THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH

1.  A great many people are deeply concerned about the future of our nation; dangers from
without and dangers from within.
2.  To Christian a more serious question is: What about the future of the church?  What does the
future hold for it?
3.  We should be concerned about the future:
     A.  No structure is stronger than that of its support.
     B.  No institution is greater than the expanding reach of its deepest desire.
     C.  No organization is more valuable than the combined assets of its work in the past and         
          future; in a practical sense-worth only-future potential.

I.  GOD'S WORK ENDURES: Ecc.3:14.
     A.  Heaven and Earth - Gen.1:1,31; 2 Peter 3:9-10.
     B.  Man-God's Work - Gen.1:26; 5:1.
           1.  Men doubted his immorality - Acts 23:8; 1 Cor.15:12; 2 Pet.3:3-4.
     C.  Law of Moses - Ex.20:; Gal.3:19.
          1.  Heathen through force to destroy Jewish religion-but- Gal.3:24.
     D.  Mission of Christ - John 3:1-3.
          1.  From His birth to ascension, enemies tried to prevent His work.
     E.  Therefore, God's work endures; will last as long as God decrees - Ecc,3:14.

II.  THE CHURCH IS GOD'S WORK.
      A.  He planned, purposed it from all eternity - Eph.3:10-11.
      B.  God directed destiny of empires for 1,000 of years, making ready for His Kingdom or        
            church - Dan.2:31-45.
            1.  Head of God - Babylon 606-536 BC.
            2.  Arms and breast of silver - Persia - 536-331 BC.
            3.  Belly of brass - Alexander the Great - 331-33 BC.
            4.  Toes and feet of iron and clay - Rome united politically all the world.  God said "in      
                  the days of these kings" the kingdom will be set up.
       C.  In the days of those Roman kings , the church or kingdom was set up in Jerusalem - Acts 
             2:1-47; Col.1:13; Rev.1:9.

III.  THE CHURCH BESET BY TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS.
       A.  From without.
             1.  Preachers mocked, jailed, forbidden to preach - Acts 2:13; 17:32; 4:1-20; 14.
             2.  Two preachers killed - Acts 7:55; 12:1-4.
             3.  Church persecuted - Acts 8:1; 9:113; 1 Thess.1:6; 2:9-16.
             4.  Rome: 10 imperial persecutions, 1000's burned, fed to animals, etc.
             5.  Dark ages: church still in existence, if only in seed form.
       B.  From within.
             1.  Acts 20:30; 1 Tim.4:1-4; 2 Tim.4:1,2; 2 Thess.2:3; 1 Tim.1:18-20.
             2.  Digression - 20th century - prem, music, split.
       C.  In spite of all opposition, the church is still here.
IV.  CHURCH OF THE PRESENT.
       A.  We have grown into the millions but in spite of this growth the church has opposition       
             from without.  Infidelity; denominationalism; Catholicism; etc.
       B.  It has also had its internal problems, trials, etc.
             1.  Hobbyists, radicals, liberals, lead into denominationalism.
             2.  Anti-brethren, hobbyists, radicals who drew lines where God has not and bind that      
                  which God has not bound.
             3.  There are those who know the law of Christ but turn away from the liberty in Christ.   
                  Others lay waste the truth by not standing for it nor preaching it.
              4.  While there are the - liberals, anti-brethren and radicals - on the one hand, there is a   
                    great majority on the other hand who are the - in-between- conservatives; marching   
                    straight ahead who refuse to turn either to the left or right.
 
V.  THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH.
       A.  The church as a whole, those who travel a middle of the road course will continue on       
              their scriptural course ahead in their march to victory.
       B.  The church has a bright future.  More modern methods of a scriptural nature are being      
             used.  TV, radio, etc.
       C.  But let us not forget much work is to be done--sacrifice.  This day 200,000 people died     
             without Christ.

CONCLUSION: 
1.  The church will last till the end of time - Isa.9:6; Dan.2:44; Heb.12:28; Ecc.3:14.
2.  Its future is eternal in nature - I thess.4:14-17; Rev.21:1-2.
3.  Do we "Love Thy Kingdom Lord?