WHEN THE CHURCH FORGETS ITS PURPOSE MOST SPORTSMEN

WHEN THE CHURCH FORGETS ITS PURPOSE

MOST SPORTSMEN KNOW SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI BEST AS THE HOME OF

THEY OFFER A VARIETY OF FOOD SERVICES

• Rippling fountains and pools are filled with fish • A water wheel turns slowly with the current • A three story waterfall brings nature inside AESTHETICS ARE SPECIAL

ENTERTAINMENT IS INCLUDED Nature displays are found throughout the building Hundreds of stuffed animals are placed in natural settings

EDUCATION IS NOT FORGOTTEN • A FISH AND WILDLIFE MUSEUM IS AVAILABLE FOR LEARNING • FISH FEEDING SHOWS ARE OFFERED • A 96 POUND ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE CAN BE SEEN • A 30, 000 GALLON SALT WATER TANK WITH FISH IS ENJOYED IN HEMINGWAYS

INFORMATION IS THEIR SPECIALTY • HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT LURE FROM 7, 000 IN STOCK • A TOUCH SCREEN COMPUTER IS AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION • A SERVICE DESK IS OFFERED WHERE SOMEONE WILL GUIDE YOU WITHIN THE STORE OR IN THE AREA FOR OTHER ATTRACTIONS, ALL WITH A SMILE

THEY EVEN OFFER: A BARBER SHOP and AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE

ALL OF THIS IS HOUSED IN A GIGANTIC BUILDING THAT COVERS MORE THAN 300, 000 SQUARE FEET ! THAT IS SEVEN FOOTBALL FIELDS UNDER ONE ROOF.

BUT THEIR BUSINESS IS SELLING SPORTING GOODS AND EQUIPMENT!

GOD’S BUSINESS IS REDEMPTION! The Church offers many ministries and services to its members and the community, but we should never be distracted from our business. From the Day of Pentecost until now, the Body of Christ has had only one primary purpose. GOD’S BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS:

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO EMPOWER US FOR WITNESS Jesus said, “…stay in the city until you have been endued with power…” (Luke 24: 49) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witness…” (Acts 1: 8) THAT POWER WAS GIVEN TO MAKE EVERY BELIEVER A SOUL WINNER.

WE BOAST THAT OUR MOVEMENT IS MISSIONS MINDED BUT LAST YEAR: • 2, 150 Churches gave nothing to missions • 4, 404 Churches did not have even one missionary speaker during the year. • 8, 327 Churches did not have an annual missions convention

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR PURPOSE, SO WE EXPEND OUR EFFORT, TIME AND MONEY ON SERVICES, NOT REDEMPTION. If Bass Pro conducted business the way many Churches do, it would be bankrupt!

MANY CHURCHES ARE ALREADY IN CHAPTER 11 AND DON’T EVEN KNOW IT! • In a recent year 3, 239 Assembly of God Churches did not report even one convert. • Tens of thousands of members in our Churches have never won a soul to Christ.

OUR GROWTH HAS SLOWED LAST YEAR, THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD HAD A NET LOSS IN THE NUMBER OF CONGREGATIONS AFTER DISCOUNTING THE CHURCHES CLOSED

LOOK AT THE DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN AMERICA DURING THE LAST CENTURY 1900 – 1 CHURCH FOR EVERY 374 PEOPLE 1998 – 1 CHURCH FOR EVERY 909 PEOPLE George Gallup

AS CHURCHES AGE THEY BECOME LESS EFFECTIVE IN SOUL WINNING • CHURCHES LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WILL WIN AND DISCIPLE 1 CONVERT FOR EVER 3 IN ATTENDANCE • CHURCHES MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD WILL WIN AND DISCIPLE 1 CONVERT FOR EVERY 85 IN ATTENDANCE George Gallup

HAS THE AMERICAN CHURCH FORGOTTEN OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE! “NOT ONE COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CHURCHED PERSONS THAN IT DID TEN YEARS AGO. ” W. Charles Arn

IN MANY CHURCHES THE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE FOLLOWING: • WORSHIP - But our purest worship is not during the service but in giving our lives to God for His use. • FELLOWSHIP - Without redemption as its purpose, the Church becomes a social club. • TEACHING - But does it produce soul winners?

THE GODHEAD IS STILL FOCUSED ON REDEMPTION • The Father is not willing that anyone be lost. (2 Peter 3: 9) • The Son came to seek and to save all who are lost. (Luke 19: 10) • The Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin and to draw all men to Christ. (John 16: 8)

HOW CAN WE IGNORE THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST? • . . . Go and make disciples of all nations. . . (Matthew 28: 19) • Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16: 15) • . . . Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations. . . You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24: 47 -48)

MANY OF THOSE WHO VISIT BASS PRO REALLY AREN’T FISHERMEN. • They buy caps and tee shirts to show others that they are fishermen, but they don’t fish. • Many have rods and reels, and tackle boxes filled with lures but they don’t fish.

WE BUILD FISHING LODGES WHERE THE FISHING CLUB MEMBERS MEET TWO OR THREE TIMES EACH WEEK AND TALK A LOT ABOUT FISHING!

WE ATTEND CLASSES ON “HOW TO FISH” AND THE FISHING CLUB PRESIDENT TEACHES US ABOUT THE BEST BAIT AND LURES AND SHOWS US HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT.

• WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FISH. • WE SEND OUR CHILDREN AWAY TO SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE TAUGHT TO BECOME FISHERMEN. • WE HONOR FISHERMEN WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL. • WE INVITE THE FISHERMAN WHO CAUGHT A BIG ONE TO COME AND SPEAK TO OUR CLUB.

• SOMETIMES WE JOIN WITH OTHER MEMBERS IN OUR FISHING CLUB TO SEND FISHERMEN TO FISH IN LAKES AND RIVERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. • WE COMPLAIN THAT THE FISH IN OUR LAKES ARE RESISTANT AND JUST WON’T BITE. • WE SAY WE ARE TOO BUSY OR DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.

• WE WOULD FISH BUT WE DON’T WANT TO BE TOO PUSHY. • WE SAY THAT WHEN THE FISH GET HUNGRY ENOUGH, THEY WILL COME TO THE FISHING LODGE. • WE BRING IN A FISHERMAN ONCE EACH YEAR TO CATCH FISH FOR US. • WE PAY OUR FISHING CAPTAIN TO CATCH FISH.

• WE HAVE THE TRAINING TO CATCH FISH. • WE HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CATCH FISH. • WE HAVE BEEN COMMANDED BY JESUS TO CATCH FISH.

Don’t Go Fishing out of Guilt:

ALTHOUGH JESUS SAID, “COME, FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN” (Mat 4: 19) MANY CHRISTIANS NEVER FISH FOR MEN!