The State Of The Church

The State of the Church

Deut. 1:1-5

Open:

Let me set up what I just read to you. Here we have the

entire nation of Israel sitting just outside of what they

have been promised. For about a month Moses spends

telling them what is in the book of Deut. In a nutshell

this is what he is saying to them. We have been in the

desert now for 40 years and this what God has done for

us during that time; Moses reiterates all of the miracles

and victories, all of the incredible things that God has

done for them. Then he begins to renew with the

Israelites the covenants and laws that God had given to

them. In other words he says this is what happened and

this is what God wanted from us. What he is attempting

to do is get them to remember that God had something

for them, something better, something greater,

something just ahead. All of those things in the past

were good, but you have to understand we were

wandering because of some of our decisions and

actions. You see I believe that Moses was preparing

them for what God had in store for them. Moses was

giiving them a state of the nation address.

How many of you have ever watched our president give

a state of the union address. In it he tells us what has

happened in the past year, the good the bad, and then he

lays out what he thinks that the future holds in store for

our nation.

This is what I think of when I read what Moses was

doing here. He was telling them of their past and

renewing their vows to God. But then he was pointing

across the river, and saying, but this is where we belong.

Not right here, but over there.

This morning if I can I want to talk to you and give a

state of the church address. I am not going to show you

some revelation of the scripture, or what the voice of

God has spoken. This morning I want to talk from my

heart. What has happened in our church and where we

are in God’s sight.

1.

Aubrey Malphurs in the book “Vision for ministry”

writes: Ministry without vision is like a surgeon without

a scalpel, a cowboy who has lost his horse, a carpenter

who has broken his hammer. To attempt a ministry

without a clear, well-articulated vision is to invite

stillbirth.

Vision helps us to hear from God in a fresh way, it

encourages us, provides clarity and direction, makes our

time count, and creates momentum.

It is for these very reasons that we are right now in

process to ascertain what we believe is God’s vision for

our church. Since just before the new year, six of the

members of this fellowship have been seeking God for a

fresh revelation and direction. In just two more this

commitee will finish a vision statement for our church,

that is for right now and our community.

These are exciting times.........

2.

For the first time since We came to pastor this church, a

church board has been established and will meet for the

first time this month. Most of you know that this is

exciting to me, for I now have a group of men who I

can call on to pray for me and serve this fellowship and

be it’s leadership to guide where we are going as a

church. I believe that this is one of the greatest strides

that we have made over the past year. I say this because

I believe that a church board is essential to the things

that God has in store for us.

3.

Financial

Probable the greatest miracle God has performed in this

church has been the financial breakthrough that has

happened in the past year. We are in the best shape that

we have ever been in, according to the records and history of the church. In two years the church income has climbed from 18,000 to 50,000. This past year our

mission giving increased by 100% from 2000 to 4300.

God honors a church that believes in missions.

4.

Building

Last year was the year of renovation for our church

building. Our church building saw new carpet and tile,

central air conditioning, sewer hookup, an expansion of

the parking lot, landscaping, and a new sign. But I

believe that God has even more in store before the end

of the year.

5.

Programs

Last year we implemented Sunday school for the first

time since we have been here. And of course that was

just recently moved to Wednesday night to help

accomodate the overflow that we are having on Wed.

plus the inneffectiveness it was having on Sunday before