February 10, 2008

 

Change & Newness V: Changes in a Church

 

Dr. Will Jones

First Presbyterian Church, Brownsville, Tenn.

 

 

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

Summary: Churches change over time as a result of the Holy Spirit’s desire to reach out to new people in different ways.  Churches change primarily in regard to people and programs, as witnessed by the most important changes that came to the New Testament church.  Churches that are not open to change close down opportunities for numerical and spiritual growth. 

 

Outline:

I.       Changes in a Church

a.      “How many _(insert your church)_ does is take to change a light bulb?”  “Change!?”

b.      Necessity of Change over Time

II.    Types of Changes that Churches face:

a.      Demographics

                                                              i.      Community

                                                            ii.      Membership

1.       “New” members v. “Old” members

                                                          iii.      Acts 10: Peter and Cornelius

b.      Programs and Ministries:

                                                              i.      Adapt to changing world around us

                                                            ii.      New methods to communicate the same faith

                                                          iii.      Acts 6: Structuring for Evangelism and Mission

III. Change is…

a.      …the surest sign that the Holy Spirit is at work…

                                                              i.      In a church’s corporate life

                                                            ii.      Within individuals’ lives

b.      …occasionally a cause of grief

c.      …often a cause for joy

 

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