Responses to Sickness
Autopsy of a Deceased Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Sermon Tone Analysis
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D
F
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Emotion
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Language
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Social
Intro:
Intro:
Read last par 85-86
The Breakdown
Healthy: 10%
Symptoms of Sickness 40%
Very Sick: 40%
Dying: 10%
Symptoms of Sickness
Symptoms of Sickness
Symptoms of Sickness
Symptoms of Sickness
Symptoms
Symptoms
Declined in worship attendance over the last 5 years
If growing, it isn’t keeping up with growth of community
Ministries and programs are shifting more and more to members rather than outsiders
Moving from outward focus to inward
Little to no intentional disciple-making effort
Program and ministry clutter
Suggested Solutions
Suggested Solutions
Pray that God will open the eyes of the leadership and members for opportunities to reach into the community where the church is located.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Take an honest audit of how the church members spend their time being involved.
Take an honest audit of how the church members spend their time being involved.
Take an audit of how the church spends its money.
Make specific plans to minister and to evangelize your community.
read 89 final paragraph
Prayerful Commitment 12:
Prayerful Commitment 12:
Lord, let me see my church with honesty and open eyes. Help me to grasp where we have gotten out of balance with inward and outward ministries. And give our church a vision to make a difference in our community. Even more, God, use me to be a catalyst and instrument for the changes that must take place in our church.
Very Sick
Very Sick
Read 91-92 intro
Symptoms
Symptoms
Significant numerical decline for past 10-20 years.
Prolonged times of apathy.
The church is not known in the community.
Revolving door of pastors.
The “good old days” are 20 or more years in the past.
3 or more is a strong indication of being very sick.
read 94-95
Suggested Solutions:
Suggested Solutions:
Suggested Solutions:
Suggested Solutions:
The church must admit and confess its dire need.
The church must pray for wisdom and strength to do whatever is necessary.
The church must be willing to change radically.
The change must lead to action and outward focus
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Prayerful Commitment 13:
Prayerful Commitment 13:
I believe all things are possible through You, God. Show me what I need to do to lead my church from hopeless to hope. And give me the courage and strength to make those changes, even those changes that will be very painful.
Dying
Dying
Read 97-100
The Conversation
The Conversation
Death with Dignity: 4 Responses
Death with Dignity: 4 Responses
The Death of a Church
The Death of a Church
Sell the property and give the funds to another church, perhaps a new church that has begun or is about to begin.
Give the building to another church.
If your church is in a transitional neighborhood, turn over the leadership and property to those who actually reside in the neighborhood.
Merge with another church, but let the other church have the ownership and leadership of your church.
Read summary on 101
Prayerful Commitment 14:
Prayerful Commitment 14:
Lord, if it is Your will for our church to die, please let me know. ‘and give me the courage and the strength to let go. For Your glory.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Above all, what have you learned from this brief book study?