Have you ever stopped to consider what kind of church your congregation is — alive or dead? Does your congregation put forth the sense of one that is alive in its service to and worship of God? Or does your congregation put forth the sense that it is just hanging on, waiting for the last nail to be driven into the "coffin?" I would like to suggest some characteristics of a church that is alive, on fire for God. And then contrast that with the characteristics of a church that is dying.

Live churches are constantly changing. They are not changing the message in the Bible, for that never changes. They do not switch from one new fad doctrine to another every time the "spiritual wind" changes. NO, that is not what I mean. However, our society is changing. Anyone who pays any attention at all to the world around us knows this is true. In the early part of this century the church was the focal point of the family and even of society in many areas. I fully agree that it should be thus today, but the fact remains that it is no longer true. For the Christian it should be true. But for many of them it is no longer true. People no longer flock to the church for that social interaction.

The church must reach out to the community and the lost. We must learn to leave the four corners of our sanctuary and seek out those whom Jesus commanded us to, and do what He said. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) That may mean doing things just a little differently than we have in the past. It may mean that we take "the church" back into the home with small group Bible Study. I may mean that we develop "family circles" with several families that have some things in common so they can relate to each other. It may mean that we start "ministering" to those who have been divorced, are one-parent families, the homeless, and yes even the homosexuals and other undesirables. It may mean that we not only feed the hungry but also minister to them as well.

Changing may also mean that our worship service changes from one which is rigid, always the same Sunday after Sunday after Sunday; to one which is more joyous. It may change from one with "stone faces" to one with Christians smiling and singing and praising God. It may mean that our worship services are exciting and full of variety. It may mean that as the congregation leaves the worship service they have more joy in their hearts and a spring in their step because they know they have been in the presence of God!

Dead churches don't have to change. All they have to do to remain a dead church, is NOTHING! Dead churches don't have to improve for the future, they just worship their past.

Live churches have lots of noisy kids! After all, kids will be noisy. What do lots of kids indicate? It indicates that the church has lots of families that are in the child-bearing years - twenty to forty year-olds. Why is this important? If the church is to thrive, it must contain a significant proportion of these families. Older families no longer have young children. If the church is mostly older families, who will continue as the families begin to go on to be with the Lord? Dead churches don't have lots of noisy kids, dead churches are fairly quiet!

Live church's expenses will most likely exceed their income. But that is where faith comes in. A church that is alive will seek new ways to minister to the people, not regarding the cost in money. We must do our part in the kingdom. God will provide the finances to do that job!

There is a principle in strategic planning called, "Cost - Benefit Analysis." In other words, when a plan of action is under consideration, the cost of that plan must be considered in relation to the benefits which will be received from that plan of action. In the business world and the world of education, I agree that this is a good practice. But in the church? How can we put a "Cost-Benefit Analysis" to the winning of one soul? How much does it cost to win a soul to Christ? Does it matter? Christ certainly did not put that principle in His Great Commission! How much does it cost to minister to one-parent families? Does that matter? How much does it cost to feed the poor? Does that matter? Now please don't misunderstand me! I am not suggesting that the church go on a spending spree that would put Howard Hughes (if he were still alive) in the poor house. Let's be good stewards of the money God provides, but let's step out on faith to do His work.

Live churches move out on faith. Dead churches operate totally by human sight. Jesus put it this way, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." (Matthew 15:14) If we in the church try to do all that we do totally by human sight, we will be like the blind leading the blind. We must step out on faith. We must seek those who need ministered to, then step out on faith and find a way to do God's will. And believe me, if we will do that, God will provide the means to get the job done!

Live churches focus on people and their lives. Dead ones focus on programs. What will God say to us when we enter Heaven and are giving an accounting for our work here on earth and we tell Him about all these "wonderful programs" we developed? Will He say, "But who did you win for my kingdom?" What will WE SAY when not one name comes to our lips? God's work is about people, not programs! God's work is healing broken lives and bringing them back to Christ. God's work is feeding the poor both physically and spiritually. God's work is helping the widow and the orphan. God's work is helping the single mother raise her children and provide for them. God's work is caring for the homeless. How did Jesus put it? "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" (Matthew 25:40) What are we, the church, doing to these – the least of the brethren of Jesus? Whatsoever we are doing to (or for) them, we are also doing likewise to the Savior.

Live churches are filled with tithers, dead ones are filled with tippers. Which are you? Just as we spoke of the church as a whole must step out on faith to do God's work, the same is true with us as individual Christians. How can we, as a body, say we must have faith and step forward with the church's finances when we are not willing to make sacrifices personally. It is plain in the Scriptures, we must put God first. That means with our money as well as our faith and talent. I have heard it said many times, "you can't out-give God", or "if you give sacrificially, God will bless you richly." Now really, is that why we should give of our tithe? It is true that God will provide for us! But our motivation for giving must be to bless others, not be blessed ourselves. Paul tells the elders of the church at Ephesus, "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35) Let's not be giving of our tithes and offerings expecting to receive a blessing. Let's give freely with the intent that our tithes and offerings will provide an abundance of blessing to those about whom we have been speaking.

Lofty ideas? Perhaps. But what do you think Jesus would have us do? Be like the dead church which relives nightmares? Or the live church which dreams great dreams of God and working FOR His kingdom? Are we to be like the dead church which has the word CAN'T as its most used word? Or like the live one which does not even have that word in its vocabulary? Are we to be like the dead church and respond to every new idea with, "We've never done it that way before."? Or will we say, "Here is a group of people who need our love and help. Let's find a way to minister to them."?

The choice is really ours. We can be part of a dead or dying church, or we can be part of a living, growing church which is on fire for God seeking out those who need our help, and then helping them. We can be part of a church which has a worship service which brings glory, praise and honor to the Savior and our Heavenly Father. We can be part of a church which is a light in the community shinning forth for Jesus Christ. Have you ever heard the saying, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."? How about you? How do you characterize YOUR congregation? Is it alive – or dying? Are you trying to be a part of the solution, or are you part of the problem? You will give an account some day to God for your part in the kingdom. And when you stand there to give your account, you will stand ALONE!

Remember — live churches evangelize, dead churches fossilize!

All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

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