Lesson 6: The Future of the Church

What the church is Today

A group of people who want to attract others with gimmicks, food and denominational teaching. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13

A group of people who in some places strive to do what is right in the sight of God. But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Romans 11:4

What the church needs to be.

A group of people who fear God & respect His word ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 11:13

A group of people who want to mold their lives around God’s Word and help others do the same. And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” 28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:27-28

The future of local congregations.

The shoulders of the members For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped… Titus 1:10-11a

Churches are pleasing to God when its members put Him first. I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 3 John 1:9-10

Churches are pleasing to God when its members put Him first. So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17

Lessons for us today.

If the church is going to be revitalized it will only begin by an obedience to God’s word. 25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. 26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. Psalms 119:25-27

Conclusion 1. We cannot to be encouragement to the church when we are not faithful ourselves. 2. The future of the church is up to us. a. We have to decide what part we will have in it.