human beings. They may be surrounded by people, but THEY STILL FEEL ALONE. Reaching out to them may even save their life.
Do you like adventure? What if you could travel to an unknown country and experience life in another culture, with different customs, values, and religious beliefs, and see the world from a totally different perspective? Wouldn’t that be exciting?
This is the promise when we meet another person. Not only have we not lived in all the places they have lived in, we have not met the people they have met or had their life experiences. Furthermore, they have a unique personality, so they will have seen the world from a different perspective, like someone who sees the world from an airplane or through rose-colored glasses.
Let’s take this to the next level. There is a name above all other names, because it has profound, eternal significance. It is JESUS CHRIST, because “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12
When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, three things happen. First, our identity changes, and we are no longer focused on self, but on the Lord. This takes time to become fully manifested, but the Word of God says we become new creations, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. So because our identity has changed and we have the Holy Spirit living within us, the most important words in our life become JESUS CHR IST. We are to die to self so we can live with Christ.
Secondly, we become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. If traveling to another country to experience life in new ways is exciting, the ultimate travel adventure – going to the Kingdom of Heaven, should be absolutely thrilling. We marvel that we can send people into space and reach the moon. But the Kingdom of Heaven is not even in this universe! It is BEYOND SPACE in a different sphere of existence – the spiritual sphere.
When Jesus said “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), He communicated that the very presence of God – the Son of God and King of Kings – had arrived on earth. Furthermore, He declared a precondition to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – repentance for our sins, for the Kingdom of Heaven is holy, and no sin is allowed into that Kingdom.
Thirdly, we begin to see others differently. They are no longer just the homeless guy down at the intersection, or Bob and Mary, neighbors across the street. They are image-bearers of Christ, created with meaning and purpose, even though they may not be aware of that.
So remember their name, and speak their name, for it is the key to a deeper, personal conversation that may be an extraordinary gift to you and to them. And if we ask about and listen to their story, they will be more willing to listen to our story, and to His story – the story of Jeus Christ, Savior of the world.
As Christians, we have been called, redeemed, equipped, and sent forth to share the love and truth of Christ with all who come across our paths. And reaching out to them with the love and truth of Christ may not only save their bodies; it may save their souls. So let us do so with boldness and courage, for time is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Our Lord is calling us to be ambassadors for Christ:
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:20
I will never forget the day I met the ambassador to the United States from the Fiji Islands. He exuded confidence, warmth, and a sense of purpose, giving us a glimpse into the soul of his nation and an invitation to have a relationship with him, His king, and his people.
Have you ever met a real ambassador of Christ from the Kingdom of God? Although all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, most of us fail to fulfill our calling fully. The best examples are the apostles. Filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they became bold preachers that would not be stopped, regardless of persecution.
Each of us is called to be an Ambassador for Christ – filled with the Holy Spirit, equipped to do His work, and sent forth to reach the lost. We then do not just work for God, but God works through us.
Those who see evangelism as a job or career ask what they have to do and what is in it for them. Those who are called by the Lord have only one request: “Send me, oh Lord. Send me!”
The big question facing you and me is: are we willing to accept the call and seek the lost in the mission field? (And we are ALREADY IN the mission field). We need to decide quickly, for time is short and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
To God be the glory, Mark Peterson LifeintheSpirit.net Source of image: Pixabay
A healthy church is not just a building, leadership structure, or weekly service. A healthy church is a vibrant community where God is present and members grow in their faith and service. Here are 25 signs of a healthy church: ___1. There is a divine sense of mission and purpose to carry out The Great Commission. ___2. The presence of God is evident in worship services and the assembly of the saints. ___3. The Word of God is presented with authority and anointing. ___4. There are functional prayer gatherings. ___5. There is a real expectation for answered prayers. ___6. People are getting saved and baptized. ___7. The leadership of the church – elders, deacons, teachers, and pastors, seek to serve the Lord and the congregation with humility and integrity. ___8. The church is more in love with the future (with a compelling vision) than the past. ___9. Fellowship and relationships are warm, and people do not jockey for position and titles. ___10. Many people volunteer to serve. ___11. Many people support the church with tithes and offerings. ___12. The community gets impacted in real ways. ___13. Your leaders have great passion. ___14. There is more attention, resources, and enthusiasm devoted to the work of the Lord than to maintaining the church organization and facilities. ___15. There is an established pattern of disciple making, equipping members to be ambassadors for Christ. ___16. Homeless and street people are seen as a mission field and are treated with compassion. ___17. There is greater emphasis on what unites us in Christ than how we are different from other Christians. ___18. There is an increase of members and finances over time. ___19. Openness to change and support of innovation is evident. ___20. Sermons engage both the mind and the heart. ___21. You are seeing many first-time visitors. ___22. Your church is welcoming and diverse; everyone in your church does not look and think just like you. ___23. You’re focused on reaching new people as well as keeping church members. ___24. Communication is clear and conflicts are resolved when they arise. ___25. There is a sense of urgency and passion to reach lost souls.
