Evangelism: First, Remove the Logs

1
Evangelism First, Remove the Logs

• Acknowledging our sins that hinder the growth of
  the Lords church

2
Introduction

• Last Monday night our semi-weekly study focused
  on evangelism from a study-book.
• The lesson in the book quickly went through what
  should be done regarding evangelism.
• The lengthy remainder of the lesson focused on
  all the surrounding errors.
• How easy and unprofitable/devastating it would
  have been to simply go through the book and
  move on to the next study.
• To profit our souls, the emphasis of the study
  dealt with our shortcomings and sins in failing
  to evangelize the wonderful gospel of Jesus
  Christ.

3
Introduction

• One of our elders threw down the gauntlet and
  challenged all there to speak to as many people
  about their souls.
• This challenge came in light our discussion to
  first remove the log from our eye before taking
  the speck out of the precious soul we seek the
  Savior to save.
• This challenge came with a humble warning to
  consider our attitude regarding ourselves not to
  be higher, better, smarter, than the soul we seek
  to have saved.

4
Introduction

• So, we will focus on evangelism and the
  preparation and work towards that end, to the
  glory of God.
• This morning removing the logs from our eyes
  before evangelizing the gospel of Jesus.
• This evening considering and accepting the fact
  if we (individually) are part of the problem or
  solution in evangelizing the gospel.

5
Looking at the Stats

• Generally consistent downward trend among
  membership in churches of Christ.
• The 1950s revealed an estimated 3 million in
  membership in 18,000 churches while recent
  numbers (2006) show less than 1.3 million in
  membership in less than 13,000 churches. 1
• During this period the U.S. population has
  doubled yet membership among has decreased by
  58.
• At the current rate of decline the membership
  will disappear by year 2042. 2
• Differentiating between church growth and
  membership shifting.

1 - The Christian Chronicle, A cappella
membership drops as churches fail to keep pace
with population growth, February 2006. 2 -
Dawson, Samuel G. What is Wrong with the
Churches of Christ and How They Can Avoid
Extinction. Page 113.
6
Looking at the Stats

• Some perspective regarding the statistics.
• From Gods heavenly vantage point, these stats
  mean nothing as His (true) church always has the
  membership God wills.
• From mans earthly vantage point, these stats are
  disturbing as it shows among other reasons
  that many Christians are not fulfilling Gods
  will in reaching the gospel to the lost in the
  world.

7
Looking At the Logs In Our (Collective) Eye

• Many Christians need to stop making excuses
  regarding our lack of evangelism efforts.
• We use partial truths to mask our personal
  excuses for not evangelize the gospel.
• Excuses many do not want to hear the truth
  their hearts are hardened.
• Excuses laws, regulations, ordinances, etc.
• Excuses tried that before, didnt work.
• It is time to take accountability for not being
  diligent in our labors of evangelism.

8
Looking At the Logs In Our (Collective) Eye

• Recognizing the log (of arrogance) in our
  collective eye. Matt. 75
• We (churches of Christ.) have the truth, and
  the rest dont love the truth the way we do, or
  else they would see it the way we do.
• Such arrogance cannot be seen by us because
  were too busy telling others about their errors
  and how we are the ones to teach them the way
  accurately.

9
Looking At the Logs In Our (Collective) Eye

• Recognizing the log (of slothfulness) in our
  collective eye. Lk. 101-2
• Some churches have gone so long without
  evangelizing the lost that they have literally
  died. Cp. Prov. 189
• It is high time to stop waiting for things to
  happen and start laboring in the Lords vineyard.
  Lk. 136-9

10
Removing the Logs From Our (Collective) Eye

• Before we can effectively preach the true gospel
  it behooves us to take the planks (of sin) from
  our eye before we can see clearly to remove the
  speck from the eye of another.
• We must shed the reputation (of arrogance) that
  many have portrayed about churches of Christ. Lk.
  189
• We must move from the position of watching and
  waiting for the Lord (or someone else to do the
  work He wills for His servants) to come to being
  busy about the Fathers business of seeking the
  lost.

11
Conclusion

• Because many in the churches of Christ do not
  evangelize the word as willed by our Father, many
  churches will continue to fold up and die. Rev.
  31-5
• The pertinent question for Christians in this
  congregation is this are you part of the problem
  or part of the solution?