LOVE Series: CHURCHENSTEIN or LOVING JESUS’ CHURCH

By: Mark Lowenstein
February 17, 2008

During the past 10 years, approximately 50 million Christians left the church. In fact, the percentage of American adults who attend religious services has dropped from 49% to less than 32%. And more recent studies have shown that the problem of the decline in church attendance is actually getting much worse.

In addition, a 2002 USA Today/Gallop poll reported that almost half of all Americans appear to be alienated from any form of organized religion. If the current trend continues, most Americans will not call themselves religious in just a few years. Of the roughly 140 million Americans who do make their way to church on any given weekend, an amazing 74% are not engaged in their church at all.

Moreover, a 2004 study from the Barna Institute concluded that by the end of the next decade, up to 40% of all church-attending Christians will be worshipping God, serving others, studying the Bible, etc., outside of a congregational church setting (gathering).

Now, I’m not talking about the “true church”. I’m talking about the church of “our own creation”. The church created in our own image – our own Churchenstein (Frankenstein). You know. A man-made church; a social organization; a club, feel-good speeches that takes place of Holy-Spirit-empowered sermons.

• Written to those living large in the land of Laodicea. (Revelation 3:14-20)
• Purchased the waterfront property by the sea of lukewarmness. (Revelation 3:16)
• A “form of godliness, but denying its power..” (2 Timothy 3:5)
• To those whom the Lord will spit out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:17)
• Do you ask what church could be and what church should be – but what is because the personal cost seemed too high? The price for intimacy with Christ was too expensive.
• Like we’re saying to Jesus (not Mark), “I see your hands moving. But all I see is blah, blah, blah.”

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3 Did you see that? “Power” that works within us! It’s the Holy Spirit’s work in us. It’s the Word of God (Jesus) within us. Just as light comes on through electricity, the church is alive because of His power. Or is it?

The problem we face, however, is the visible church— that which we see, attend, claim membership in and have known all our lives, is a far cry from the true church revealed in Scripture.

The church that people love is the church that has a place in people’s heart.

It’s a church that’s powered by the love of Jesus. It’s a church where the Lord will taste the goodness of our faithfulness.

To grow up in a church:

• To worship God.
• To experience God’s grace.
• To dedicate or re-dedicate a life to Jesus.
• To be baptized into His death.

Two different “grace” to discuss, cheap grace and costly grace:

“CHEAP GRACE” is:

• Forgiveness without repentance.
• Baptism without discipline.
• Freedom without confession.
• Grace without discipleship.
• Grace without the cross.
• Grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

“COSTLY GRACE” is:

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44 It’s the grace that’s extremely valuable. You wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

"Costly grace” is the gospel, which must be discovered again and again. This grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a person his/her life and it is grace because it gives a person the only true life. It is costly because it cost God the life of His Son.

Built up… "...to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...” How long? How often? “... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:22 (niv)

Other notes:

Three things we must do:

1. Tell the Story
2. Invite others
3. Bless the world

Centered in Christ.
We don’t see people who come to our church as “customers.” For those of us in small churches, newcomers have names and faces. They’re our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives. They know we have found a community of faith we love. They come looking for the same thing. And in that atmosphere, where real people have real experiences, we all encounter God together.