Why%20Are%20We%20Not%20Reaching%20Them?

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Why Are WeNot Reaching Them?

• Acts 931

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Introduction

• The early church grew rapidly
• 3,000 Acts 241
• Added daily Acts 247
• All Jerusalem knew Acts 416
• Believers added Acts 514
• Multiplied Acts 931

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Introduction

• Why did they grow so fast?
• Why are we NOT growing like they did?
• Research group learned there are 5 primary
  reasons

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1) Leave to Professionals

• Ministers are seen as professional clergy
• I am not trained I dont know how to answer
  all these doctrines.
• We pay the preacher to teach the lost
• I support him to do that work

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2) Not Speak Peoples Language

• We have our own terms
• We have a specialized vocabulary
• Repent, Baptism, Church, Saved
• Holy, Sanctify, Confession
• Gospel Meeting, Fellowship, Tracts
• We must use words that communicate our message

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3) Assume TheyBelieve the Bible

• 98 claim a belief in God
• 60 do NOT believe the Bible is inspired
• Some denominations argue this issue annually at
  their convention
• We just start quoting Scripture

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3) Assume TheyBelieve the Bible

• We are anxious to prove our point and begin
  quoting Scripture
• The listener does not accept our quotation as
  authority
• There are sub-issues
• Inspired of God
• Infallible, inerrant

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4) Inadequate Funds

• Mission work takes money
• Travel, food, lodging
• Interpreters, materials
• Rent meetings, classes, baptisms
• Local work takes money
• Radio, TV, newspaper
• Internet, materials, postage

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4) Inadequate Funds

• Some churches spend about 25 of annual budget
  for mission work
• Many churches less than 5
• We can complain about materialism
• In our world it takes money building, lights,
  equipment, sign, etc.

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5) Internal Strife

• In the past we debated every major
  denominational doctrine
• Last 40 years debated ourselves
• Orphans, classes, literature, visual aids
• Song books, one cup, located preacher
• ICOC (Boston Movement)
• Liberal (Change Agents)

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5) Internal Strife

• In a directory of congregations of churches of
  Christ there are symbols for 17 different
  doctrinal positions
• We spend a lot of time in class with internal
  matters
• Elders spend TOO much time with internal disputes

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Not Reaching Them

• The fact is We are NOT reaching the masses of
  this world who are lost
• The fact is We must find a way to solve these 5
  problems
• We must get on with the work Jesus gave us to do