How many of these describe your church: _ out of 25?
Action steps you can take: • share this list with other members and leaders of your church, • hold this up to the Lord, seeking His guidance, • develop action steps to build on your strengths and address problem areas, and • take action, giving glory to God for the results.
To God be the glory LifeintheSpirit.net Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
Source of image: JosephMaterra.org “The word of God teaches us that there are times God’s presence can leave the corporate expression of His people. We see this in I Samuel 4:21-22 when the name Ichabod was given to the grandson of Eli, the high priest, after the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. Also, in the book of Revelation 3:1 Jesus told the church of Sardis that they had a reputation of being alive but was dead. Hence, it is possible for communities of faith to be dead or dying.
Furthermore, in Revelation 2:5, Jesus warned the church of Ephesus that if they did not repent He would remove their lampstand. Since the lampstand represents the true church (according to Rev.1: 20) then Jesus was either threatening to shut down the church and or remove Himself from it (which would mean it was dead spiritually).
Since Jesus said that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church (Matthew 16) then, it is impossible for Satan to close down a church; hence, whenever a church ceases to exist it is the Lord Himself who shut it down. This is the reason many denominations will cease to exist in the next few decades as well as why many congregations close their doors every year. (To blame Satan for this is not biblical since Jesus said He is the One who removes them).
Having established the biblical precedent for dead or dying churches, the following are signs of a dead (or dying) church. Check the ones that fit your church:
___1. There are no functional prayer gatherings.
Within dying churches, few people show up to pray and seek God together since they have no sense of His Presence or that He is present in the midst of them (E.G. You would not be motivated to speak to your friend if you didn’t think they were listening).
___2. There is no expectation for answered prayers.
Few, if any, pray together since there is no anticipation that God will actually answer prayers. When you are in a church without faith to believe God, it is either dead or dying.
___3. The presence of God is missing in the assembly of the Saints.
Metaphorically, the heavens are like brass over the skies of dead or dying churches (Deut.28: 23). There is no sense of God’s presence during worship even though Jesus promised that where two or three gather in His name there He is in the midst of them (Matt.18: 20).
___4. The Word of God is presented without authority or anointing.
The religious leaders (who practiced a dead faith during Jesus’s time) were shocked when they heard Jesus speak because He taught with authority (Mark 1:22). In dead or dying churches the preacher has no unction to instill faith, motivate action or convict of sin.
___5. Few if any people are saved, or get baptized.
In the early church, the Lord regularly added people to the church. (Acts 2:47). When there are no people being saved or baptized, it is a sign the Lord is no longer working in their midst.
___6. Every church service is predictable by the minute.
Whether it be high church services or a non-denominational charismatic church, when every aspect of the worship, liturgy, and preaching is predictable as if choreographed to the minute, then it may reveal there is no room for the Holy Spirit to operate. Like Samson of old, the Spirit may have departed without the people knowing it (Judges 16:20). Truly, any aspect of our church that can function without dependence on the Holy Spirit shows that it is a machination of men and not God.
___7. There is no pattern of disciple making.
The bottom line in all churches is the making of committed Christ followers, better known as disciples. It doesn’t matter how large a church is, what matters is how many mature sons [and daughters] are being developed that will positively affect the created order (Read Romans 8:19-21).
