Autopsy of a Deceased Church
Autopsy of a Deceased Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Budget Moved Inwardly
The Budget Moved Inwardly
Wherever the money goes, so goes the heart.
Always follow the money
In dying churches the personnel expense takes up more and more room. Not because the staff is growing but because the finances are diminishing and the church isn’t willing to give up their servants.
For these churches the staff is viewed as caretakers. They expected the staff to spend most if not all of their time, visiting and counseling the church members instead of reaching the community. Yes, this is a function of the staff, but in dying churches this is expected to be the main if not sole purpose of the staff.
Staff become the hired hands, and thus are the last item to be cut are the things that make the members most comfortable.
What was cut?
What was cut?
The things that were cut first were the items with outward focus.
The things that were cut first were the items with outward focus.
Why? Because the were seen as the least important.
Why were the mission expenses the least important?
The rich young ruler and deceased churches.
The rich young ruler and deceased churches.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
A Bad Budget Process
A Bad Budget Process
1. They spend their way of doing church and their comforts.
1. They spend their way of doing church and their comforts.
You don’t have to be broke to be dying, it matters more what you are spending your money on.
2. They die with enough money.
2. They die with enough money.
Questions
Questions
1. How would the budget of a healthy church differ from that of a dying church?
1. How would the budget of a healthy church differ from that of a dying church?
2. Why were the mission expenses the least important?
2. Why were the mission expenses the least important?
3. What does Mark 10:22-23 tell us about how a church should approach finances?
3. What does Mark 10:22-23 tell us about how a church should approach finances?
