WEAKNESS OF THE CHURCH

                                       II Cor. 4:7

                                   INTRODUCTION
            There are many ways to look at the church.  It has its strength
           and its weakness.  A divine-human book-the Bible; the divine-
                              human institution-the church.

             1. DIVINE ELEMENT OF THE CHURCH
                   1. God planned it-its organization perfect.
                   2. Christ purchased it with his blood. (Acts 20:28.)
                   3. He is the head. (Eph. 5:23.)
                   4. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Cor. 3:16.)
                   5. Its strength in its divine element.
                   6. No one should molest or change it.

             11. THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF CHURCH
                   1. Not composed of angels.
                   2. Members are frail human beings-unskillful operation
                      of a machine is no reflection on the inventor.
                   3. The divine ORGANIZATION controlled by man.
                         (a) Some places by ONE man. (111 John 9, 10.)
                         (b) Some places by a clique or party.
                         (c) Party politics disturb its peace.
                         (d) Some churches are filled with partisans, cliques,
                      quarrels, critics, and self righteous snobs.
                   4. Its work left in the hands of man.
                         (a)  Divine head will not do this work.
                         (b)  He will not send angels to do it.
                         (c)  If done, we must do it.
                         (d)  We fall down on the job.
                         (e)  No firm would keep such on payroll.
                         (f)  No business can succeed by the standard set by
                              the average church member.
                   5. The worship of church now with man.
                         (a) Angels have sung the praises of God. (Luke
                              2:13, 14.)
                         (b) They have sung praises of Christ. (Rev. 5:11, 12.)
                         (c) But members must praise him now.
                         (d) Many fail to do this.
                 6. MAN must PREACH his gospel.                            1
                 7. MAN must TEACH the members.
                 8. Man errs in ALL these-hence the weakness of the
                   church. (Mark 14:38.)