The Future of The Church of Christ
At the turn of the century some people had predictions of what they thought would happen. Many believed the world would be in total caos.
That there would be a breakdown in world goverments. And some predicted the return of the ant-christ. Some thought we would have a great world war. Many people made great preparations for what they hoped would happen, you may think it strange that there are those who hoped for something terrible to happen. But there were many who felt let down because there wasn't some type of great desrtuction.
It is hard for us to predict things of the future as far as the world is concerned every day is uncertain. Our lives can end in an instant, wars can begin in a matter of days. So by evidence we can see from this year that it is impossible for us to predict what might happen in our future. Many have prepared for a destruction of man kind by spending all they had. And they would have bet that something terrible would happen at the turn of the century only to find out they were wrong.
But what about the future of the church? If we can look down the road 30, 40, or 50 years what might we see? We know that the church will survive as a whole. But what about local congregations? There have been many times when a local church became weak over a period of time, and eventually left walking according to Gods laws. The majority of what happens in the future of every congregation is up to the members and their actions. All members need to work in a manner so that the church will be healthy and survive in the future.
But first let us look at a brief history of the church. In our public schools, our children are taught of our history of this country not the future. They are being prepared for the future. As a person begins looking for the history of the church the first thing you would ask is:
1. When did the church begin-Acts 2:38-42 Those who were added unto them became the first church.
2. Where did the church begin-Acts 2:4-6, Acts 2:14 These 2 passages show that the apostles were in Jeruselam and were speaking to the Jewish people we also know that in verse 41, there were about three thousand people added to the church.
3. Who is the head of the church-Matthew 16:13-18 Christ uses the phrase "I will build my church" In verse 18 to show ownership Christ is the head.
4. What is the church's purpose-Hebrews 10:23-25 To exhort one another.
5. Who made up the church-Acts 2:38 Those who gladly recieved the word and was baptized were added to the church. Romans 6:1-11
6. The church suffered many trials in its beginning-Acts 8:1-3 The church suffered a great tribulation.
7. But how did the early church react to hard times-Acts 8:4, Revelation 2:12-13 The members who were scattered at the church in Jersulam went everywhere preaching. And those of the church of Pergamos did not deny Christ. They held fast to their faith.
8. The church today must continue in the same laws as the early church-John 12:44-50 The words Christ spoke then also apply to us today.
9. So in the year 2000 how do we prepare the Churches of Christ for the future, if God sees fit to give us a future? Titus 2:2-8 The older members now are responsimle for teaching the young members things they need to know for when they will be leaders of the congregation. The older men and women must behave in such a way to be a good example to the younger ones. So we might show ourselves a good pattern of good works. What we teach and the examples we leave now will determine the church's future.
