Christ Wesleyan Church
Join us for our primary worship service each week on Sunday.
1 Peter 2:2 ESV
Hebrews 10:25 NLT
A. What is the path to spiritual maturity?
1. Spiritual maturity is developed by obediently following God’s Word.
2. Spiritual maturity is developed by realizing that all that God calls us to do is for our good.
3. Spiritual maturity is developed by putting into practice the Word of God on a regular basis.
4. Spiritual maturity is developed as we gather in a community of believers!
Colossians 2:19 NLT
But…The American church is steadily declining.
In a 2002 survey of 1,159 U.S. churches, Rainer’s research team found that only 6 percent of the churches were growing—he defines growth as not only increasing in attendance, but also increasing at a pace faster than its community’s population growth rate. ‘Stated inversely, 94 percent of our churches are losing ground in the communities they serve,’ he says.”
Less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church – half of what the pollsters report.
Established churches (40-190 years old) are declining.
“So what is the future of the American church? Does declining attendance mean declining influence? If present trends continue, the percentage of the population that attends church in 2050 is estimated to be at almost half of 1990’s attendance—a drop from 20.4 percent to 11.7 percent. Olson’s projections for the years leading up to 2050 are less than encouraging. He estimates a drop to 16.6 percent in 2010, and 15.4 percent in 2020.”
Average attender meets about 1.6 times a month.
And thus the influence on our culture continues to be lost….
B. The intent of gathering as a church…
1. Gathering with fellow believers helps me to become less “me- focused”.
It starts on a specific time that is not always my choice.
It doesn’t ask me for my song preferences or service options.
It doesn’t meet at my most convenient times as there are other things I need to do.
It isn’t just open to my circle of friends. I don’t know all these people and don’t even know if I like all these people.
And the list goes on….
2. Gathering with fellow believers helps me become more of a contributor rather than a consumer.
3. Gathering with fellow believers helps me to find my place as part of the body.
4. Gathering with fellow believers helps me to exercise my spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:12 NLT
"We weren't created to be independent, autonomous, or self-sufficient. We were made to live in a humble, worshipful, and loving dependency upon God and in a loving and humble inter-dependency with others. Our lives were designed to be community projects. Yet, the foolishness of sin tells us that we have all that we need within ourselves. So we settle for relationships that never go beneath the casual. We defend ourselves when the people around us point out a weakness or a wrong. We hold our struggles within, not taking advantage of the resources God has given us." Paul Tipp in Whiter Than Snow, (p.147)
C. The blessing of gathering with others…
1. God designed, from the beginning, for us to be in community.
2. God has always had a plan for His followers as they met together.
3. God uses the community to challenge us to grow in our journey.
4. God uses the community to help us be accountable.
5. God uses the community to develop teamwork.
6. God uses the community to encourage one another in our journey.
7. God uses the community to impact our culture.
Romans 12:4-5 NLT
D. The priority of gathering as a church…
1. Our faith is fueled by hearing God’s Word being shared.
2. Our faith is strengthened by personal connection.
Romans 10:17 NLT
3. Our faith is built together as we are led in corporate discipleship.
Ephesians 4:15-16 NLT
4. Our faith is challenged to greater levels as there is strength in numbers.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT
Matthew 18:19-20 NLT
E. My mission of gathering as a church…
1. I need to be consistent in my church attendance.
Psalms 145:2 NLT
2. I need to anticipate God to do something significant as we gather.
James 4:8 NLT
3. I need to be intentional about my gathering with other believers…”I am here to meet God!”
Psalms 100:4 NLT
4. I need to be focused and not allow myself to be distracted to rob my worship.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT
5. I need to be engaged in worship…spirit, soul, and body…in spite of how I feel.
Psalms 111:1 NLT
6. I need to reach out to those around me as God wants to use me in making a difference in someone else’s life.
1 Corinthians 12:25-26 NLT
7. I need to practice my spiritual gifts in the body.
1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT