The Future of the Church, Part 2 (Revelation 14:3)
Gary McManus, 01/14/2018Part of the God's New Year series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
January 14, 2018 Revelation 14:3
The Future of the Church, Part 2
In 2015 church statistics were outlined.
The statistics have not changed.
Statistics are the institutional church.
The church is people, mission.
Even 60 years after Jesus walked the
earth, Jesus’ churches wanted their
own BUILDINGS.
Mission bases are closing.
Jesus’ mission continues until Jesus returns.
Some mission solutions. . .
Are churches like doctor’s offices?
Are churches like retail stores?
Yet, consumer confidence is growing. . .
People are buying—just not at stores.
Now why am I going through all this. . .?
1. You and I love this church.
2. DCC had a good year in 2017.
3. IF churches ARE like. . .
what is the next step for us?
Statistics are against us.
Do you remember God’s most frequent
commandment?
DO NOT BE AFRAID.
Just as stores have moved on-line,
DCC has moved some of its mission on-line.
The WORD of GOD is AVAILABLE IN
MANY PLACES BUT MANY come to
DCC’s website to hear the Word of God.
We have not tried to get financial support
for that on-line ministry.
The other good news?
Jesus is Lord!
Better and brighter have gone before.
No matter what is next,
we are called to remain faithful.
A new song with the same words.
The Apostle Paul wrote of only
ONE CHURCH as faithful (Colossians 1:2).
(Also see 1 Corinthians 4:17).
60 years later the same church was
reprimanded by Jesus (See Revelation 2).
Ephesus was not the largest church.
She needed to stay faithful.
America is in love with BIGNESS.
Every Christmas we are reminded that
nobody important in Jewish circles
was told BY GOD about Jesus’ birth.
Nobody “BIG” knew Jesus was born.
Who was told about Jesus’ birth?
A carpenter, his betrothed, some
sheep farmers, some pagans.
Mary and Joseph? Faithful.
Were Mary and Joseph strong
enough to fight Herod’s soldiers?
No. They ran. God needed faithful
people to do that.(Matthew 2:13)
Don’t fight, be faithful. . .
don’t be afraid, be faithful. Amen.
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