___8. The people jockey for position and titles.
When people are not seeking the glory of God they depend even more upon getting affirmation from men. Hence, a church without the Presence of God will most likely have a hierarchical culture with people posturing for positions and titles. The less you know God intimately, the more your identity will be connected to credentials and titles.
___9. There is no divine sense of mission and purpose.
When there is no vision the people are perishing (Proverbs 29:18), when a congregation is dead or dying they have no compelling transcendent purpose that motivates them to fulfill their biblical calling.
___10. Few people volunteer to serve.
Psalm 110:3 say that the people will volunteer or offer themselves willingly in the day of His power. Consequently, in dead or dying churches very few people volunteer to serve in the ministry.
___11. Few people support the church with tithes and offerings.
Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be” (Matthew 6:21). When a church is dying or dead, few people will be motivated to invest their finances into it. Conversely, when people see God moving within the church, they will have more faith and be more motivated to give of their finances knowing that it is being sown on good soil.
___12. The community doesn’t get impacted.
God called believers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). When our lamp goes out, the surrounding community is no longer changed by the power of the gospel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you see any or all of these signs of a dying church in your congregation, ask the Lord what He wants you to do to help resuscitate it. Humbly present your concerns to the leaders of the church before making any decisions. Perhaps God is doing a lot behind the scenes that you do not know about.
Also, at times in American history, the turn of the 19th century in particular, the church in general was in a very low spiritual state; God raised up men like Charles Finney to usher in the Second Great Awakening which revived thousands of congregations and awakened lost sinners. Like the prophet Habakkuk of old, let us seek the Lord to revive His work in the midst of the years and beseech Him that in wrath He would remember mercy (Hab. 3:2).
The greatest challenge we have in this nation is not our political leaders but a lack of power and conviction in the pulpit and the pews that can produce world- changing Christ followers.” Source: 13 Signs of a Dying Church
Thirteen More Signs ___13. Your leaders are losing their passion.
Leaders of growing churches have a white-hot passion for their mission. You can hear it in their voice and can see it in their eyes. By contrast, leaders of stuck or declining churches or organizations generally do NOT burn with drive, desire or passion.
Passionate leaders are obsessed with the mission and get more excited about possibilities than get weighed down by problems. They also bring the love and hope of Jesus in some way into every aspect of their lives. Most leaders who make a significant difference don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate lives and see ministry as something they GET to do. For them, ministry is a privilege, not a burden.
___14. There is more attention and resources dedicated to maintaining the church organization and facilities than enthusiasm for the work of the Lord.
While internal organizations and maintaining church facilities is important, the true work of the church – the called-out ones, is to go forth to reach the lost with the truth and love of Christ. This also reflects an emphasis on management – managing the affairs of the church, rather than leadership – inspiring members to go out and reach the lost. When maintenance begins to trump mission, the end is near.
___15. Keeping traditions is more important than a compelling vision for the future.
If the past is the guideline for action rather than “what would the Lord have us do in this situation”, the church is ill-equipped to respond to changes impacting the church. The past also does not generate enthusiasm or excitement. That comes from a sense of purpose and direction, and plans and actions to realize a compelling vision for the future.
“Vision is prayed down, not borrowed or thought up. It is a picture of what could be and what should be, and results in passion. A leader with vision motivates people to move into action toward a greater good for the church and community. Vision is directly attached to calling.”
___16. Homeless and street people are seen more as a nuisance and threat to church property than a mission field.
Even though homeless and street people are not easy to minister to, they are fellow image-bears of God, and Jesus commands us to not be respecter of persons but to minister to all. In Matthew 25:45, He states: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
___17. There is greater emphasis on how we are different from other Christians than what unites us in Christ.
In Ephesians 4:4-6, the apostle Paul declared there is (only) one body and one Spirit. So while it is important to hold to the core beliefs of one’s church, what different Bible-believing Christian churches hold in common – belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior – is more important than our differences.
