January 19, 2025

Thriving in the Midst of Change

Preacher:
Passage: Isaiah 43:1-3, 16-19
Service Type:

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “No person steps twice in the same river, for it is not the same river and they are not the same person.” The water is always flowing so the river you step in with one foot is not the same river you step in with the other.

In 2002, Baylor University professor of history and religion, Philip Jenkins wrote a book called, “The Next Christendom: The Rise of Global Christianity.” In the book, Jenkins writes that by the year 2025, 50% of all Christians on the face of the earth will live in either Latin America or Africa and another 17% will live in Asia.

That hasn’t happened yet, but we are only 3 weeks into 2025, and the movement of Christianity is in the direction Jenkins noted. Christianity in North America and Europe is in a steady decline. While Africa, Latin America, and Asia are experiencing explosive growth in Christianity.

Clearly, God has been and is doing a new thing. So, how do we respond to this reality? Do we see it as a crisis or an opportunity? We are definitely supposed to respond in some way.

There are two common church responses to the decline in church involvement and Christian identity. The first is built on the thinking that if culture and people are changing then the church needs to change and find new ways of doing business.

The second response is the thinking that we are not going to change just to meet an ever-changing society. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow so we are going to stay exactly as we are.

Neither response had changed the decline of Christianity in America. So, we must consider a third option. This message will offer a response that has three priorities.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “No person steps twice in the same river, for it is not the same river and they are not the same person.” The water is always flowing so the river you step in with one foot is not the same river you step in with the other.

In 2002, Baylor University professor of history and religion, Philip Jenkins wrote a book called, “The Next Christendom: The Rise of Global Christianity.” In the book, Jenkins writes that by the year 2025, 50% of all Christians on the face of the earth will live in either Latin America or Africa and another 17% will live in Asia.

That hasn’t happened yet, but we are only 3 weeks into 2025, and the movement of Christianity is in the direction Jenkins noted. Christianity in North America and Europe is in a steady decline. While Africa, Latin America, and Asia are experiencing explosive growth in Christianity.

Clearly, God has been and is doing a new thing. So, how do we respond to this reality? Do we see it as a crisis or an opportunity? We are definitely supposed to respond in some way.

There are two common church responses to the decline in church involvement and Christian identity. The first is built on the thinking that if culture and people are changing then the church needs to change and find new ways of doing business.

The second response is the thinking that we are not going to change just to meet an ever-changing society. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow so we are going to stay exactly as we are.

Neither response had changed the decline of Christianity in America. So, we must consider a third option. This message will offer a response that has three priorities.

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