1 / 12

Why Are We Not Reaching Them?

Why Are We Not Reaching Them?. Acts 9:31. Introduction. The early church grew – rapidly 3,000 – Acts 2:41 Added daily – Acts 2:47 All Jerusalem knew – Acts 4:16 Believers added – Acts 5:14 Multiplied – Acts 9:31. Introduction. Why did they grow so fast?

liko
Download Presentation

Why Are We Not Reaching Them?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Why Are WeNot Reaching Them? Acts 9:31

  2. Introduction • The early church grew – rapidly • 3,000 – Acts 2:41 • Added daily – Acts 2:47 • All Jerusalem knew – Acts 4:16 • Believers added – Acts 5:14 • Multiplied – Acts 9:31

  3. Introduction • Why did they grow so fast? • Why are we NOT growing like they did? • Research group – learned there are 5 primary reasons

  4. 1) Leave to Professionals • Ministers are seen as “professional” clergy • “I am not trained” “I don’t know how to answer all these doctrines.” • We pay the preacher to teach the lost • I support him to do that work

  5. 2) Not Speak “Peoples” Language • We have our own terms • We have a specialized vocabulary • Repent, Baptism, Church, Saved • Holy, Sanctify, Confession • Gospel Meeting, Fellowship, Tracts • We must use words that communicate our message

  6. 3) Assume TheyBelieve the Bible • 98% claim a belief in God • 60% do NOT believe the Bible is inspired • Some denominations argue this issue annually at their convention • We just start quoting Scripture

  7. 3) Assume TheyBelieve the Bible • We are anxious to “prove” our point and begin quoting Scripture • The listener does not accept our quotation as “authority” • There are sub-issues • Inspired of God • Infallible, inerrant

  8. 4) Inadequate Funds • Mission work takes money • Travel, food, lodging • Interpreters, materials • Rent – meetings, classes, baptisms • Local work takes money • Radio, TV, newspaper • Internet, materials, postage

  9. 4) Inadequate Funds • Some churches spend about 25% of annual budget for mission work • Many churches – less than 5% • We can complain about materialism • In our world – it takes money – building, lights, equipment, sign, etc.

  10. 5) Internal Strife • In the past – we debated every major denominational doctrine • Last 40 years – debated ourselves • Orphans, classes, literature, visual aids • Song books, one cup, located preacher • ICOC (Boston Movement) • Liberal (Change Agents)

  11. 5) Internal Strife • In a directory of congregations of churches of Christ there are symbols for 17 different doctrinal positions • We spend a lot of time in class with internal matters • Elders spend TOO much time with internal disputes

  12. Not Reaching Them • The fact is – We are NOT reaching the masses of this world who are lost • The fact is – We must find a way to solve these 5 problems • We must get on with the work Jesus gave us to do

More Related