Why Churches Die - Part Two - Inward vs. Outward

I think one of the major reasons that churches begin to decline and ultimately die is that they move from an Outward focus to an Inward focus. When new churches begin they have specific characteristics:
1. Mission focused
2. Limited bureaucracy
3. Desire to try new things
4. Focused on the community and unchurched
Over time as a church grows the focus slowly moves from those outside of the church to those inside of the church. The church begins asking all the wrong questions or not asking the right questions:
• Instead of “How do we grow?” they ask “How do we have security?”
• Instead of “What will work to reach people?” they ask “What ministries do we want in the church?”
• Instead of “What do we need to connect and be relevant with the unchurched?” they ask “What subjects are we most interested in studying, preaching on, and learning about small groups, worship services, etc…”
• They stop asking “What is working and what isn’t working?” and instead say, “This is what we’ve always done.”
Now in and of themselves none of these things is wrong. In fact many of them are good. But they should not become the driving force for the church. Luke 19:10 (NLT) says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” I truly believe that when churches lose the focus of reaching those who need Jesus, they have begun the slow descent to death.

Why do churches die?

Recently, I have been spending some substantial time working on both the transitional team and now board for Next Generation Churches of Northern California and Nevada. This process has been very eye opening and also educational as our board has needed to work through numerous vision, philisophical, and organizational hurdles. During this time, a member church decided after many years of ministry to close it's doors and they donated their building and property to our association. As part of our responsiblity as board members we are now considering the best options available for it's use. Over these months I have been able to learn more and more about this church's history and timeline. I was intrigued to learn that at one time it was a growing fellowship of believers whose attendance had grown to probably more than 200. Then upon the purchase of their final building things began a long, slow decline. Recently while touring the building and considering the options avaliable to use, I had to restroom in the upstairs. When I opened the door to go into the men's room, I saw this large VISION and MISSIONS sign. I thought to myself how sad, that this church with good intentions and real desire to follow Christ now finds itself nonexistent. So I asked myself this question, "How did this happen?" Over the next few days I plan on doing some posting in response to this question. I hope you will check in regularly and also I would love to get your thoughts on why this type of stuff happens to churches.

Exciting Easter Celebration

I wanted to express my thanks to all those involved in our Easter Celebration on Sunday. We had a record attendance of 190 with around 30 first time guests. So many brought friends and family to the service and so many volunteered to serve. For those in our church family, "thanks for being a part of the team!" Your involvement is making a difference.

Good Friday Service Tonight

Good Friday Service @ 7:00pm

www.msconline.org

Holy Week - Day 5

This morning I read, Matthew 27:15-23 (NLT)
15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

Throughout Scripture there is a theme of the innocent taking the place of the guilty. Here are a few examples:

• An innocent animal is killed to provide clothing for guilty Adam and Eve



• In Exodus we read about the passover sacrifice



• God institutes a sacrificial system in Exodus and Leviticus where innocent animals are offered for the sins of the entire community

Now in this passage once again, this theme is repeated. It was Roman custom that during the feast of the Passover, the Roman governor would commute the sentence of a Jewish criminal. In this case, it is a man named Barabbas. And so once again we find this theme of the innocent dying for the guilty. We should never forget that the very central truth of the crucifixion is this theme. Through Christ's death, each of us, just as Barabbas, is allowed to go free. That is why we call today, "Good Friday." The only reason today is good is because you and I do not have to face the consequences of our sins. Jesus Christ already took care of that through his death.

1 John 2:2 (NLT)
2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Holy Week - Day 4

Today I focused in on this passage:
Matthew 26:36-46 (NLT)
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

I don't know about you but that phrase, The spirit is willing, but the body is weak," certainly applies to me. Many times in my spiritual life I know what I should do but I can't seem to make it happen. Over the past three years of my life God has been doing a huge renovation project. It started with some much needed mentorship from my dear friend, Paul Null. Then it crashed into personal crisis about 1.5 years ago, then it became a family crisis with Ethan's surgery in November, and now finally things are starting to get back to normal - if there is such a thing as normal. I say all of that to say this, God has been teaching me that truly, "without Him I can do nothing." Many times we think that without God's help we limit our succes or we limit our ability to accomplish, but the truth is...any accomplishment apart from God is really no accomplishment at all. Here the disciples, Peter, James, and John, were weary and they were simply dependent on their own ability, but that was not and will never be enough. Our only true source of strength is God and Him alone, because we are dealing with our sinful nature which is powerful. In the verses following this passage, we will read how all of the disciples fled away from Jesus. They were afraid and ashamed. When we rely on our own strength (the flesh) we too will find ourselves afraid and ashamed.

Holy Week - Day 3

In my devotional time this morning I read Matthew 26:17-30 (ESV)
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

This passage of Scripture describes the scene as Jesus and his disciples observe the Jewish Passover. Then at the end of the passage, Jesus establishes the Christian ordinance of Communion or the Lord's Supper. But what I really focused on this morning was the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover remembrance. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were commanded by God through Moses to pack their bags and get ready to leave Egypt because God was going to send the 10th plague, which was the death of the 1st born son. Moses said that the death angel would "pass over" their homes and spare their eldest son if they observed this ritual. They had to kill a lamb and sprinkle the blood on the top and sides of the doorpost. When the death angel saw that mark, he would "pass over" them.
Now move forward to the Matthew 26 passage. In this passage Jesus is declaring that He is the permanent passover sacrifice. Just as the blood of the lamb spared the house from the righteous anger of God, so the shedding of His blood on the cross would spare the world from the righteous anger of God. With the original passover all were welcomed to participate in the passover feast, both Israelite and Egyptian. But of course only those who believed and worship Jehovah God participated. In the same way, all are welcomed by God to participate in the forgiveness and reconciliation that is offered through Christ's death, but only those who choose to embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior will do so. So this morning I end with these words written by the Apostle Paul, "Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" 2Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)


[1]
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. (2nd ed.). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

[1] The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.