We emphasize, at the outset, that there is nothing wrong with the divine side of the church. God built one church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:2021; 4:4), planned it before eternity (Ephesians 3:1011) and gave all of its features, including leadership, worship and mission. Modern man tries constantly to improve what God has said and the example He has set in the New Testament.

The problems come in when the church of the twenty-first century is not striving to obey our Lord in every thing and in every way. The moment we think we can do it better, or sadly, not do it at all, we fail to live up to what God has instructed us to do. And make no mistake, God is still God, and He has the right and the authority to demand that we, his creatures, obey Him in all we do.

What are some other problems that we need to address in the twenty-first century church?

1). We have quit praying. The first century church prayed constantly about any and everything. The apostles would not serve tables, as they felt like they had the responsibility to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). Before the church started, for ten days they gathered to pray (Acts 1)! In Acts 4 and 12, we read of the church praying together as a whole for boldness and for the release of Peter.

One man has written, The early church understood some things about prayerthey understood its power, its priority, its possibility and its place. They did not see prayer as an obstacle or option, but an order! And prayer is the greatest weapon the church has, but the most unused! To that, all I can say is AMEN!

Church, take time to pray every day! Pray about any and everything in your life. Make the time to pray to God for each and every member of the church at South Cobb, and see how it changes the church and our attitudes toward her.

2). We lost our concern for lost souls. God gave the church its mission, and if we fail in this, we fail in everything. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15) and THE ONLY WAY THE WORLD WILL KNOW OF GODS LOVE FOR IT is if the church preaches the truth to all. We must realize that many may not want to hear the truthbut our job is to preach it anyway.

The early church had a burning desire for lost souls, and she placed the ultimate priority on lost souls.

The early church had a message that she knew the world needed to hear. She also understood the destiny of each lost soul. Do we appreciate and understand the reality of hell for our friends, loved ones and others who are lost?

Sometimes we spend more time in arguing who is lost than in preaching the gospel. Sometimes we feel like we have the right to pick and choose who hears the gospel. Who gave us that right? Are we obeying the Lord in this matter or obeying ourselves? Are we making excuses or doing what the Lord has taught us?

Again, these things are said in love, desiring the good of the church above everything else. We need to look honestly at how we feel about this and whether or not we are obeying our Lord! The solution to these and all problems depends on our attitudes toward obedience to the Lord! Will we obey? THAT is up to us!