Always Abounding - Spring 2020

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THE SUSTAINERS’ CLUBPROVIDES FINANCIALASSISTANCE IN THEFORM OFSCHOLARSHIPS TOSTUDENTS.Whether you are aconcerned individual or achurch looking for aworthy missions project,you can make a difference.Would you consider giving?Donate at the following linkor scan the code:fhbc.me/sustainersNowAvailable!!2 | ALWAYS ABOUNDING
THE ABC’S OF CHURCH DEATHby Pastor Randy Love (‘87)The followingsermon waspreached at the60th anniversaryof Berean BaptistChurch in Ogden,Utah.Congratulations onyour 60th anniversary as a church. God isfaithful, and in His faithfulness, everythingcan continue to His honor and glory; but sooften, what causes the death of a local churchis not the battles it faces from the outside,but the ones that start on the inside. Over30 years ago, Mrs. Love and I were privilegedto follow the calling of God onour lives to go to the JeffersonCity, Missouri, area to evangelizeand establish Old Paths BaptistChurch. We knocked on doorsand told people who we wereand what we were doing, invitingthem to join us for a service. Onone occasion, a man answeredthe door. I introduced myselfand invited him to our newchurch. As I was extendingour church tract toward him, a smile cameacross this older gentleman’s face. Then heasked me, “Who are you mad at?” Seeingthe confused look on my face, he turned thequestion around and said, “Well, then, who’smad at you?” Still confused by what he wassaying, he explained, “If you’re starting anew Baptist church, either you’re mad atsomebody or somebody’s mad at you; soyou’ve had a split.” I guess this conversationwas somewhat comical, but it is sad that weas Baptists in particular are known amongdenominations for being contrary with oneanother. It should not be like that.We see reported in periodicals a greatdecline in our type of churches acrossthe United States. Many churches havecome to the point of destruction and final“death.” I’ve had reports from preachers,missionaries, and even evangelists whohave visited our church recounting the largenumber of churches whose doors are closingon a yearly basis. I think of Calvary BaptistChurch of Bowling Green, Missouri. I wassaved there in 1972 as a seven-year-old boy.At the time, it was a thriving church, reachingpeople throughout the community with thegospel. Less than five years later, the churchwas non-existent, as it still is today.Matthew 16:18 may be referredto as the “Magna Carta” of thechurch. In it the Lord Himselfsaid, “upon this rock I will build mychurch; and the gates of hell shallnot prevail against it.” Jesus, ofcourse, is the rock upon which Hischurch is built. I say “Amen” forBerean Baptist Church’s 60 yearsof faithfulness in Ogden, Utah,but remember that Satan alwayshas been and always will be the adversaryof the church. He is not powerful enough todestroy the church. The gates of hell cannotprevail against God’s church; but as theadversary, he is deceitful enough to causethe death of some of the Lord’s churches.Let’s take a look at the ABC’s of churchdecline, destruction, and death.A – ApathyOne of the things that cause the death of(cont., pg 4)www.fairhavenbaptist.org | 3
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Page 13 and 14: 1. Men are driven by sight. (Matthe
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Always Abounding - Spring 2020

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