Expectations: Freedom, Hope &
A New Life

Contemporary Service

Welcome

 

Announcements

 

Worship - Praise You Anywhere

 

                Mighty To Save

 

                Here I Am To Worship

 

Release - Youth And Children’s Church

 

Table prayer

 

Teaching - How is the church in the world? Matthew 26:57-67

 

Closing Song - In Christ Alone

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Traditional Service

Prelude

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Carrying The Light Of Christ/Blessing Of Tithes And Offerings/Doxology

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Call To Worship - Choir - In To My Heart - 485

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Welcome - John Morris - Worship Leader

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Hymn - Sanctuary - 655

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Joys and Concerns

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Hymn - Love Divine - 648

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Scripture Reading - Matthew 26:57-67 (Please Stand As Scripture Is Read)

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Sermon - How is the Church in the World?

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Closing Hymn - The Wonder Of It All - 648

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Carrying The Light Into The World

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Benediction

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Sermon Outline

How Is the Church in the World?

I. The Church

a. Matthew 16:18 “...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

b. How does that line up with how you see the church today?

c. Churches have a life cycle. None of the first century churches exist today.

d. How are we to be the church in this time and place?

e. 1 Chronicles 12:32 “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do”

II. Trends

a. The church does not exist in a vacuum.

b. The church in the world is a paradox.

c. Current trends...

d. The church in 2020...Covid.

e. 9 in 10 church goers have returned.

f. The average church goer attends at least twice a month.

g. The de-constructors.

h. Church membership.

i. The Church’s relevance to the community.

j. Nones.

k. Secularism

l. Gains and losses.

m. Aaron Earles, from Lifeway Research: Positive Trends.

n. Christianity is growing

o. Some groups are growing even faster

p. Africa and Asia are experiencing rapid growth

q. Christianity is spreading globally

r. Atheism is shrinking

s. Fewer people are without access to the gospel

t. More money is being given to Christian causes

III. Great opportunity and great opposition...

a. 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

b. Where there is great opportunity there will always be great opposition.

c. The truth of the Gospel remains true.

d. The challenge for me and you is to help people live out an authentic faith based on God’s word and personal experience.

e. The internal challenge...