7 Things A Dying Church Does
- Regular attempts to minister in the community are not made, or are met with resistance from the members
- There is no focus within the church for regular Bible reading; therefore the people place little value on God’s Holy Word
- Because members are more worried about personal preferences, than the leading of the Holy Spirit, their complaining and criticism leads to a lack of joy and unity
- The church’s past, tradition, and denomination, becomes its idol; and Christ is no longer the main focus
- The current culture in the community is seen as an enemy instead of an opportunity; and hearts become hardened to God’s will
- The church fails to accurately teach the whole counsel of God’s will; and the people are left with an unbiblical view of the Lord
- Individual members spend little to no time in personal devotion and meaningful prayer; and though they have a form of godliness, they miss out on the power of a personal relationship with Christ Himself
7 Things A Living Church Does
- Opportunities for outreach are promoted regularly; and members eagerly volunteer
- The Word of God is presented in the congregation as living, powerful, and life changing for each person
- The members are encouraged to esteem and love each other as Christ loves them; knowing that they have a personal responsibility to maintain the unity of the Spirit within the bond of peace
- The church prays for humility in evaluating its activities, and programs, and how it conducts its services; to see if Christ is truly at the center of all that is being done
- The church prays for wisdom and discernment on how best to minister and meet the needs of those around them
- The leadership promotes a complete picture of God; a God that not only judges, disciplines, and has expectations, but a God that is loving, kind, merciful, and longsuffering
- The members have learned the value of Bible study and prayer within the home; and seek to make personal application of those biblical truths as they walk with the Lord