John MacArthur tells this awesome story: There once was an old church in England. A sign on the front of the building read, ''We preach Christ crucified.'' After a time, ivy grew up and obscured the last word and it read, 'We preach Christ.''
The ivy grew some more, and the motto read, "We preach.'' Finally, ivy covered the entire sign, and the church died.
Such is the fate of any church that fails to carry out its mission in the world.
O Lord, return to me Your power
That once by grace I knew;
Forgive the sin that grieved Your heart,
And help me to be true.
--Anon.