How To Rescue A Church

 "The story is well known in many churches across America. Churches that were once large and effective are in decline. Attendance is down. Money is down. People have circled the wagons for survival to stave off the congregation’s demise. The goal is survival: more people in the pews, more money in the bank account, and maybe young people who will step up and take over. Saving the congregation is the goal. The problem with this is that God calls us into missional communities not into institutions. People outside the institution and most inside the institution really won’t give of themselves to save the church. Congregational survival is not a compelling reason for people to go beyond themselves. If survival was compelling them, the declining churches would soon thrive again. If survival was compelling them, the remaining few leaders would not be tired and worn out trying to save the congregation. (You can read the rest of the article by John Holm entitled: "Don't "Rescue" the Church: Rediscover Your Unique Mission" (Christianleaders.com) 

If we were involved in the priority programs of the church such as: Evangelism: (Matthew 28:19-20) Ministry: (Matthew 25:34-40) Christian Nurture (Galatians 6) I don't feel our churches would be in decline; but we would experience spiritual, and numerical growth, just like the early church did in the book of Acts.

Yes, it falls on Christian leadership, to lead the way in these priority programs. It's time we humble ourselves, and stop pursuing, selfish ambitions, and start doing what is best for the Kingdom of God. Isn't that what the Lord called us to do? GP

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A Dreadful Decline

"You have no doubt seen and been startled by headlines such as these… "Christianity Declines Sharply in US, Agnostics Growing: Pew" – Newsmax "Christians In U.S. On Decline As Number Of 'Nones' Grows, Survey Finds" – NPR "Big Drop in Share of Americans Calling Themselves Christian" - New York Times "America Is Getting Less Christian and Less Religious, Study Shows" – HuffPo 
With such powerful and respected news sources proclaiming this sour news, who could possibly doubt the truth of it?" (Is Biblical Christianity on the Decline?/ By Glenn Stanton-Focus On The Family)

In a time when the church needs to hold to Biblical truth, and strongly speak out concerning it, the church is in what I call a "dreadful decline." 

We have done what Satan and the world wants us to do, and that is: crawl in a corner and say nothing, and do nothing. We have the responsibility as the early church did, to strongly influence our culture. We are to be as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth...", "You are the light of the world..." 

As the church we are not to let the world affect us, and dictate to us what is right, what is truth, and how we are to cater to the wants and desires of the world. We are to affect the world with the message of Jesus Christ, and bring people to Him for salvation.

We are not to make people comfortable at church services, but be a hospital for those who have been beat up by the world. When the Christian church begins to meet needs, instead of catering to the wants, that is when we will stop seeing a dreadful decline, and we will see an upward display of spiritual growth and maturity! (GP)

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Doing Our Part

"...according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." 
(Ephesians 4:16b)

The Piccolo looks like a miniature flute; in fact, the word piccolo is Italian for "small"! It is 13 Inches long, shorter than a flute, which is 26 inches long. Even though it is a little instrument, it has it's place in an orchestra, to help make a piece of music, sound great!

 As Christians, we may feel like our contribution to the work of the church is small, and of no effect. That is not true. By every member of the body of Christ, doing their share, causes the body of Christ to grow, in spiritual maturity, and yes, in number.

How does this happen? It happens when we show the love of Christ to each other. It happens when we as the family of God, show the love of Christ to the world.

There are two things that the church today, does not have a solid grip on:

First: We don't have a grip on our purpose. The purpose of the church is two-fold. 1) We are to be obedient to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) 2) We are to build the body of Christ up in love (Ephesians 4:6-16)

Secondly: We are to stand up to our enemy Satan, and fight the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7)
With the church in decline, and many of our Christian values being under attack, it is time for the church to stand strong against Satan and the world.

Strong commitment and dedication is what is needed. And not just by a few doing the work, but all doing the work, so that the Christian Church will make a difference for Jesus Christ, in this dark, lost world! GP

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Our Place & Purpose

"...from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.." 
(Ephesians 4:16) 


Do you know what your place and purpose is in the church?

The Apostle Paul in our text, instructs us concerning our place and purpose in the church, by using the illustration of the human body. We are like bones and muscles that have different functions but are fitted together to help the body to function, and to be productive. All of us as Christians are to find our place in the church, and function to help the church to fulfill the purpose God has
for it.

One of the purposes, that members of the body of Christ forget at times, is that the body of Christ is to be built up in love. We are quite quick to point out the deficiencies, and inadequacies of others, instead of looking at what we ourselves ought to be working on, and doing.

If there is one thing that our enemy Satan is hoping will happen is; that we spread negativity, and severe criticism, instead of loving encouragement.
He loves it when we turn on ourselves, instead of on him. So it is important that we are patience with one another.

Even though, there are those who are used by the enemy to accomplish his negative schemes. "Speaking the truth in love" (v.15) will help remind us all,
of how we are to treat one another, and how we are to unify, to accomplish God's purpose for His church! GP

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