OceanSide church of Christ

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THE STATE OF THE CHURCH ADDRESS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.             The history of the “State of the Union” Address by the President of the U.S.

1.                First address was given by George Washington on January 8, 1790.

2.                It is given to a joint session of Congress, to both House and Senate.

3.                Originally it was called “The President’s Annual Message to Congress.”

4.                It is usually given annually, but it does not have to be.

5.                It is normally delivered orally, but it can be a written message to Congress (i.e., Jimmy Carter, 1981).

6.                Prior to 1934, the message was given in December.  Since then it has been delivered in January, except for six times when it was delivered in February.

7.               The purpose of the speech is to review the previous year and to outline the President’s legislative proposals for the upcoming year.

8.               Congress must invite the President to it chambers to give this address.

 

B.              This Sunday marks the beginning of my second year at the OceanSide church of Christ.  I thought it might be good to look at the “State of the OceanSide church of Christ” at this time.

1.                If we were to look at the divine side of the church, it would be perfect.

2.                We, however, want to look at it from the human side.  We want to look at both the negatives and the positives.

3.                In this lesson, we will look only at the negatives and what we can do to address these issues.

 

I.        PAST PROBLEMS HINDER PRESENT POTENTIAL

 

A.             The difficulties this congregation has faced over the past four years fall into two broad categories.

1.                Congregational.

2.                Personal.

 

B.              The problems have had several ramifications for OceanSide.

1.                The loss of members.

2.                Internal strife.

3.                Bad attitudes.

4.                Hiding of talents.

5.                Black eye in the community.

 

C.              Repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and recovery are needed.

1.                As long as strife and division continue, Paul declares that we are carnal (I Cor. 3:3).

 

For ye are yet carnal:  for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

2.                Too, these problems, unless resolved, will continue to damage us on the inside (Gal. 5:15).

 

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

 

3.                Paul’s prescription in Ephesians 4:31-32 goes a long way in healing rifts between brethren.

 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

II.      THE CONTRIBUTION IS LOWER THAN THE BUDGET

 

A.             Our budget is set at the beginning of the year.  It basically does three things:

1.                It seeks to cover all known expenses for the year.

2.                It anticipates costs that could arise in the upcoming year.

3.                It establishes pools of money for things we would like to accomplish as a congregation of the Lord’s people.

 

B.              The church by means of giving is called upon to assist in meeting these three tasks (II Cor. 9:6-7).

 

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

C.              We have not been meeting our budget for 2008.

1.                There are several reasons for this.

a.         The loss of some members.

b.         Personal struggles some of our members are facing.

c.         The economy.

d.         A failure to give to our full potential.

                        2.         Four options exist in order for us to correct this situation:

                                    a.         We give more.

                                    b.         We hope the unexpected expenses do not happen.

                                    c.         We do not engage in some works that we might want to do.

                                    d.         We cut some of our present expenses that are fixed costs.

 

III.     HEART PROBLEMS

 

A.             The spiritual heart is that which governs or controls our actions (Prov. 23:7).

 

For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…

 

a.               When people do not attend the worship services, it has something to do with their heart.

b.               When people do not study their Bible, it has to do with the heart.

c.               When people to not put the kingdom first, it is a heart issue.

 

B.              There are many things that can plague the heart:  ignorance, discouragement, unbelief, stubbornness, and hardness to mention a few (Heb. 3:12).

 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

 

C.              It is for this reason that the Bible instructs us to “keep” our hearts with great effort (Prov. 4:23).

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

D.             This begins by getting our minds into the Word of God.  The Word of God transforms our lives as our minds are renewed by it (Rom. 12:2).

1.         Ignorance is replaced with knowledge (Ps. 19:7; 119:104).

2.         Discouragement is replaced with strength (Ps. 19:8; 119:28).

3.         Unbelief is replaced with faith (I Thess. 2:13).

4.         Stubbornness is replaced with humility (Ps. 78:7-8).

5.         Hardness is replaced with tenderness (Prov. 1:22-23).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.             This morning we have examined OceanSide from a negative perspective.  Next week, we will examine the positive aspects of this congregation.

 

B.              Two words of encouragement about the negatives.

1.                Many churches face similar problems.

2.                With the right attitudes and right actions problems can be overcome and conquered.