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         been withdrawn from).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 Those withdrawn from had already become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)