More Than 15%

This post is a continuation of and a follow-up to the message which I preached on Wednesday evening, May 8, 2024. Click here to listen to that message, Roll Up Your Sleeves and Get to Work, if you were unable to be there.

One of the facts that I brought out in that message is that the average church loses between 10-15% of its attenders each year.

Because of that statistic, as a local church, we must be working and praying to reach more than that 15% if we expect to grow. (And, I don't believe it is wrong to think of church growth in these terms. While we don't want to focus on statistics, they are beneficial to help us keep in mind the reality of what we are "up against!")

So, how are we going to reach that more than 15%?

We will not reach them simply because we are a church that stands upon the truth!

Allow me to explain because I can see that some of you just read that last statement with some "fear and trepidation" and with the thought, "Where is Pastor Campbell headed with this?!?!"

We are going to continue to stand upon the truth of God's Word!

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  1 Timothy 3:15

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

We are not going to change our music or change our "style" or change our program. I'm not going to start wearing jeans and a t-shirt while I preach. (Some of you should be able to stop worrying at this point.)

However, we must understand that we are not going to reach that more than 15% simply by maintaining the correct doctrine and preaching.

How can I say that? It's because of what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Overall, in our world and society today, people are no longer desirous of hearing the truth; of hearing sound doctrine.

• They are looking for "preaching" that is going to tickle there ears; make them feel good.

• They are looking for preaching that caters to their "felt" needs.

• They are looking for churches that offer programs that meet their needs (for child care, exercise classes, etc.) and that have plenty to offer their family.

Illustration: Many years ago, a church member came in to the church office to speak with Pastor Scott and to let him know that their family was leaving SCBC. (This was a man that had been a deacon; that had been a Sunday school teacher; whose children had attended South Charlotte Baptist Academy, etc.) His reason for leaving SCBC? Their family needed something more.

Instead of looking for a church that is going to help them conform to the image of God through the preaching of the truth, they are looking for a church that is going to conform to them, to their family, to their schedule, to their desires.

So, Pastor Campbell, how are we going to reach that more than 15%?

We must do the work of an evangelist.

That's exactly what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5.

Reaching the more than 15% requires work. Coming to church on Sunday morning isn't all that difficult or complicated. In fact, I don't know that "coming to church" can be classified as work. Doing the work of an evangelist is a little more labor intensive. Because of that, sometimes, the work of an evangelist isn't all that "fun." It's not always "fun" to ask a total stranger the question, "Are you 100% sure that you will spend eternity in Heaven?"

Reaching the more than 15% takes place outside of the physical buildings of South Charlotte Baptist Church and takes place on more than just Sundays! We must be willing to commit to doing the work of an evangelist on everyday of the week and we must commit to carrying out the work of an evangelist everywhere we go.

Reaching the more than 15% requires a certain mindset. More than 15% must constantly be on our mind! We need to eat, drink, and sleep with More than 15% on our mind.

Reaching the more than 15% will require the participation of everyone in the SCBC family! As they say, "Many hands make lite work!"

• We need all of the members of South Charlotte Baptist Church to commit to being part of the response to More than 15%.
  

• We need all of the members of South Charlotte Baptist Church to have a More than 15% mindset.

• We need all of the members of South Charlotte Baptist Church to have that mindset Monday through Saturday (not only on Sunday or on Soul Winning Saturdays) and to have that mindset everywhere they go!

• We need all of the members of South Charlotte Baptist Church to roll up their sleeves and get to work!

Until next time...Reach 1!