Fatal Trends for Churches

3 FATAL TRENDS FOR CHURCHES

CONSTRUCTIONISM
‘Build, build, build’

Partial truth- It is good to have quality facilities
False impression- Big building = successful church

The early church had NO building for 300 years. It was illegal. Yet the church was successful
The persecuted church today does this. In China the house church movement is growing rapidly. In South Korea they only get to go to the building once a month.
It’s not about buildings. You don’t go to church, you ARE the church

BUT: Don’t make the opposite mistake
Smaller isn’t necessarily better, it’s just smaller
The O.T. Tabernacle was very extravagant

SO: Build quality, build practically, but most importantly, build the Kingdom

CONSUMERISM
‘Sell, sell, sell’

Partial Truth- We do want to add people to our church
False impression- More people = more disciples

There are many ways to get lots of people
The early church was offensive to their community (Acts 7:54-59)
The early church was serious about discipline (Acts 5:1-11)

BUT: Don’t make the opposite mistake
We can’t sacrifice the message, but we better change the methods
We don’t sell our church or even Jesus, but we should be attractive to a hurting community

SO: Be in, but not of

CLERGYISM
‘The calling…the comma….the clergy’

THE CALLING
Partial Truth- ministers are called
False impression- Only pastors are ministers

This was a big debate at school
Ephesians 4:1-2
It’s a general calling (saved, sanctified, spirit filled, serving)
Sometimes it is specific

THE COMMA
Partial truth- Pastors do the work
False impression- Only pastors do the work

Grammar, spelling, even punctuation, they matter
Ephesians 4:11-12
It’s the people who do the work of the ministry

THE CLERGY
Partial truth- Clergy do study, pray, visit
False impression- They do it alone