We live in a time of tremendous cultural upheaval and uncertainty regarding the future of the church in North America. People are leaving the church because of politics, scandals, personalities, culture shift, and a sense of irrelevance. Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul saw much the same thing happening to his beloved friends in Galatia, and he took action. Now it’s our turn. We cannot simply stand by and watch this happen!

The good news of Jesus Christ is the only true hope of lasting renewal and transformation for the world in which we live. As individuals, we must be like Paul, passionately pursuing those walking away from the gospel. As a church, we must diligently reform the American church from within for the sake of the gospel!

Scripture Reference

Galatians 4: 8-20

Complementary Reading: Ezekiel 36: 22-36

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

Paul’s Anguish, and Ours, As Friends Abandon the Gospel

  • Paul’s emotional plea – Afraid (verse 11), Entreating (verse 12), Anguished (verse 19), and Perplexed (verse 20)
  • We should Feel the Same Anguish as the Church Fades in North America
    • Our world is falling for false gods of self, scientism, principles and systems of the world: political structures, special interests, prosperity gospels, legalism, moralism, do-gooderism, self-salvation, and ultimately damnation

The Gospel is the World’s Only Hope

  • The fundamental problem of the world is human sin
  • Governments, laws, morals, humanism, atheism – these can’t fix sinful hearts
  • Only a radical heart transplant (Ezekiel 36: 26-27) through Christ

We Must Pursue Those Walking Away from the Gospel

  • If we believe the gospel, we need to feel Paul’s anguish
  • We need to passionately pursue like Paul – James 5: 19-20
  • It’s a job for every believer, and requires that we actually LIVE the gospel
  • Yes, the church is flawed, but there is NO hope outside the church

We Must Reform the Church for the Sake of the Gospel

  • People are abandoning the bride of Christ because she’s ugly – political, abrasive, abusive, and selfish; but the alternative of works, self-salvation, and damnation is terrible
  • The church must be always reforming: less politics, more Jesus; less building and grounds, more loving people; less doing church, more being disciples
  • Scour your  hearts and scour your church!