Challenges to the Church

“Challenges to the Church”

Introduction: I Timothy 4:1-5, Ephesians 4:14-15

Scripture is very clear about the battle we are in, facing the Enemy of our Souls. He does everything he can to keep us from being all that God calls us to be and sidetracks us into teachings, ways of this world and self-centered approaches of doing “church.”

II Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians 6:10-12, Revelation 12:17

We are on a spiritual battlefield! Do we truly realize this?

I. DANGERS FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD

II Timothy 3:10-12 People cannot steal our faith or kill it!

(Ref. Foxes Book of Martyrs). Persecution actually strengthened the Church as only fully, committed, surrendered to Christ individuals would be willing to lay their lives down for this faith the world called nonsense and made up stories (Ref. I Cor. 1:18-31).

II. DANGERS FROM WITHIN

Jesus warned us: Matthew 7:15-20, 24:4-5

The Apostle Paul:Acts 20:28-31

Other warnings: Galatians 1:6-9, II Timothy 4:1-4, II Peter 2:1-3

11 WAYS TO DETECT A CULT

1. EXTRA-BIBLICAL REVELATION – Something new from God!The warning from Revelation 22:18-19

2. SALVATION BY WORKS – a slavish obedience to some law. Galatians 3-5

3. UNCERTAIN HOPE –their hope of eternal blessing can never be certainly realized in this life. Titus 2:11-13,

I Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:19

4. PRESUMPTUOUS MESSIANIC LEADERSHIP –“And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” Matt. 23:9

5. DOCTRINAL AMBIGUITY – Fables
I Tim. 1:3-7, 4:1-7; Titus 3:9; Gal. 1:6-10 No other Gospel
II Peter 2:1-3 Destructive Heresies

6. CLAIM OF “SPECIAL DISCOVERIES”

7. DENUNCIATION OF OTHERS – They have all the truth, their understanding is the only right way.

8. DEFECTIVE CHRISTOLOGY – denies the true deity of Christ, the true humanity of Christ, or true union of the two natures in one person.

9. SEGMENTED BIBLICAL ATTENTION – one verse or passage of the Bible to the exclusion of the others.

10. ENTANGLING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES– total commitment to organization. ex. Christian Science

11. FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION – I Tim. 6:3-6, II Cor. 11

“7 of the Most Dangerous Church Cultures”

by Ron Edmondson:

1. Selfish

2. Prideful

3. Rigid

4. Cliquish

5. Bullying

6. Stingy

7. Depraved

So, how do we keep ourselves in the good, pleasing and perfect will of God? How do we win this battle?

III. GIFTINGS AND CHARACTER MUST GO HAND IN HAND Ephesians 4:11-16

Pastors, teachers, ministry team, Bible study leaders, all work to build up the Body of Christ. We work to prepare all for service to reach unity in the faith and knowledge of Jesus and become mature! Seasoned servants who do not wear their feelings on their shirt sleeve, who have no personal agendas, who know in Whom they believe and joyfully share this knowledge! We speak the truth in love! We each do our part!

Conclusion: Paul’s charge to Timothy: I Timothy 6:12-16

WE CAN OVERCOME EVERY CHALLENGE!