I.The Occasion II.The Options III.The Observations

A changing world – The climate of relativism – Short attention spans – Rampant materialism – Crises (financial, war, health, etc…)

A changing religion – The “come as you are” movement – Cancelling services/adjusting times – The “heaven on earth” doctrines – Powerpoint/internet/technology – Challenging/reexamining traditional thinking – Focus on practical issues Should the church change?

1)The church as a denomination – “Denomination”—a class or kind (especially of units in a system); the smaller part of a whole – This satisfies relativism “We’re are going to the same place, we’re just taking different roads to get there…” COMPLETE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

2)The church as a community service organization – The “business” model of the church: The Gospel: the product The Facilities: for attracting members The Goal: to keep the “customers” happy and remain “financially viable” – The focus: giving the people what they want

1)The world is not really that different – Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

2)God did not ordain a denominational church – I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment – James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

3)God did not ordain a community church – II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears – I Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

4)God ordained a specific, recognizable church – He ordained where and when it would be established Isaiah 2:2-3; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:28-32 Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Acts 1:4-5) Mark 9:1 …shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power – Jerusalem + power + Roman times = church (Acts 2)

He ordained how it would be entered – Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Matthew 28:18-20) – Acts 2:38 The Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (verse 41, 47)

He ordained how it would worship – Mark 16:15; Acts 20:7; Romans 10:14-17—preaching – I Thessalonians 5:17; I Timothy 2:1—prayer – I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 9:7—giving – Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11; Mat. 26:26-29—Lord’s Supper – Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 14:15—singing He ordained how it would live – Galatians 5:19-23; James 1:27; Revelation 2:10

The church does not have an identity crisis… …do you?

I Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.