Keeping the Church Alive in 2005

Acts 1:14

(Revelation 3:1) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

How would you like to have been a member of the Sardis Baptist Temple? To have a name and the appearance of a church that was alive, but in reality be a dead church! How sad, but I want us to understand this morning that we are only one generation away from that happening to this church! How can we keep that from happening?

The title of my message this morning is "Keeping the Church Alive in 2005". What will it take for that to happen? The typical church in America is satisfied with the status quo, they are satisfied with just maintaining or just surviving…holding on till Jesus comes. But that is not the pattern that we find in the New Testament. The church that Jesus started was a breakthrough church. It was a living and growing church! We find the account of this church in the early chapters of the book of Acts.

This morning I would like to draw on this example and give you four important truths that will keep us from becoming a casualty…it will keep us from becoming like the church in Sardis…it will keep us alive and growing throughout the coming year. If we will keep our focus on these truths.

I. One Mind: They were together.

II. One Message: Jesus

III. One Model: Bible Basics

IV. One Motivation: Whatever it takes

As we begin this New Year of ministry, will we be satisfied with the status quo? Will we be satisfied with just maintaining or just surviving? Or will we choose to be a New Testament church … a breakthrough church? A church that is alive and thriving...is made up of members who are alive and thriving in their walk with God.

What is your need this morning? For some it is to come to Christ by faith and be saved. For others it is to be obedient to Christ's command of baptism and publicly profess your faith in Him. For others it is to unite with this church not in form, but in function. Will you commit your life to Christ today? Come now, whatever the need.