___18. There is a slow loss of members and finances over time.
Unless there is a crisis or major division, dying churches typically don’t lose members and finances all at once. More common is a gradual attrition, as a few members leave for a variety of reasons, some move away, and older members pass on. This is often accompanied by a lack of influx from the younger generation, who find other churches more appealing, or quit going to church completely. The result is a gradual loss of momentum, members, and finances, like the story of the frog in the boiling water.
___19. Strong resistance to change and innovation is evident.
Change is uncomfortable but necessary. One sign of a dying church is resistance to change and innovation. However, if your church is dying, change needs to be made quickly. Is your church is resisting change because they’re stuck in the past, or for valid and Biblical reasons?
Resist change, and innovators will eventually leave your church. Down the road, even when you want to innovate – you can’t because all the idea people have abandoned ship. When was the last time you did something truly new? If you can’t answer that question, beware. Dying churches typically fiercely reject change.
___20. Sermons engage the mind but not the heart.
We are bombarded by messages from many sources all throughout the week. Sermons that are not personal, compelling, and engaging, that point members to a transformed life, but sound like theological lectures are not very effective. Even worse are sermons that embrace our pagan culture and espouse non-Biblical perspectives.
___21. You are seeing very few first-time visitors.
If a church doesn’t continually attract and connect with first-time visitors, then it will eventually die because of attrition. To attract more first-time guests, the church will need an online strategy and an invite strategy. Your website, social media ads, and online church service are vital to people finding the church. An invite strategy uses invite cards on the 3 big days of the year which are Fall, Christmas and Easter, as well as throughout the year.
The key is to get first-time guests to the Sunday worship experience and then connect them to the life of the church as quickly as possible. That is one of the major differences between dying churches and growing churches.
___22. Everyone in your church looks and thinks just like you.
Does your congregation truly represent a cross-section of your community? Or do they all fit neatly within the same racial, economic, age, cultural, and political boxes? Churches that lack diversity in terms of age, race, and socio-economic status often struggle to connect with their communities and reach new people.
Furthermore, if members of your congregation don’t feel comfortable expressing doubts, asking questions, voicing concerns, or engaging in respectful dialogue on sensitive issues and topics, then your church is probably attractive to one type of person: People just like you. And that’s a well that’ll run dry fast.
___23. You’re focused more on keeping church members than reaching new people.
A subtle sign of a dying church is that it has completely given up on evangelism and is directing all of its resources to keep its members from leaving. In these situations, the goal simply becomes making the congregation as happy and comfortable as possible to prevent any more exits.
The long-term consequences – not investing in young families or community outreach – will inevitably signal a death blow down the road.
___24. Unresolved conflict
Study after study correlates unresolved conflict with church decline. And if there’s one thing dying churches are good at, it’s ignoring problems or making excuses. Even worse, conflict ignored is conflict multiplied, so if the conflict has been going on for a while, chances are your church is a toxic family system, even as it shrinks in size.
That raises the question: If leaders know there is a problem, why isn’t anyone being an adult and doing something about it?
___25. There is no sense of urgency and passion to reach lost souls.
In Matthew 28:16, Jesus calls us to carry out the Great Commission, to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded. Dying churches do not have this as a high priority.
How many of these describe your church: __ out of 25?
Hopefully this can spur you and the leadership of your church to consider your current state, what you would like to become in the near future, and how you can get there, starting with the Lord!
This is PART II of Great Questions Are Windows Into the Soul – how we can take “nice” conversations to a deeper level that touches the other person’s soul, and provide an opportunity to share the love and truth of Christ. Always remember that a true conversation is an interchange, so any question should be followed by listening and responding. PART I started with these questions: I. How Are You? II. Who Are You? And III. What Were the Defining Moments in Your Life? This PART II continues with the questions that follow.
IV. What Do You Think About God?
When you die and pass through the veil of death into eternity, what do
you think you will see and experience? How does that make you feel?
If you visited heaven, what do you think you would find?
If you visited hell, what do you think you would find?
What do you think about God? Is He your friend?
What do you think He wants from you?
What do you want from Him?
How do you see Jesus? What do you think it would have been like to
be around Him when He walked on the earth?
Why do you think Jesus died on the cross?
Do you spend time with the Lord in His Word and prayer every day?
Do you realize that reading the Bible and participating in worship are
divine encounters with the sovereign, living God of the universe?
