I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      As years pass by, changes within a local church are inevitable.

                                                             1.      New members are added, some move into the community while others move out, children grow up, some members grow in the faith, some fall away, and some pass on.

                                                             2.      No matter how good or how bad things may be for the church today, they are certain to change if time continues.

B.      Regardless of these changes, the church must be resolved to press forward and stay the course that Christ has set for it.

                                                             1.      Throughout the many changes a church experiences, the mission and the goal remains the same.

                                                             2.      It is Christ who sets the course for His church, and He does not change: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

a.       He is the chief cornerstone of the church’s foundation (Eph. 2:19-22; 1Pet. 2:4-6), and He cannot be moved.

b.       Everything in the church must remain connected and relative to Him, for He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23).

C.      Therefore, let us consider what this church must do as we press on toward the goal.

II.      PAST

A.      Every church has had its successes and failures in the past.

                                                             1.      Sometimes, local churches succeed in glorifying God, spreading His word, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, and edifying one another.

                                                             2.      At other times, churches fail by striving against one another, dividing, following false doctrines and practices, and tolerating sin in their midst.

B.      Our collective attitude toward the congregation’s past should be expressed by Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:12-14.

                                                             1.      Regardless of what lies behind in the past, we must deal with what we are today and press forward toward the goal in the future.

                                                             2.      Just because we have succeeded in the past does not guarantee success for the future, and just because we have failed in the past does not make us bound for failure.  The past does not bind the present or the future, so we can still affect the course this church follows.

III.   PRESENT

A.      As a church, we should take stock of the blessings that God has given us today and give thanks for His blessings from the past.

                                                             1.      It is often our tendency to see what is lacking rather than to see what is abundant.  Such a tendency is nearly equivalent to ingratitude, so let us be careful (consider ancient Israel’s grumbling against God, 1Cor. 10:10-11).

                                                             2.      Therefore, let us give thanks to God for each member, each talent, and each opportunity.

B.      We should also consider our weaknesses and failures and pray for God’s help and forgiveness.

                                                             1.      Do we lack faith?  Do we lack wisdom and knowledge?  Do we lack leadership?  These are things we should seek from God through prayer when we are assembled together and we pray for the church individually.

                                                             2.      Have we wasted our talents and God’s resources?  Have we squandered opportunities?  Have we overlooked sin?  We should repent and ask for God’s forgiveness for each of our failures.

C.      Most of all, we should get to work on those things that God has empowered us to do.

                                                             1.      The working spirit of the church should be embodied in this statement: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1Cor. 15:58).

                                                             2.      A church that is working is a church that is growing spiritually, numerically, or both.  Nothing good comes from idleness, but if we work, we are assured that our toil is not in vain.

                                                             3.      If we pray for God’s assistance in those things that we lack, then we must also be willing to work for them.  When Jesus said, “Beseech the Lord of the harvest to set out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:38), He was speaking to the workers who would be sent.  Essentially, Jesus was telling them to pray to God about themselves.

IV.    FUTURE

A.      Now, as we endeavor to press forward as a church, we must consider what the goals of this church are.

                                                             1.      Collectively, we are striving to worship and serve God as a church according to the Lord's desires for His church as revealed in the Bible.

a.       The church of the living God is the pillar and support of the truth (1Tim. 3:15).  It is Christ’s instrument for spreading God’s glory, word, and wisdom in the world (Eph. 3:10, 20-21; 1Thess. 1:8).

b.       The church of Christ is a self-edifying body, equipped by Christ with the talents necessary to build up every member together (Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 10:23-25).

c.        The local church is to be organized with elders who exercise oversight and deacons who serve the church (1Tim. 3:1-13).

                                                             2.      Individually, each member should seek to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ and to help others be the same.

a.       The church cannot be as it should be unless the members are as they should be.

b.       “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (1Cor. 12:27).

                                                             3.      Altogether, our purpose is to glorify God by learning, practicing, and teaching the will of God according to the word of God, the Bible.

a.       Each member individually and the church collectively must be committed to these things.

b.       Consider the example of Ezra: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

B.      With these goals in mind, we must also consider what this church needs in order to grow toward the goals:

                                                             1.      Commitment to God and His word (Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:15)

                                                             2.      Love for the Lord (John 14:15; 1John 5:1-3) – This is manifested by keeping His commandments.

                                                             3.      Love for one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12; 1John 4:7-8)

                                                             4.      Unity in Christ (John 17:20-23; 1Cor. 1:10) – This is to have the same mind and judgment.

                                                             5.      Resolve to keep the church pure from sin (1Cor. 5:1-8)

                                                             6.      Diligence in the work of the Lord (1Cor. 15:58; Heb. 6:9-12)

C.      These are the things the church needs, and we need them from each member.

                                                             1.      Young members need to commit themselves to becoming involved in the work of the church.

                                                             2.      Middle-aged members need to commit themselves to carrying the burdens of the church as others have done before them.

                                                             3.      Older members need to use their experience to provide guidance, leadership, and instruction.

                                                             4.      Through all, let us remember that it is not that God needs us, but rather we need God.  It is not we who are being served by God, but God is being served by us.

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      As we leave this assembly today, let us all have the overwhelming resolve that, if the Lord wills, this church will be strong for years to come.

B.      Let that resolve be manifested in diligence from every member to make this church what God would have it to be.