Sermon Central
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Live Churches Vs. Dead Churches
Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Sep 29, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: If all that is happening in any church could be reproduced by human hype or ability, why should that church exist? Are we a Live Church or is our pulse weakening?
Live Churches vs. Dead Churches
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
(NIV)
Live Churches vs. Dead Churches
LIVE Churches focus on people.
DEAD Churches focus on programs.
LIVE Churches focus on what’s
RIGHT with the church.
DEAD Churches focus on what’s WRONG with the church.
LIVE Churches are filled with tithers.
DEAD Churches are filled with tippers.
LIVE Churches have worship where people are PARTICIPANTS.
DEAD Churches have worship where people are SPECTATORS.
LIVE Churches focus on power.
DEAD Churches focus on problems.
LIVE Churches support missions heavily.
DEAD Churches just save for a “RAINY DAY”.
LIVE Churches dream God’s dreams.
DEAD Churches relive nightmares!
God’s Church is ALIVE!
A Picture of a Live Church:
1) A Live Church Lives
MIRACULOUSLY!
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
(NIV)
If all that happens in any church could be
REPRODUCED by human hype OR ABILITY,
why should that church EXIST?
2) A Live Church Lives
MAGNETICALLY!
13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
(NIV)
3) A Live Church Lives
MAGNANIMOUSLY!
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
(NIV)
3) A Live Church Lives
MISSIONALLY!
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
(NIV)
