During my preparation for this Sunday's sermon, I found a very interesting quote comparing churches that are "alive" and those that are "dead." The source is unknown, but I thought it was very interesting after my meeting with the Bishop and our Conferences' new church pastors this past Wednesday. During the conversation, the question was asked what DNA the Bishop would like to see new churches have. The answer was for a church to be "outward focused" and Bible based from Acts 2 devoting themselves "to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." I think what the Bishop meant was that a new church needs to have the DNA that ensures an eternal life rather than the DNA that commits it to an eventual death. Which DNA do we want for Good News? Read the following and decide for yourself.
Live churches' expenses are always more than their income; dead churches don't need much money!
Live churches have parking problems; Dead churches have empty spaces!
Live churches may have some noisy children; Dead churches are quiet as a cemetery.
Live churches keep changing their ways of doing things; Dead churches see no need for change!
Live churches grow so fast you can't keep up with people's names; In dead churches everybody always knows everybody's name.
Live churches strongly support world missions; Dead churches keep the money at home!
Live churches are full of regular, cheerful givers; Dead churches are full of grudging tippers!
Live churches move ahead on prayer and faith; Dead churches work only on sight!
Live churches plant daughter churches; Dead churches fear spending the money, time, and talent!
Live churches outgrow their Sunday School facilities; Dead churches have room to spare!
Live churches welcome all classes of people; Dead churches stick to their own kind!
Live churches' members read their Bibles and bring them to church; Dead churches' members seldom do!
Live churches' members enthusiastically support the ministries; Dead churches have no ministries--only functions!
Live churches' members look for someone they can help; Dead churches' members look for something to complain about!
Live churches' members reach out to share their faith in Christ; Dead churches' members don't have enough to share!
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If we're going to talk about the DNA of the "Church" then we also need to identify the DNA of the Christians involved. The genetic characteristics of the Acts 2 community of faith can still influence our heredity; but we need to be open to the power of the Holy Spirit to move us out of ourselves.
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