Challenges That Face This Church

1
Challenges That Face This Church

• Revelation 311-13

2
Introduction

• If he can, the devil will do whatever it takes to
  hinder the work of the gospel.
• 1 Thessalonians 218
• He is smart enough to be very subtle and shrewd
  in his attempt to obstruct our progress in the
  Lords work.
• The result is that we may attend to some of these
  diversionary tactics that he may use all the
  while overlooking some of the things that are
  really holding us back.
• 2 Corinthians 113

3
So what are some challenges that we must meet in
order to serve the Lord faithfully?
4
We must remember that our work is Sowing the Seed

• It requires constant discipline to stick to our
  work and let the Lord do His.
• Ezekiel 27
• We are called to simply plant and water.
• 1 Corinthians 36-9
• We are constantly tempted to bypass the work of
  seed-sowing or to believe that we are doing
  enough we must resist this and truly be a
  congregation that makes some noise.

5
We must rise and live above Pettiness

• It requires constant discipline to keep away from
  itsy-bitsy thinking.
• Selfishness, gossip, and factionalism are the
  crutch to the Lords work in many places.
• Philippians 23-4 42
• We need a sense of proportion and priorities.
• Its disastrous to major in minors.
• The Lords work is about co-operation
• Philippians 127
• Ephesians 219-22 416 together

6
We must believe we can make a difference in this
community

• It requires constant discipline to be confident
  that we can bring about significant changes for
  good where we live.
• Acts 176
• Without some hope (desire expectation) our work
  will cease altogether.
• Be confident knowing that He who is in us is
  greater than he who is in the world.
• 1 John 44

7
We need to have gratitude for our blessings

• It requires constant discipline to emphasize the
  positive rather than the negative aspects of our
  congregational situation.
• Few churches have had more problems than Corinth
  yet there were still things to be thankful for.
• 1 Corinthians 14-9
• A sound church is a thankful church.
• Colossians 317

8
Conclusion

• No church will be perfect in all things.
• We must first recognize that these are real
  problems denial isnt just for addicts.
• The elders/leaders might want to form an
  action-plan and determine to successfully meet
  these challenges head on.
• It is true, congregationally as well as
  individually, that with every temptation there is
  a way of escape but we must have the honesty to
  see temptation for what it is and arm ourselves
  against it.