Introduction

Are we growing? Two weeks ago, we quoted Al Maxey, the preacher for the Church of Christ in Alamogordo, New Mexico, who made the following quote in his then current issue of Reflections: Bro. Samuel Dawson, in his book "What Is Wrong With Most Churches of Christ & How They Can Avoid Extinction," points out at the very beginning that "In the 50 years from 1955 to 2005, Churches of Christ have dwindled from 3.0 to 1.267 million members and from 18,000 to 12,963 congregations. While the population has doubled in this same period of time, membership within Churches of Christ has declined 58%. At the average rate of decline of 34,600 members per year, Churches of Christ will vanish by the year 2042." A rather grim assessment in many ways, to be sure, if one is strictly viewing the matter externally and statistically.

So as we ask the question, “Are we growing?” I think it is pretty clear that we are not growing numerically. The question is why? What is the cause? We could probably list a lot of reasons, but I’d like to shift to one other aspect of the question, “Are we growing personally? Do we need to grow?

Some have the idea that they are already grown. They are already perfect. Others may realize that they are not perfect, but it doesn’t really matter. Close to this are some who honestly have lost interest in that which is spiritual.

Body

I. Where are you personally?

Do a personal inventory.

(2 Cor 13:5 NKJV) “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?; unless indeed you are disqualified.”

Again, Paul says to examine ourselves as we partake of the Lord’s supper.

(1 Cor 11:27-28) "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup."

Does your relationship to God and Christ really mean anything to you?

(Psa 122:1 NKJV) "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD.""

1. Is this our attitude? Do we enjoy worshipping with God’s people?

2. Do we enjoy reading and studying the Bible at home, and praying together?

Have we slipped and we don’t realize it?

(Heb 5:12 NKJV) "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."

1. Clearly the Hebrew writer is saying that growth is expected of us.

2. Equally clear is the fact that some had actually slipped backward.

Jesus said the same thing as he addressed the church at Ephesus.

(Rev 2:4-5 NKJV) ""Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. {5} "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent."

II. What is your spiritual heritage?

Have you been brought up to know the scriptures?

(2 Tim 3:15 NKJV) "and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

What did you gain from your parents?

(2 Tim 1:5 NKJV) "when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also."

Do you have a Berean spirit?

(Acts 17:11 NASB) "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so."

1. There is a great difference between accepting what some one else says and in finding it out for yourself.

2. Do we believe what we do because we have found it in the word of God?

3. Do we study the word of God, and ask questions of ourselves and others about the things we read.

(Luke 2:46-47 NKJV) "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. {47} And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

Do you really know what the Bible says, or only what the Church of Christ teaches?

1. Someone will say, but they are one and the same.

2. For those who respond that way, I have a question: Which Church of Christ? With so many fragments of the churches of Christ, more than ever, we need to know what the Bible says.

3. On my website, I have an article, “Why I am a member of the Church of Christ. Here is part of that article:.

The Bible Is the Authority

A very important appeal to me was that we would "do Bible things Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible names." I know there is more to it than that, but in churches of Christ, I do find that the authority of the Bible is highly respected. Unfortunately, there are also many members of the church who cannot honestly tell the difference between what the Bible says and tradition. Perhaps to put it another way, there are members of the church who can be very defensive of things that are only traditions. Many in the churches of Christ will listen with an open mind to the teachings of the Bible. Again, it makes a difference to many Christians who the teacher is. Some of the beauty of the Restoration Movement has been lost because many turn to the Bible just to defend what they already believe rather than turn to the Bible to see what it says. There is a big difference in those two approaches

Conclusion

So what is the challenge? Peter said it well:

(2 Pet 3:10-18 NKJV) "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. {11} Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, . . .{17} You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; {18} but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

Are you right with God? Do you need to make your life right today?

Sermons I have Preached Bible Study with Harley

Hit Counter