Do you pray daily? Constantly? What do you think it means to pray
constantly?
Why do you think the Word of God says it is a narrow gate and
difficult path which leads to eternal life in heaven, and there are few that find it?
How can we stay on the narrow path?
V. How is the Lord Working in Your Life?
Have you ever seen the hand of the Lord in your life or sensed His
presence? What was it like?
How is the Lord working in your life? What is He teaching you?
Do you realize that, as a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within you,
and seeks a personal relationship with you?
How does that make you feel?
Do you believe we can discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit
and be nurtured, taught, and guided by Him each day?
Do you look for the divine appointments God has for you each day?
Do you understand why God, who is a God of love, allows pain and
suffering?
Which do you think is most likely to draw people to the Lord: worldly
success or great trials and tribulation?
VI. What is Your Life Purpose and Calling?
Do you know the Lord’s calling on your life – the unique and special
purpose for which you were created?
Are you fulfilling His calling upon your life? If not, what is holding you
back? SO WHAT?
What are you holding on to that you need to let go of so you can be
spiritually clean and free to live life in the Spirit?
How do you perceive other people? As possible friends? Lost souls?
One of the greatest challenges for Christians is how can we take “nice” conversations to a deeper level that touches the other person’s soul. We can do this by asking great questions.
I. How Are You?
How are you?
What is happening in your life?
What brings joy into your life?
What is the cry in your soul at this time?
II. Who Are You?
Who are you and how did you end up here?
What is your story? You can then tell them your story, and HIS
(Jesus’s) story.
Is there a song, book, or movie that describes your life?
What really makes you come alive?
III. What Were the Defining Moments in Your Life?
Have there been DEFINING MOMENTS – turning points in your lifewhen you gained some new insight or experienced a radical change that changed the direction of your life? What were they?
IV. What Do You Think About God?
When you die and pass into eternity, what do you think you willexperience? How does that make you feel?
What do you think about God? Is He your friend?
What do you want from Him?
What do you think He wants from you?
How do you see Jesus?
Do you spend time with the Lord in His Word and prayer every day?
V. How is the Lord Working in Your Life?
Have you ever seen the hand of the Lord in your life or sensed His
presence? What was it like?
How is the Lord working in your life? What is He teaching you?
Do you realize that, as a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within you,
and seeks a personal relationship with you?
How does that make you feel?
Do you believe we can discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit
and be nurtured, taught, and guided by Him each day?
Do you look for the divine appointments God has for you each day?
VI. What is Your Life Purpose and Calling?
Do you know the Lord’s calling on your life – the unique and special
purpose for which you were created?
Are you fulfilling His calling upon your life? If not, what is holding you
One of the greatest tragedies of all time is the many people who believe they are going to heaven when they die, but end up in the Lake of Fire:
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
Here are four warning signs that we all should watch for, described as questions the Lord may ask us when we stand before Him after we pass from this earth:
Warning Sign #1: UNIVERSALISM – EVERYONE IS GOING TO
HEAVEN
“You believe everyone is going to heaven, even those who refuse to repent of their many sins and also reject Me – God the Father, My Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. You do not know Me, and have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven:”
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
Warning Sign #2: UNFORGIVENESS
“You refused to forgive (this person) in your life, so why should I forgive you? My Son Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:14-15”:
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Warning Sign #3: UNREPENTANCE
“You worship other gods, such as wealth, status, pleasure, lust, and power, and are unrepentant. Why should I let you bring your sin and idolatry into heaven which is holy and without sin?”
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Warning Sign #4: LUKEWARMNESS
“You belong to the Church of Laodicea, a church known for comfort, prosperity, wealth, and leisure; a lukewarm, spiritually stagnant, church in the midst of people with great physical and spiritual needs. Why should I let you in while your soul is polluted with the world and worldly desires?
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth (reject you with disgust).” Revelation 3:14-16 MSG
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:12
The warnings are particularly relevant when we reflect on this sober warning that few there are that find the narrow gate and path which leads to heaven:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
So let us reach out to those who come across our path with the love and truth of Christ, for life is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Life in the Spirit 