PROBLEMS CHURCHES MUST FACE & SOLVE
IF THEY ARE TO SUCCEED
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The Lord's church will never be completely destroyed from the
face of earth. Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:28
1. It cannot be destroyed because it is perpetuated by an
indestructible seed. 1 Pet. 1:23-25
B. Though the church will never be destroyed, congregations may
die or lose their identity. Rev. 2:5; 3:1-6.
1. In this lesson we list some problems God's people must face
and try to solve if they are to succeed as a church of the
Lord.
I. Zero-growth in many places.
A. Many faithful saints are growing old and passing away.
1. We are losing ground as people we do baptize fall by the
wayside before they become mature Christians.
2. Many have fallen away through various reasons (and\or have
been withdrawn from).
a. In most cases, if withdrawal has been at all, it has been
too slow. Those withdrawn from had already become
callous, and thus, the withdrawing process had no effect.
B. Solution:
1. Every member needs to wake up to this crisis. We cannot
have the "business as usual" syndrome.
2. There is nothing pessimistic about facing the facts.
3. We need to re-study how churches grew in the N.T. and
implement it. Acts 8:4; 1 Thess. 1:8; Phil. 1:7
4. It will take the consecrated effort of every member. God has
blessed many in this congregation with superior intelligence
and a reasonable portion of this world's goods. Why can't we
use our intelligence and resources to cause this church to
grow?
II. Division & bitterness prevalent.
A. The cause of Christ has in many places been disgraced by
brethren biting and devouring one another. Gal. 5:15
1. Division hinders progress and growth, and leads to sins of
all sorts. Prov. 6:19; James 3:16
a. Gal. 5:19-20; this verse is sometimes called, "the
devil's hamburger" because there is a list of very
serious sins, and then those common to brethren, and
another list of very serious sins. Thus, the devil gets
the best part of the hamburger when brethren bite and
devour.
b. There are too many who love self, who are full of pride,
and will not humble themselves to take a little
precaution in order to halt division.
c. Brethren need to be working together in their common
cause, rather then fighting with each other. 1 Cor. 3:3
B. Solution:
1. Increase in our love toward one another. Love will take a
lot of abuse without complaint. 1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:8;
Prov. 17:9; 1 Cor. 13:4-8
2. Build a close personal relationship with God. This will
motivate one to be concerned about the Lord's cause.
a. We develop a close relation to God by daily study,
prayer, and meditation. We all need to seek to build a
personal, deep-rooted, strong faith.
b. When there is a strong membership, the church will be
exactly what it ought to be.
III. Losing our young people.
A. We are losing too many of our young people. Some estimates are
as high as 95%.
1. Someone has rightly said, "Churches aren't losing our young
people but parents are." This is true; however, churches
could do better as well.
a. Some Bible-School curriculums are in shambles. Some
teachers are unqualified; some don't prepare for the
class. Some don't show up on time, and some don't show up
at all.
B. Solution:
1. Churches need to strive to do their very best--provide
things profitable for our young.
2. Parents need to be diligent - Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4
3. Children need to be responsible. Young people, you need to
do your very best that you might grow in grace and
knowledge of Christ and mature into a strong faithful
Christian.
a. If you are lukewarm and indifferent, how do you think
your children will be?
IV. Breakdown of the home.
A. We live in a nation that grants over a million divorces a year.
1. There are millions of babies being murdered every year under
the disguise "abortion" or "terminating an unwanted
pregnancy."
2. The gays keep openly pushing their "alternate lifestyle," as
they call it.
3. The indebtedness has reached to the moon--the government is
in debt over 4 trillion dollars and they say that consumer
debt is worse.
B. Solution:
1. Preach and stand against adultery, homosexuality,
fornication, divorce. Matt. 19:5; Heb. 13:4
2. Above all, keep ourselves pure. Eph. 5:3-6
3. This note was sent to the Editor of the Knoxville News-
Sentinel:
a. "I can no longer keep quiet. I can no longer sit and read
the paper or watch television and seethe in silence. I am
mad -- no, enraged is a better word -- and sick to death
of hearing that alcoholics, child molesters and
committers of rape or murder are "sick" and need the help
of some overpaid psychiatrist. Or that homosexuals are
born that way and can't change their nature, as if God
would give this perverted way of life some kind of
birthday present...When sin is contemplated and nourished
it grows. We all are capable of committing even the
atrocities that were done by the Nazis. Unless we, with
the help of God, fight a constant war against Satan, we
will be used as his instruments...Let's call a spade a
spade. Homosexuality, abortion, alcoholism and all
manner of perversion so abundant and exhibited so
blatantly in this country is sin. Pure unadulterated
sin." (Mrs. Sandra Harmon, Hankins Hallow Road,
Maynardville).
V. Materialism, and worldliness rampant.
A. Many church members are pursuing money and the things money
can buy. They have worldly interest.
1. Some things which are not wrong in and of themselves--better
cars, houses, furniture--but they can so occupy our time and
energy that they become wrong.
2. Are we truly godly when we are really living for earthly
things. We might attend every time the doors are opened, but
our hearts may not be in it.
a. Some are like those in Nehemiah's day. Neh. 13:15-21;
Also, Matt. 15:8-9
b. We may sit here in services, sing songs, but mentally
sleep through it all.
c. We must love God with all our hearts. Matt. 22:37-38
B. Solution:
1. Jesus said - Matt. 6:24.
2. We can't claim to fear God, but spend every waking hour
serving mammon.
3. We should strive to be "rich toward God." Luke 12:21; Matt.
6:19-20; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Matt. 6:33
VI. No elders (and\or no leadership).
A. Many congregations have been in existence for years, but have
no elders, and have no immediate prospects for any.
1. Most ignore the need - they just drift along as usual.
2. It is God's will - Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5
a. Elders can shelter the weak from discouraging problems.
For example, sometimes the whole church doesn't need
to know or be involved in certain problems.
b. Elders can move the practice of discipline to its end.
Rom. 12:8
c. Without elders we are ruled by a majority rule; this puts
the babes in Christ, the young and inexperienced, on
equal basis as the older and more mature Christians.
B. Solution.
1. Work toward having elders. Encourage men to serve.
2. We need to stand behind the men who accept the challenge
and work at it. 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17
3. God will bless us as a congregation, if we seek to do his
will in this and all matters.
Concl.
A. Thus, we have seen some problems God's people must face and
solve if the church is to grow and prosper.
1. If these problems continue to be prevalent, churches will
continue to die.
2. Though the church will never be destroyed, local churches
can vanish, and many of them are vanishing.
3. If you are subject to the Lord's invitation, you must obey
the Lord from the heart. Rom. 6:17-18
Chart:
Problems Churches Must Face & Solve If They Are To Succeed
Zero-growth in many places
Division & bitterness prevalent
Losing our young people
Breakdown of the home
Materialism & worldliness rampant
No elders (and\or no leadership)