The Unchanged Church

Scripture: Matthew 4:12 – 17

Title: “The Unchanged Church”

Introduction: This is a MESSAGE for the CHURCH of TODAY! When Jesus began His earthly ministry there was a well-oiled religious machine in place called, “Phariseeism.” This religious system was well known all across the known world at that time. But the message Jesus began preaching was the same message that His predecessor, John the Baptist had been preaching six months prior to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, “Repentance.”

 John the Baptist began his ministry by preaching, “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 3:2)

 Jesus began His preaching ministry by preaching, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 4:17)

 The messages of both John the Baptist and Jesus Himself were a message of, “A Need for a Change!”

 I believe the CHURCH (in general) is in DESPERATE need of a CHANGE just as it did in the days of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus!

 How can we EVALUATE the Church without being JUDGMENTAL?

 By simply getting a Biblical Picture of the CHURCH.

 Before we get into the message let me list FOUR purposes of the local church:

1. Exaltation of Jesus Christ.

2. Evangelism of the lost.

3. Edification of believers.

4. Expression of service.

 Let’s take a look at some Scriptures that will enhance our ability to make a Biblical Evaluation of the Church!

I. WHAT IS THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF WHETHER OR NOT A CHURCH NEEDS TO CHANGE.

a. Let me set the stage for the answer to this statement with a QUESTION.

b. What was the main reason for God sending His Son Jesus into this world?

 (Luke 19:10) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 (John 3:16 – 17) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

c. Mankind was lost in the very beginning of time in the Garden of Eden.

d. God’s CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT was lost out of a “Perfect Relationship” in the midst of the Garden of Eden.

e. Mankind needed a SAVIOR to bring him back to God.

f. God’s PLAN is to use His Church as an OUTREACH to Evangelize the UNSAVED.

g. Just before Jesus ascended back to Heaven He left this commission for the Church, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Mt. 28:19 – 20)

h. The ABSENCE of SOULS being SAVED is the EVIDENCE that a Church needs to CHANGE.

i. Look at the number of people getting saved and you will see what I’m talking about!

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“Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” (1 Cor. 10:7)

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II. THE PRESENT – DAY ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH WORLD.

a. A large portion of the Church World doesn’t feel it needs a Change!

b. Most people in the Church of today would disagree with you if you accused them of having a problem with Idol Worship.

c. Anything that a person places between them and their relationship with God is an IDOL! (My idol used to be cars)

d. Week after week people file into a church and listen to the singing, music and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God and then get up and go out of the church without much of a noticeable change.

e. Our value system has caused us to move the importance of soul winning down the list until it is out of sight.

f. This world is full of people who, for one reason or another, are unwilling to be blessed. They may be fearful or suspicious. They may just be disinterested. They may be satisfied where they are.

g. There’s no room – there’s no time – “I don’t want to think about trying to get someone saved.”

h. The very best efforts of most of the church world when it comes to getting someone saved is inviting them to church and letting the music and the preaching cause them to come to the Lord and get saved.

i. I want to use one more Scripture to illustrate the attitude of the Church of today, “And sitting down they watched him there;” (Mt. 27:36)