The Greatest Need
Jerry Watts
Romans 13:11-14
• Tonight, I desire to do 2 things which are seemingly opposite of each other. I want to speak to the 'church's greatest need' and then do it in the 'simplest of terms.'
• To title a message 'The Greatest Need' is to cause confusion because everyone in this building knows the greatest need for all of mankind is to come to Jesus and be saved. We know that, without Jesus, people have no relationship to God the Father and without this relationship, there is no heaven - only hell waits. This is the broad view for all of humanity.
• This said; my desire is to tighten our focus from the world to the American church to US (You and me). Let me begin the argument this way: Inside the walls of the church there exists a type of creeping complacency which threatens the local church. Watch this progression; if the local church is threatened then the voice of the gospel is threatened. If the voice of the gospel is threatened then the voice of good and right is threatened. If the voice of good and right is threatened then the culture is threatened and if the culture is threatened then mankind is threatened with eternal damnation. While we don't like these terms, they are Biblically true.
• Today, the average local church runs 100 or less in attendance and, as you know 75%-90% of these are declining. Many local churches don't enjoy a good reputation and for some who do have a good reputation, it is simply, they are very tolerant.
• How different is this from those first century Christians and churches who were not tolerant but militant about the truths of Christ. They operated by balancing the uncompromised truth, being led by the Spirit, and exhibiting the love of Christ.
• The greatest need today is not for churches to become larger, for ministries to expand or even for the lost to get saved (these will be naturally resulting outcomes when the greatest need is met). The greatest need is for God's people to be ...
Jerry Watts
Romans 13:11-14
• Tonight, I desire to do 2 things which are seemingly opposite of each other. I want to speak to the 'church's greatest need' and then do it in the 'simplest of terms.'
• To title a message 'The Greatest Need' is to cause confusion because everyone in this building knows the greatest need for all of mankind is to come to Jesus and be saved. We know that, without Jesus, people have no relationship to God the Father and without this relationship, there is no heaven - only hell waits. This is the broad view for all of humanity.
• This said; my desire is to tighten our focus from the world to the American church to US (You and me). Let me begin the argument this way: Inside the walls of the church there exists a type of creeping complacency which threatens the local church. Watch this progression; if the local church is threatened then the voice of the gospel is threatened. If the voice of the gospel is threatened then the voice of good and right is threatened. If the voice of good and right is threatened then the culture is threatened and if the culture is threatened then mankind is threatened with eternal damnation. While we don't like these terms, they are Biblically true.
• Today, the average local church runs 100 or less in attendance and, as you know 75%-90% of these are declining. Many local churches don't enjoy a good reputation and for some who do have a good reputation, it is simply, they are very tolerant.
• How different is this from those first century Christians and churches who were not tolerant but militant about the truths of Christ. They operated by balancing the uncompromised truth, being led by the Spirit, and exhibiting the love of Christ.
• The greatest need today is not for churches to become larger, for ministries to expand or even for the lost to get saved (these will be naturally resulting outcomes when the greatest need is met). The greatest need is for God's people to be ...
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