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Trends toward a Social Church
(By Lloyd Grissom)

1. Visiting among ourselves to the excluding of serving others.
    1. Invite some church and non-church people to dinner
    2. Ask, "How can I serve God today?"
2. Confusion about the mission of the church
    1. Felt needs of members?
    2. Real need of salvation for lost!
3. Who is my neighbor?
    1. Good Samaritian
    2. One in need of the gospel message
4. Regard the church as a social club, civic club
    1. Optional involvement - "You can't make me teach, visit, work. I can quit any time that I want to. You are just lucky to have me here at all."
    2. Support=matter of choice - "I will give what I want to. I will choose when to support any program of the church. It is my choice."
    3. Preoccupied with image - We become concerned with public relations and the image in the community. Decisions are based on what the town will think.
5. Popularity vs. Principle
    1. Try to please everybody
    2. End up pleasing no one, including God
6. Fellowship=eating together

7. Entertainment preferred over "meat" of scripture
    1. Many have "itching ears"
    2. Seek what is enjoyable, brings pleasure
8. "What's in it for me?" vs. "What can I do?"
    1. If I am not helped, I won't participate.
    2. Lack of willingness to serve others.
9. Selfishness vs. Denial of Self

10. Lack of Agape
    1. We must remove the emotional feelings
    2. Decide to seek what is best for another
11. Its "their" problem
    1. "We" vs. "They" conversations
    2. If one is not a part of the solution, he is part of the problem.

Conclusion:
        Our purpose is a serious one. We need to get serious about our purpose.

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