Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what happened to the local congregations of the first century? Have you ever wondered what happened to all of the well-known churches and ministries that flourished in previous decades or generations? Dr. Elmer Towns wrote three influential books that featured the most successful ministries of the late 1960s and early 1970s: The Ten Largest Sunday Schools—And What Makes Them Grow (1969); America’s Fastest Growing Churches (1972); Great Soulwinning Churches (1973). These three books would become the catalyst for the emergence of the Church Growth Movement. A cursory review of the churches listed in these books quickly reveals that most of them do not exist any longer. Furthermore, the pastors of these churches have passed away in death, moved on to other ministries, or became castaways from the ministry for moral, ethical, or legal reasons. Experts who study church life have discovered that individual congregations, denominations, or movements have a lifecycle that closely mirrors the bell curve: they start humbly, grow, plateau, decline, then die. Congregational death could be as simple as a name change to jumpstart growth or as dramatic as a church splitting so that the original congregation ceases to exist. Most churches die because they decide to dissolve for lack of congregants and attendees. As we journey through the Scriptures, we will discover what the Bible reveals about the lifecycle of the local church. We will learn that most local churches teeter on the brink of death through Christ’s judgment upon them. Thus, we must understand that . . . Every local church can become judged by Christ and consigned to death. Why? 1. Because they become inwardly focused (Acts 6:1) Acts 6:1 (1) And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. The local church at Ephesus (A Formal Church) Rev. 2:4 (4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. The local church at Laodicea (A Church with No Purpose) Rev. 3:16 (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. How does lukewarmness set into a local congregation so that it transitions to an inwardly focused community of believers? By becoming filled with duplicity and dishonesty Acts 5:1-3 (1) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (2) And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? By becoming filled with prejudices and preferences Acts 11:1-2 (1) And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. (2) And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, By becoming infiltrated by false teachers bringing in false doctrine Acts 15:1 (1) And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. The local church at Pergamum (A Church of False Doctrine) Rev. 2:14 (14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. By unresolved strife and conflict among the leadership Acts 15:39 (39) And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; By becoming a personality cult 1 Cor. 1:11 (11) For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?The local church at Thyatira (A Church of False Teachers) (Rev. 2:20) Rev. 2:20 (20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. By tolerating known, unrepentant sin within the congregation. 1 Cor. 5:1 (1) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. By not practicing church discipline upon erring, unrepentant members. 1 Cor. 5:5 (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Co 5:13 (13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. By not practicing separatism 1 Co 5:11 (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 2 Cor. 6:17 (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, The local church at Sardis (A Worldly Church) Rev. 3:3 (3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (4) Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. By the members utilizing civil litigation to resolve conflicts. 1 Cor. 6:1 (1) Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? By a lack of orderliness and continuity. 1 Cor. 14:40 (40) Let all things be done decently and in order.2. Because of Persecution (Acts 8:3-4) Acts 8:3-4 (3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (4) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 11:19 (19) Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only The local church at Smyrna (A Persecuted Church) Rev. 2:10 (10) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.Concluding Thoughts: The Bible has demonstrated how local churches die. As we contemplate the truths of Scripture, we must ask ourselves if our church is on the pathway to death or if it is on the pathway to life. Support the show
