The State of the Church Pt. 1

July 13, 2025

FBC Baxley

am service

Thank Mike Redwine...________________________________________

Welcome radio and online guests…

Vision Statement: FBC Exists to Live & Share the Love of Jesus Christ, through worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry & Evangelism.

** I want you to know, GOD LOVES YOU!

*It’s ok however you’ve entered, we are all here seeking God’s will, way and plan.

Some rescued, redeemed, Some Saved….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: The State of the Church Part 1

Scripture Passage: Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

PRAY-

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Three Points:

1-The Crisis We Face

2- The Calling We’ve Forgotten

3-The Commitment We Must Return To

4- The Consecration We Need

Title: “Titanic Similarities”

Text: Acts 2:42–47 | Acts 1:8 | Matthew 28:19–20

Main Idea: A call to wake up from apathy and anchor to our mission.

I. The Crisis We Face

“They devoted themselves…” (Acts 2:42)

I love you, this series is not intended to blame you or shame you.

I love you enough to tell you the truth.

This series is to remind us of the great call God has placed on our church family. We are the body…

According to Barna’s 2024 statistics:

Only 32% of Americans who identify as Christian attend church weekly. Remember gold foil stars in attendance?

Half of U.S. pastors say people’s discipleship is poor and declining.

Over 4,500 churches closed in 2023, while only about 3,000 were planted.

FBC has had a significant # of deaths since 2021

FBC Sunday Morning worship attendance was about the same in 2021 as in 2025

For two prior years, a year ago we ran a half a teenager in ss

We need a strong shift in children and teen focus, we have to tilt the wheel younger!

The American church is hemorrhaging gospel influence.

Culture is shifting while many churches are sleeping in the pews.

The ship is tilting, but many continue to sip their coffee and enjoy the music.

Illustration: On April 15, 1912, the Titanic—the "unsinkable ship"—sank.

As panic broke out, a small band played hymns to calm the passengers.

Others, like John Harper, seized the moment to preach the Gospel.

Sadly, some were content to play songs as the water rushed in.

Could it be that many churches today are just like the band—playing on, oblivious to the crisis?

**Now, I am not inferring that we are sinking at FBC, but I would say we have a relaxed posture.

II. The Calling We’ve Forgotten

“Go therefore and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19)

The church was not called to entertain, accommodate, or isolate.

Those things make us more ingrown… you remember an illustration I shared while interim, an ingrown nail?

We were commissioned to evangelize, disciple, and multiply.

But instead, many churches today:

Focus more on crowds than conversions.

Emphasize comfort over commitment. you know we will hear more conversatiuons about a/c or chairs or paint than soul winning?

Confuse activity with obedience.

Remember Our Pillars? Love God, Love His Word, Love His Church, Love His Lost…

You know that FBC started Dunn Mem and Riverside???

Could it be that many of us have forgotten our orders while claiming to still be on mission?

Our greatest activities etc have to be outward!

III. The Commitment We Must Return To

“And they devoted themselves…” (Acts 2:42)

The early church was:

Biblically grounded – Apostles' teaching

Relationally connected – Fellowship

Prayerfully dependent – Prayers

Missionally focused – “The Lord added daily…”

Contrast that to our current state:

We have more access to the Bible than ever before—but less hunger.

More programs—but less power.

More noise—but less awe.

The iceberg is visible, and we must re-devote ourselves to the essentials of spiritual vitality.

IV. The Consecration We Need

“They sold… they gave… they shared…” (Acts 4:32–35)

The early church was marked by:

Sacrificial generosity

Unified mission

Gospel urgency

They weren’t surviving—they were thriving in the Spirit’s power.

And the result? “Great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)

Compare that to our age of consumerism where commitment is conditional and sacrifice is optional.

Change our Scorecards!

Instead of attendance… Leaders ent out,

Calls made, visits made,

People served, gospel conversations,

SS teachers have to organize their classes to achieve this…

SS is the litmus test for a healthy church…

SS can change the tilt of the ship!!

for aug thru October we will have a ss competition

We will announce next week. It will not be attendance based. There will be a reward.

Action Steps

We must lose the thought that nobody will…

It’s a recurring statement I hear…

Glass half full, or half empty or refillable??

We must ask and keep asking and ask all age groups

We cannot have the “I served my time” mindset!

Soldiers don’t say that

We must lose the thought of We used to….

We used to but we haven’t been where we used to be in a long time and that’s not all bad …. Many places we used to be, we don’t want to go back to…

We must move from being a consumer to being a contributor

Eyes off ourselves….

How?

Volunteer in the nursery

Volunteer in youth ministry

Teach a ss class

Enroll in sharing my faith training in the fall

Take 1 tract and share it every week

Give more than your tithe

Closing Challenge – Part 1:

8 pastors/clergy on the titanic

John Harper shouted from the cold Atlantic:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” He gave his life jacket away so another might live—and spent his last breath preaching Jesus.

Father Byles and others refused safety, to minister until the final moment.

What about you?

Are you ready to stop playing and start proclaiming?

Scott Ruskan, a rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Guard, helped save 165 children and staff from rapidly rising floodwaters that surrounded Camp Mystic, a century-old girls' summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. 

Ruskan shared…”Anyone can do this. You just have to be willing to help!”

Will you devote yourself to the mission?

The ship is sinking. But there’s still time to save souls.

Let’s wake up before it’s too late.

-Pray

Do you know where you’ll spend eternity?

Are you helping others know?

-Invitation