The "New Church.....

The church leadership is first to equip the Christians to do ministry. The answer is not how to get people to go to church, but how can we can get the church to go outward and be daily witnesses in the world. The church is a place for maturing the people, not for gathering unbelievers to be comfortable with us so that we can all be friends. Some congregations are so large that the leaders don’t know most of them and cannot possibly shepherd them.

If people are coming to church because of the activities offered or the quality of entertainment is equal to that of the world, we have completely missed the “purpose” of the church.

If you are not focusing on mans sin then why does one need a savior? The Bible makes it clear FAITH comes by hearing the word not by seeing. There is not a new “better way” to do or present the gospel. The power of God is learned and believed by the word being proclaimed correctly by those who actually understand and believe it. Not with a watered down, feel good message so folks walk away THINKING they are saved.New believers must learn the essentials of the gospel to understand them and to respond correctly to them. We must to tell them what they NEED to hear, not what they want to hear.

According to the seeker friendly churches, it’s “Shhh… don’t tell them they’re a sinner, they may not like it.” Let’s keep it a secret and we’ll let them know slowly…later on… maybe…if they ask”.

But in the meantime, what happens when they start to fall away? Most churches are too “big” and too “busy” to notice when five or ten people are gone, because five or ten new ones take their place next week. The turnover rate is faster than Wal-Mart! And most go away unsaved. Or worse… PASS AWAY! Then it’s too late. Another soul in hell that thought they were saved and weren't. Because no one told them the truth.

Many mature Christians have reacted to this “seeker-friendly-sensitive” nonsense by leaving the church. They have been turned off by being forced to accept these new methods that are re-structuring the way we do church. They have taken the initiative to no longer attend this type of church. Most of those who leave are not immature Christians, they are the ones who take their faith seriously. They are the ones the church needs most, yet the church is willing to let them leave in favor of getting more “unbelievers” and “seekers” into their midst. In the meantime, the church is running out of money because of the mature Christians that supported the church are leaving.

The “new people” are not supporting the church for a number of reasons. They have no obligation to the people in the church or its leaders, that they don’t even know. They can say “ I go to church”, get entertained, get a “you’re a good person” message, have free refreshments afterwards and all for a couple of dollars. No conviction, no loyalty, no nothing.

Meanwhile the people who used to support the church are leaving in droves! Finding churches that preach the Gospel, feed the soul and are teaching people about salvation.

The church that make it attractive those who are "seekers" has limited its effectiveness. By catering to those who are non-believers or weak Christians, the church has neglected the growth of those who could be productive and they are driving away the very people that make a church healthy and strong.

Those who are spiritually mature have no choice but to leave as they see the churches spiritual standards being lowered by bringing the "world" into the church to attract more people. It doesn’t matter what their belief, just “get ‘em in the door” so we have a full house and it LOOKS good. We’ll tickle their itching ears! Show them a new movie, a couple skits, get 'em wet ( baptize 'em) and then tell them how wonderful they are does not save people.

Often stronger Christians are asked to leave if they are vocal on their disagreement of the direction of the church. Many still have not found churches for a lot of reasons, but they still witness and fellowship with other like-minded believers. Many search for a couple years trying to find a new church. having to bounce from church to church, wary of what they are hearing.

And some do not attend because of the way they were treated at a “seeker friendly” church. The “if you are not happy here, maybe you should find another church” attitude hurt them and they don’t want to get involved again very soon.

So how is all this affecting the churches that have accepted the new system? They have become looser, lenient in scripture and very superficial; the biblical depth to their teaching is short and shallow. They are left practicing a sliver of what church in the first century did.

And they are failing. I don’t think I have to tell you why. It’s obvious



IF...A MIGHTY BIG WORD

IF (01/06/11)


IF you forgive you will be forgiven.

Mat 6:14 For IF you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But IF you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Sometimes a person doesn’t want to forgive someone because they don’t want to change their attitude; sometimes pride holds them back, or maybe if they don’t forgive someone, it gives them a sense of power over them. But it also shows that they may know all about Jesus, but they have never given their lives to Him.

Now let’s take a look at what we are told in Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

Peter thought he was being really being forgiving; he thought he was doing what the Lord wanted Him to do, but he was wrong.

22. Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

For those whose math is not their strong subject…that’s 490 times! PER PERSON!!

In other words, the time should never come when we are unwilling to forgive someone, no matter what they have done…no matter how many times they sin against us.

