The church in crisis? Next time you are sitting in a worship service, in the church which you attend regularly, or in one you are visiting, look around at the heads gathered there and do a mental count or a quick percentage estimate of gray heads or white ones or even shiny heads...of course a lot of men today don't want hair so take that factor into consideration. You know what I am getting to, don't you? I am encouraging you to look at the average age of our congregations today. Take a look at the section where the young people sit...not too many?
I heard a story from one source that is typical in our area. The sound technician in this particular church looked out over the crowd and did a quick estimate and came up with a figure of 50 t0 55 percent of the congregation who were over 55. That is probably a conservative estimate.
No youth...no future, yet Jesus told us in Matt. 16:18, "I will build My church.? Is the church facing a crisis today? Yes but it is only temporary...it is time that those of us who perhaps make up the majorityheed to the words found in Isaiah's prophecy "Arise, shine for the Light has come And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you" Isa. 60:1. Let's not wallow in the pit of despair but let's get behind the effort in the place God has called us and push the battle for the Lord and we do it on our knees in prayer. It is high time that we arise and shine our lights for Jesus. Today is pantry day at our church and while I for one do not have a particular task assigned I will be there and I will pray for someone and God will answer prayer. Let's do something to support our pastor's and the work of God...prayer is the place to start...
I heard a story from one source that is typical in our area. The sound technician in this particular church looked out over the crowd and did a quick estimate and came up with a figure of 50 t0 55 percent of the congregation who were over 55. That is probably a conservative estimate.
No youth...no future, yet Jesus told us in Matt. 16:18, "I will build My church.? Is the church facing a crisis today? Yes but it is only temporary...it is time that those of us who perhaps make up the majorityheed to the words found in Isaiah's prophecy "Arise, shine for the Light has come And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you" Isa. 60:1. Let's not wallow in the pit of despair but let's get behind the effort in the place God has called us and push the battle for the Lord and we do it on our knees in prayer. It is high time that we arise and shine our lights for Jesus. Today is pantry day at our church and while I for one do not have a particular task assigned I will be there and I will pray for someone and God will answer prayer. Let's do something to support our pastor's and the work of God...prayer is the place to start...
posted by Randall | 5:08 a.m.
3 Comments:
Hi Randall
Thanks for the plug for the pantry. We had about 13 people
come to help out and to pray with our people. Thanks to you and your lovely wife for always being there
to help.
As for the youth and the future of the church,I think that we must start to pour into the lives of the
ones we have.
If they are going to grow up to be
the next leaders we have to start now to give them some responsibilitys and trust them to carry them out.
The youth have alot of things trying to get their attention and
we need to show them that it is their church too, and that we all care about them.
If we want the youth to come they have to know that they will be welcome.
Show them some respect even if there are times you don't think they deserve it.Talk to them, not at them.Let them know that you are
interested in them and what they have to say.Ask some questions you may be surpised by the answers.
The youth are the church's future
what they make of it may depend on what they see us doing now.
Remember they are watching us.
C.M.
Greetings Brother Randall
I read your article on the Church in Crisis. The North American church is in crisis, its asleep in the light. The church in other parts of the world is in revival.
I preached a message a couple of weeks ago about Jesus building His church and the gates of Hell not prevailing against it. Jesus said He would do it and I am confident that He will do it regardless of how it looks.
Jesus Christ is going to build His church based upon revelation.
Revelation of Who He is
Revelation that He will build it. We can't with our programs
Revelation that the church is not a building, its a people
Revelation that He has given us the keys of the kingdom and we must us them
Revelation that He is going to build it through us
Revelation that we must confess our sins and identify with other sinners. The sin of indifference, unbelief, apathy, ignorance
Revelation that no one is exempt from helping to build it
Revelation that the North American church is institutionalized
Until we, the church arises, Jesus cannot build it
We need the Holy Ghost and the power gifts back in God's people to overcome the works of the devil. When we get hungry enough for them the North American church might rise up
Blessings
Darrell
Where are the young people,why aren,t they in church .
Why would they be ? When they come,we want them to act all grown up but we want to treat them like little kids ....when the pastor speaks to the church ,he speaks to young as well as old . Are the youth as much a part of the church as the seniors ....if they are we had better start and let them know,maybe then they will start and tell their friends about what excites them and why they come to church.....they know the youth do we,lets give them a chance .
Coffee
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