Why are we seeing so few conversions?
Apologies that the sermon recording ends abruptly just after the first point in the second section entitled 'Is there Hope for the Future?'
Why are we seeing so few conversions?
- Acts - 3000, then 5000
- Paul and Silas go to this and that city and see conversions
- Expansion of church in the 1st century
1. Our nation is under judgement
- Under judgement
- The Divorce rate has increased
- Child abuse
- Exploitation of the vulnerable
- Teenage binge drinking
- Pornography, etc
- Same sex marriage
- 3 or 4 parent embryos
- The Government voted against sex selection abortion
- Rom 1:18
- Do you believe that the wrath of God is being presently manifested against all wickedness of men?
- Some would say it is because the nation under judgement
- There is open and defiant rebellion on a scale not seen before
- This is not the only reason
- Consider the time of Nero and the immorality of Roman society
- It didn't stop conversions of the church expanding
2. Is there a lack of evangelists?
- Is there a lack of those learning languages to preach?
- Roman 10:14 - how can they believe if they have not heard
- Are we praying for God to raise up preachers
- What about rural Wales?
- Are we making known the gospel?
3. The disunity of the Church?
- Can God bless a disunited church?
- There are needless disagreements over
- Bible translations
- Hymns
- The Second coming
- Baptism
- Are true believers falling out over secondary issues?
- John 13:35 - the mark of a believer/disciple, to be recognised by all men
- John 17:20-21 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
- Disunity does seem to hinder strongly the blessing of God
4. A deficient message?
- Are we really preaching sin?
- Nobody will come to Christ unless they are convinced they are a sinner
- Are we preaching Jesus?
- We don't preach morality, how to do church or how to be a Christian
- We preach first Christ
- The 'foolishness' of the cross
5. Is their a lack of God's power?
- Is their power and authority in the message?
- Doctrine, practice and methodology - this is not true Christianity
- Doctrine, practice and experience - this is the true Christianity
- Experiencing God in a very real and deep way
6. Why our prayer meetings empty?
- John 14:12-14 - encouragement for us
- Jesus is not speaking about miracles but about the 'greater work' of conversion
- The Holy Spirit is sent in power
- Are we asking in His name, relentlessly in prayer?
- Do we fail to ask, seek and knock?
- We cannot blame the lack of God's sovereignty
- 2 Chr 7:14
- John 16:24
- It is not dependent upon one man (i.e. the preacher)
There are many reasons - The main reason is that we must look to ourselves
Is there Hope for the Future?
- Acts 4:13 - a difference is seen in uneducated men
- If God did it for them, He can do it for us
- God is the same God in the past and now
- God's sovereign will
- John 15:16 - It was the will of the Father, He appointed us - to bear much fruit
- John 17:20 - there will be conversions
- John 10:16 - there are more to be saved
- John 12:32 - people will be drawn to Jesus
Closing Remarks
- Let us first look to ourselves and not blame the sovereignty of God
- Let us look to Him with hope for the future