| OCR Text |
Show CAN A CHURCH DIE? "TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN Sardis write: These who holds the the seven have are a seven are the words of him spirits of god, and stars. I know your reputation ofbeing dead." (Revelation deeds: you alive, but you 3: 1 NIV) One of the most often heard quotes about the church from the Bible by church folks is "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We take the words of Jesus and remind ourselves and others that the church is His, that built it, and that not even the worst of forces can overthrow it. W e want everybody to know that when satan throws all that he has and can muster after the cause of Christ, he will fall short and fail every 1 although the church is in a hostile world, the church of Christ will win. We assert along with Jesus time. F or what may, the church is alive and well. We expect death of this Himself that come human life but not of the church. to Yet, when Jesus evaluates and speaks he church at Sardis in Revelations 3, hear Him say, "and unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things we saith he that hath the Spirits of I know thy seven God, and the seven stars; works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." What a tragic evaluation and diagnosis. For although Jesus said in Matthew 16: 18 that the gates of hell shall not prevail over His church, here that same Jesus says despite the reputation of being alive, the Sardis 2 Fourth, Lord has done. when the Prepare straight a church can live people repent. "Repent." ye the way of the Lord. Make in the desert a highway. Repent of our lifelessness so that Jesus can give the power of spiritual life forever. For even in a dead church there maybe living us souls. Jesus came and died but rose again with all power over death and the grave. He lives forever more and is preparing a place of life for us to 7 join Him. really dead. Church is If you were to travel abroad and go to places where the church was strong, when Sundays used to be high days, where some of God's best known preachers came from, you will find many of the large cathedrals and magnificent certain sanctuaries all but empty. These "church" buildings have very few in them. Some of them people are weak and in church has fallen on are people in ruin. The despair. The hard times. What place when the church gathered with a fantastic reputation is now nothing at all. Can a church die? Well, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said a church is dying when it is not growing and maturing in Christlikeness. A church is dying when it no longer have power to used to be a . . 3 give birth to souls. A church is when it is selfish and springs of dying compassion have dried up. A church is dying when it is characterized by disunity, dis- integration, and division within the fellowship. A church is dying when the warmth of love is missing. William Barclay said, the church is dying when there is interest but no commitment. A church is dying when good things have been substituted for the best central things. A church is dying when there is no missionary dynamic. Can I suggest to you that the church is dying when the church's unique mission forgotten, is no being fulfilled, no longer Christian, souls are not being saved, and lives are no longer being changed. What a tragedy when the has been 4 reputation for the church has the reputation for being alive when in church has a fact it is dead! Can There is dying. a church die? lot of ways that the church It is dying in the hearts of are a members. We don't have the motion in our bosom, the shout in our voice, or the glee in our voices. It is dying when personal relationships with Jesus no longer exist. It is dying when life is meaningless and powerless. It is dying when we do not allow Christ to guide our lives. It is dying when we are no available for Christ to use us in His dying when satan leaves the church alone and no longer bothers it. But maybe we are asking the wrong question. Maybe the question we ought service. It is to ask is "Can a Church live?" And Jesus 5 helps us out with his fourfold recommendation to the Church at Sardis. First, a church can live when we wake UJL_ "Be watchful." It is revival time. that which was alive but is dead must come again. Open your eyes and see what is happening. Second, a church can live when we strengthen what is left. "Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die." Take the forth a live remnant like God took Noah and the seven people saved on the ark and revitalize the whole world. Third, a church can live when we remember where we have come from. "Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast." Look back over the past and 6 see what the make you sick or a prisoner. Jesus taught us how to do the little things by not little grace, a little mercy, a little peace, and little love. Just keeping giving us a company with that person is a good place to start toward building a relationship. identifying with the less fortunate will tum this world upside down. Jesus said, it's doing it for "the least of these" that is doing it for Him. Just sinner like you and not anybody special but So He died for me. We were a paid our bond. We didn't have anything to offer but He accepted us He we were and made us 6 what we are. as |
