Rediscover Church is a refreshing reminder of the importance of Christians joining and being active members in a local body of believers – for their sake, for the sake of that body of believers, and for the Lord’s glory. Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss why church is essential for believers and God’s mission. Through biblical references and personal stories, they show readers God’s true intention for corporate gathering: to spiritually strengthen members as individuals and the body of Christ. They even go so far as to say that “your church and ours is where heaven touches down on earth – where our prayers begin to be answered: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
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As a DOM, I worship in a different church most every Sunday. I pray for specific pastors and churches each day, and for those I worship with on a given Sunday. I served as a pastor for several years, so I can relate to how difficult it can be to evaluate and improve on various aspects of the worship service. (See some of my other blogs for helps with preaching.) Statistics show that 80-90% of evangelical churches in North America are plateaued or declining. A similar number of Southern Baptist churches are, too. This is staggering. We need to humble ourselves, confess known sin, and study God’s Word and God’s world (like the Bereans and the men of Issachar). In addition, we should pray and ask the Lord to make our churches healthier and more effective doing God’s work. Your brother in Christ, Ray Pr. 3:5-6
reports that only 6.8% of SBC churches are healthy and growing. That is only 3,087 churches out of over 45,000!
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SubscribeAuthorI’m Ray Gentry, the President/CEO of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL). I’ve served Southern Baptist churches & associations in various roles for over 35 years. I have served as an associational leader for five associations, starting in 1993. The most recent one being the Southside Baptist Network, McDonough, GA. Categories
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