The Contract
What is "The Contract"I want to encourage you to consider joining in this contract with me. I've found contracts useful in weight loss goals, etc. We in America have been given so much. Yet God's kingdom is in decline. This topic is seldom talked about. But the churches are dying out.
We have been given money and God has blessed us to use it to enjoy life, (Ecclesiastes 8:15). But let us ask this question, while we enjoy our cars, houses, pets, our TV shows, our social media, and hobbies, are we still seeking His kingdom first, (Matthew 6:33)? Are we doing evangelism as the Bible commands us, (Matthew 28:19-20/Matthew 4:9), or are we seeking other things in this world, as of higher importance? Are we promoting kingdom growth in our lives and through our blessings or are we enjoying our lives... Even while His house is in ruins? As Haggai says in 1:4...“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" While we have families and create a legacy for ourselves, why is it that...the kingdom is facing a pandemic? Many congregational places of worship are having their doors closed permanently each year. As we enjoy our lives and our families, let me ask this important question. What are we doing about God's legacy of kingdom growth and renewal? MANY DON'T KNOW OF THIS SERIOUS ISSUE, (OF KINGDOM DECLINE IN AMERICA). Here are some horrible truths... General Church of Christ statistics: Bobby Ross Jr… • "Since today’s college freshmen were infants, roughly 1,200 Churches of Christ in the United States have closed, and the number of men, women and children in the pews nationally has shrunk by 200,000." The source link that details these finding, also says “church of Christ colleges” are shrinking too. Sadly, less and less students who come to such colleges are affiliated with the church of Christ. Source: https://christianchronicle.org/christian-universities-feeling-the-pinch-as-churches-of-christ-shrink If you are part of the conservative/non-institutional COC, the numbers are even smaller. “Churches of Christ that are non-institutional were estimated in 2009 to comprise 113,656 members.” Keep in mind that the stat is more than 10 years old...And the kingdom has been in steady decline. Sadly there are more people in small country towns and sectioned areas in city suburbs than there are conservative COC members in America. That should cause us concern. Despite this crisis in the US, many conservative forums are silent on this topic. Why is that? I'm assuming it's because they don't know. If they don't know, then we need to get out the word. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_churches_of_Christ_(non-institutional)#Present_day For more statistics on church decline, get my book, "Save a Church from Dying." https://spiritbuilding.com/products/save-a-church-from-dying-ideas-for-church-growth If you want to sign the contract, you see here, I have the digital file in Word and in PDF at the bottom of this page to download. You can change/edit the contract, (with PDF/Word/other computer software). Change it to reflect your goals. You can add the specific years you intend to do the contract. You can add the amount you wish to spend. As well as your name and your picture. This contract is between you and the Lord. *** YOU CAN ALSO MAKE THE CONTRACT TO REFLECT OTHER WAYS OF PROMOTING THE DETAILS OF OUR NEED FOR EVANGELISM WORK AND THE SERIOUS NEWS OF KINGDOM DECLINE...OTHER THAN THROUGH ADVERTISING. YOU CAN FOCUS ON OTHER METHODS OF SHARING THESE THEMES, LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, BLOGS, VIDEOS, SERMONS, ARTICLES, CHURCH BULLETINS, TELLING COC FRIENDS, SHARING IN LECTURESHIPS, SHARING ON WEBSITES, POSTING ON ONLINE SOURCES, TELLING YOUR CHRISTIAN FAMILY, BIBLE STUDY GROUP/SHARING THIS WITH YOUR STUDY GROUP, ETC.. YOU CAN GENERALLY DETAIL IN THE CONTRACT THAT "YOU'LL PROMOTE THESE THEMES" OR YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY DETAIL THE WAYS THAT YOU'LL PROMOTE THESE THEMES.. DO WHAT YOU FEEL WORKS BEST FOR YOU.*** For those who think the church will endure in the USA for all time, till Jesus returns, which I have heard more than once, I'd encourage you to read this PDF book, on the history of the church of Christ in western Europe. The book is titled: "Tradition and History of the Early Churches of Christ In Central Europe," Written by Dr. Hans Grimm. Download at this link https://www.churchofchriststreetcampusevangelism.com/uploads/3/8/6/6/3866497/history_of_the_church_of_christ.pdf Whole COC groups have gone extinct in different areas of the world. A study of history will show this. But this book also historically points this out. For support and help in doing our Father's mission, please look through my websites. I have kingdom-building resources on my websites. A. https://www.churchofchristevangelism.com B. https://www.churchofchriststreetcampusevangelism.com May God work in us, as we seek to do His will, (Jude 23). 🙏📖 - Joseph Sullivan 
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When it comes to the pandemic of dying churches...More sermons need to be preached on this important issue, more articles need to highlight this topic. More lectureships and gospel meetings, need to mention the serious crisis of kingdom decline.
https://christianchronicle.org/102-000-fewer-people-in-the-pews-since-03-churches-of-christ-in-decline/
Source picture: https://christianchronicle.org/can-churches-of-christ-be-saved
Source from last two graphic stat pictures: www.kairoschurchplanting.orgcocstudy2019.html
Stan Granberg has compiled data on the churches decline through the years. Granberg has researched trends among religious movements in the U.S. He uses data from the “Association of Religious Data Archives” and the directory “Churches of Christ in the United States,” published by “21st Century Christian." Note: I don't necessarily endorse all content on listed source sites. | ||||
