Why do some churches die while others thrive?

Question

Don't bother with the 2-5 word answers please.

I love your answer Nina

Answer 1

I assume you are talking about churches where Christ is acknowledged as Head of the Church, the Bible is preached and taught, and the way of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, the Holy Spirit is obeyed in the leadership and the people, and the Great Commission is being carried out. Churches who don’t have these characteristics are dead already because they do not have the life of Christ at work in the members through faith in Jesus Christ. There are many such churches today small and large. They are, sorry to say, just a social club. The true Christ is not honored there although there may be a lot of form, but no substance. The supernatural has been sapped from their fellowship.

Now in some instances, churches once preached the gospel of Christ, but then as time went on, they no longer preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, this is also sad. They have become dead churches as well.

Then there are churches were Christ is honored and the Bible preached, but they are content in themselves just to be that way. They are just existing. They are like the church of Ephesus in the Book of Revelation (2:1-7) who have left their first love. They have good doctrine, but they have lost their passion for Christ to reach out to those needing the Savior. In this sense they are dead. They are the so-called “frozen chosen.” Content to be Christians, but no sign of God at work in their lives. In fact, I would encourage you to get a good commentary on the Book of Revelation (such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament), and study the seven churches of Revelation (Revelation 2-3), and see how Christ looks at the different churches in their different settings and needs.

Churches also die because sometimes there is a split in the church. Too many people leave, and the church can’t continue. This is also a sad state of affairs, and God is not honored. Some churches die because of the area in which they exist. Smaller churches in rural areas have to close due to the change in population. In some areas, where smaller churches exist, and they have the same beliefs, they have joined together to form a larger congregation.

At the same time, the size of the church is not the issue (answering your second question). What is going on in the church fellowship is the key. For in the New Testament times, churches met in homes. This is going on in the United States today and in other countries as well, especially in countries where there can’t be a public meeting.

The ingredients of an alive and growing church are found in Acts 2:42-47 where it states that the believers “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Then it says that they were serving one another, and reaching out to those needing to know the Lord, for the Lord was “adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. This tells us that the church has five purposes. I put these in a personal format.

1)You were created to give God praise and to have a personal relationship with Him -Worship/Prayer

2) You were planned to become like Christ - Learning.
3) You were formed for God’s family - Fellowship.
4) You were shaped to have a ministry - Service.
5) You were designed to share God’s love and gospel – Mission

These five area describe what the true church of Jesus Christ should be about today. At the same time the Holy Spirit must be recognized and obeyed in the local church in the leadership and the people. Prayer must be a vital part of the church for without prayer, a church only operates in the flesh. People need to know and use their spiritual gifts. There must be a ministering to one another in the fellowship, a caring and sharing. There must also be a passion to reach out to those needing the Savior, fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Yes, the church must know why it exists and what it is about.

Any church, large or small, honoring Christ, preaching and teaching the Bible, in tune with the Holy Spirit to minister to the congregation as well as to reach the community and the world, will be a vibrant church for Jesus Christ. I trust you are part of a church like that and that your life exemplifies Christ with a passion for Him and to reach out to those He loves. A true follower of Christ can’t be a pew warmer or a spectator. Christ came not to be served but to serve. We must do the same.

Answer 2

What makes you think that some churches die? A church is a building. It might close. The adherents or followers will continue to follow if the religion espoused by the church is relevant and meaningful. Christianity, if that is your bent, says that "wheresoever three or more gather" that is the church. so, how do you define when a church dies? Your question might be better phrased as "why do some churches decline in popularity, while others thrive". That would have a whole different and much longer answer.

Answer 3

Read about the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3!

Answer 4

In extremely some the poorer international locations, Christianity prospers or maybe takes over. In international locations like the u . s ., we've each thing we choose, or so we are informed. So we make that gesture of going to church and become bored on the sermon through fact they are no longer turning the lasers on and the rock band isn't enjoying this time. Please bypass away your double latte on the door. In South Korea, our "megachurches" look like one room college residences. There, church club would attain 70,000 or greater for some church homes. China has a great and becoming inhabitants of Christians, and that i've got by no ability seen a greater reverent human beings than those in Mexico. those are those that stay in shacks made out of even though they are able to looking. you're extraordinary, the wealth that a number of those preachers have accumulated is the two embarrassing and particular incorrect. Being rich isn't the difficulty, how they have been given rich is the difficulty. each physique is loss of existence of starvation and affliction through fact the money or scientific care isn't attending to them. American persons provide the main money of all of us interior the international. however the help by no ability gets to the folk and nutrition spoils or money is wasted. Gee Mr. best Minister, your each physique is ravenous and your infrastructure is dangerously old. How are you development such huge alluring palaces and the place did you get those F-22 Raptors?

Answer 5

people want a church that will allow there faith to grow and be surrounded by fellow believers who support each other some churches let people and politics and egos get in the way of God
also some people have preferences for pastors and ministers personality's how they preach do they present the truth its all different things but God made us all different so theres no way we could all be happy in the same church theres location issues transportation issues all kind of things there is no one answer

Answer 6

I believe that there isn't enough private funding to support the establishment of a local church...that is why 'megachurches' in major cities tend to attract and maintain a larger audience base...they have enough public AND private support to provide adequate services year-round.. While I personally prefer to worship in a more intimate church setting, the appeal of larger churches often draws greater donations and thus, is able to stay open longer.

Answer 7

For the same reason that all businesses die (and religion IS a business): nobody wants to pay for their product anymore.

Once people realize they are paying for something and getting nothing for their money and effort, they take their business elsewhere or they get smart and realize they don't need that product from anyone (or in some cases, they start making it themselves).


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Answer 8

Too little prayer in the church. Many churches try to run a popularity contest and then they do not have the Bible as the center of the teaching. Church is really a community. People make the church. Anything is possible when you let God be the leader of the church.

Answer 9

Because some people are playing church but it is nothing more than a social club, and the real church is one that teaches Gods word and manifest his spirit!

Answer 10

Because God moves in mysterious ways and the legal cost of all the pedophile priest victims law suits are becoming extravagant.