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The Christian Church throughout Europe, and even in North America, is not as futile as it thinks it is, in evangelism. Its real problem is in what comes next.
In panic, we are always looking for the latest band-wagon to jump on- and go for it, like the well-dressed go to the Paris fashion shows. We have had the big crusades of the post-war years, the personal evangelism of coffee bars then came person-to-person Evangelism Explosion - house groups - then church planting - Alpha courses - or 'Just looking' groups: all these have won converts to the Christian faith, but we still have churches by the thousand which sense that they have failed and feel exhausted.There is not the stamina to continue.It all seems like too much effort for too little fruit.
Thus many thoughtful Christian folk want to take the whole subject several steps back, and instead of asking 'How do we do it?' ask 'What is it we are supposed to be doing?'. In short, don't buy the tools till you know what you want to make.
Thus we need to ask first: how do we, as a church, see ourselves? - who are we? - what is our model for church? Are we the 'nicest club in town'? - or 'the most exclusive one?' - or a 'little family group enjoying family life together'? - or a particular preacher's fan club? Or are we a religious PLC working on the management structure and sales turnover of the old firm?
How does your church see itself? Could you put it into a nut shell? Is it a Sunday singing club, or what? If you cannot answer that, try instead 'How should your church see itself?'
More on this tomorrow, but for now see how Jesus saw one of his churches:To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
"These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God." Revelation 3:1-2
A Prayer:
Since you called your church to joyful worship and obedience, O Lord grant us grace to be your church and not ours.
Now read how Jesus saw four other churches - Revelation Chapter 2.
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