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This week, we’re talking about the decline of church membership in the United States. Those in younger generations are less likely to be a member of a church or other house of worship, even those who claim to be religious. What is behind this decline? And why should this be a concern for Christians? We’re going to discuss that today.Continue Reading
“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The passage above is often used to show the importance of assembling with the local church. It also warns of the trouble that comes when Christians fail to make the assembly a priority and, as a result, neglect it.
In this article, we will consider what this passage teaches. What does it mean to forsake the assembly? What are the dangers of choosing to miss it? And how is the assembly beneficial for us? We will use the Scriptures to answer these questions.Continue Reading
“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
“For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:14).
“But now there are many members, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20).
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The verses above are taken from a portion of Paul’s first letter to Corinth, in which he described the church as a body made up of different parts that function together. Recognizing this should lead us to value our brethren. It should also cause us to see our own value in the church. So in this article, we will consider what Paul said in this passage about the body and the members that make up the various parts of it.Continue Reading
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This episode is our monthly news roundup for June. In this episode, we’re talking about the decline in membership among Southern Baptists, fewer people believing that homosexuality is moral, and the link between alcohol and cancer.Continue Reading
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This week we’re going to be talking about the level of commitment among church members toward the work of the local congregation. A survey of “pastors” found that the vast majority of them said that “apathy or a lack of commitment” is the primary challenge they face among the people of their congregation. This attitude will cripple a church. In this episode, we want to talk about what is expected of us as members of a local church. Continue Reading
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This week we’re going to be talking about the number of non-church members who attend church services weekly. This may sound strange since it seems that it’s harder in many places to convince members to show up every week. We’re going to consider some observations about this.Continue Reading
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This past Sunday, many made it a point to attend a worship service for Easter. However, there are now a majority of Americans who are not members of any local church. Yet the local church is part of God’s plan and our membership in a local church is important. Following the influence of the religious world in this regard will result in weaker churches and weaker Christians. In this episode, we will discuss why church membership is important.
STORY – Fewer Than Half of Americans Belong to a Church
“For the first time since it began its survey eight decades ago, Gallup finds that fewer than half of Americans have a formal membership in a local church.
“‘The U.S. remains a religious nation, with more than seven in 10 affiliating with some type of organized religion. However, far fewer, now less than half, have a formal membership with a specific house of worship,’ Gallup said.
“The survey, which began in 1937, found only 47% of Americans have a formal membership in a church.
“‘While it is possible that part of the decline seen in 2020 was temporary and related to the coronavirus pandemic, continued decline in future decades seems inevitable, given the much lower levels of religiosity and church membership among younger versus older generations of adults.’” (WND)
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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