Here’s another IF:

IF you continue in the Word then you are a disciple of Christ.

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “IF you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So what does that mean? First we need to define truth.

The dictionary says: it is conformity with fact or reality: a verified or indisputable fact, the truth of a statement.

So how can the truth set you free? By you showing the way out of bondage.

Satan creates sin with his lies. Sin creates bondage. And all of these things lead to deception, which ultimately leads to our spiritual deaths.

Anything that is outside of Jesus is outside of the truth - in other words, it's a lie. So if you know the Truth, which is…you receive salvation thru faith in Jesus Christ, the truth will set you from the bondage of Satan and sin.

2 Timothy 4: 3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Turning away from the truth is important because:

IF you don’t abide in Christ you will be cast forth as a branch.

Say What?

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches, IF you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 IF you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

EXPOUND A LITTLE

There are many more IF’S that I could tell you about, but at another time.


Now let’s add another word…WHAT IF…


WHAT IF you ask God for wisdom - and get it?

WHAT IF you take a look at your lifestyle and get rid of the sin and the devils lies?

WHAT IF you hear or read God's word...and accept it as truth?

WHAT IF you submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and let your faith in Jesus clean up your life and your heart?

WHAT IF your prayers are powerful and effective?

WHAT IF today you repented of your sins, accepted Jesus Christ as your savior and you would save yourself from spiritual death and save your soul from being cast into the lake of fire?

I know that IF you haven’t…there ain’t no IF about your final destination.

Close in prayer:

SIN, SINNERS & SINNING, what's what?

SIN (1/13/11)

Last Sunday the Captain talked about things worse than going to hell and better than going to heaven. I agree with him, to a point.

Which brings us to the subject of my talk with all of you today. SIN

SIN, sinner and sinning are three different things. How many know what sin is? Sin is anything that is opposed to God.

Sin is in the world and no one can avoid it. We are BORN IN SIN thru the fall of Adam and Eve. It is a very powerful force that is doing it’s best to take us all over.

I know I am talking like SIN is a person, something to be seen or heard. And that’s exactly what it is!

Satan is in control of this world and will be until the second coming of Christ! His time is running out and he is using everything he can to send every soul that ever lived and ever WILL LIVE to HELL! That is his ONLY objective and he will use any means to get YOU there! Satan IS SIN!

Satan means "adversary." Satan is the enemy of God. He wants to destroy everything God has created. Especially US!!

He is called "the devil" (James 4:7), 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

He is referred to as the “evil one” 1 John 5:18-19, We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the EVIL ONE cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the EVIL ONE. "the prince of this world"

And Satan is also referred to as "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Satan brought evil into the world.

I want you to understand the POWER of SIN. So how do we get away from it? WE can’t!!



And here is where I want to make something clear that the Captain said. Those who are going to Hell are happy to take as many as they can! Because SIN follows SIN! And SIN leads to ETERNAL DEATH!! Satan is very POWERFUL! So it’s not the worse thing for them that are perishing, but the BEST thing for SATAN!



Now I will try to explain sinner. A sinner is a person who has not a follower of Christ. Not a child of God. They have not been FORGIVEN of their sins BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST and GODS GRACE.

A sinner is someone who is still a slave to Satan. CONDEMENED to ETERNITY IN HELL!



We all have seen or heard John 3:16, but let’s read further. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

So now we know HOW to get away from our sinful nature that we are all born into. Repent of our sins, put our faith in the Risen Christ and we will be under Gods grace.

I’ve told you about sin, sinners and now I will tell you about sinning. We see so many Christians, believers, followers of Christ still SINNING! One of the greatest apostles struggled with this. (Expound)



Romans 7 :18 Paul says For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.



This is difficult to get a hold on. When we put our faith in Christ, all our sins, past AND future have been forgiven. But SIN is still WITH us. Sin attacks our MINDS and BODIES, but Sin cannot touch our SOULS.

I know it sounds like a contradiction, Satan controls the world and sin is in the world, so how can we not sin?

Let’s go to 2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

We will still sin, but because Christ died for our sins…we are no longer SINNERS! Will we still sin, YES. Will we be CONDEMENED? NO!

Romans 7 24: Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!



And here is where I agree with the Captain. We who are destined for heaven rejoice when we can lead someone to our Lord and fill the bus bound for Heaven.

Now you know about Sin, sinners and sinning. Now you know what’s what. It's up to you to make a decision about where you will spend eternity.

Close with Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.