Intro:
There have been many folks who have left the local church during the past
few years. Almost every church I know does not have half as many in
attendance as is on their church roll....
My
question is WHY????
I.
SOME LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BORN RIGHT....
To be born right is to be born:
A.
Of the Spirit....John 3:3-7
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
He
MUST: convict, convince, and
convert
sinners
B.
Of the Scriptures....I Pet 1:23; John 5:24; Rom 10:9-13;
Rom.
10:17
1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
C.
Of the Supernatural.... John 5:1; 1:13; 6:44; Jonah 2:9
John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
II.
SOME LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE RIGHT....
They believe wrong about:
A.
The Scriptures....
B. The Salvation....
C. The Spirit....
D. The Standards....
III.
SOME LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BEHAVE RIGHT....
What
you believe will determine how you behave....How you behave
displays what you believe....This generation wants:
A.
No Commitment....
B. No Convictions....
C. No Conflicts....
God
help us preachers to preach it like it is to men as they are, then practice
what we preach, and expect people to get in, get out, or get run over....
