The Church Ahead

1
The Church Ahead
2
The Lords Church in the Future

• The Lords church is everlasting (Dan. 244
  Heb. 1228)
• Where are the local churches that existed in the
  New Testament found today (Jerusalem, Ephesus,
  etc.)?
• The universal church will always exist, but not
  necessarily the local church of which I am a
  member (1 Cor. 1524)

3
The Evolution of the Local Church( As Seen in
the Example of Ephesus )

• A group of dedicated and convicted Christians
  joins together to zealously serve the Lord (Acts
  18-19, A.D. 53-55)
• The local church is well-known in the community,
  growing and united (Ephesians 1-6, A.D. 60-63)
• There is maturity in leadership and organization,
  but also problems are present (1 -2 Timothy, A.D.
  63-66)
• The local church exists and continues to do some
  good, but is also weak and coasting (Rev. 24-5,
  A.D. 95)

4
The Evolution of a Local Church

• Zeal is replaced with lethargy
• Sacrifice is replaced with selfishness
• Evangelism is replaced with materialism
• Attendance is replaced with absence
• Responsibility (work) is replaced with retirement
• Militancy is replaced with compromise

5
The Church Ahead( What Is Needed )

• Prayer to God (Acts 429 Col. 43)
• Evangelism (Acts 542)
• Elders and deacons appointed (Acts 61ff 1130
  1423 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1)
• Growth in maturity (Acts 165)
• Vigilant elders (Acts 2028-32)

6
The Church Ahead( What Is Needed )

• Faithful living (Rev. 2-3)
• Remember and repent (Rev. 25 33)

7
Challenges For This Local Church( This Week )

• Communicate with the Lord this week (prayer,
  Bible)
• Live for the Lord this week (faithfulness)
• Engage in the Lords work this week (volunteer)
• Communicate with the lost this week (evangelism)

8
The Church Ahead

• What does it matter if the Lords church will
  always exist, but this local church may not?
• It matters because it identifies me as the
  faithful remnant or not (Gen. 69 1 Kings 1918
  2 Kings 194,30,31 Ezra
  98,15 Zeph. 39-13 Romans 927 115 Rev. 34)