| Schaeffer Institute |
truespirituality.org
The Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development
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The principle focus of FASICLD for the last 15 plus years is seeking why so many churches are failing.
This is what we found, and it is not pretty: Our churches are not glorifying Christ because we are failing at knowing and growing in Him personally. We are not able to teach others when we are failing at following Him and Him alone! Remember, it is His Church and we are the caretakers of it. Thus, we must act according to our call.
Are you willing to take an honest look at some of the reasons why people are not coming to your church? 1,103 churches, surveyed and tracked for 12-plus years,
Are you crying out to God and asking why things are not going right in your church? Dealing with apathy and ineptitude? Is your church on the path of self-destruction and ineffectiveness? Are people lining up for war in various factions and sides while conflict and discontent are running amok? Are some people gossiping while others are being ignored? Is Christ outside knocking on your door, but not getting in? Instead, have you replaced Him with what you think is relevance and attractiveness to the Gospel but in fact,
Out of learning why churches fail, we also learned why they succeeded. The churches that are healthy, growing spiritually, and are socially vibrant have significant aspects that set them apart from the failing churches. These factors are displayed in order of relevance and importance. Each one of these factors creates a harmony, contentment, and atmosphere for a churchgoer to come to church services and fellowship, and then to invite others.
How do you know if Christ is your focus? Look at your life. Do you confess God with your lips yet deny Him in your daily life? It is easy to belong to a church or recite a creed, but difficult to live the Christian life. Yet, He gives us the love, grace, and means to do so. How do you define faith? Remember, faith without action is a contradiction, and love without obedience is impossible.
Books by Francis A. Schaeffer Schaeffer Books
The Complete Works of Francis a Schaeffer a Christian Worldview (A Christian View of Philosophy and Culture, Volume 1)
Thinking and Providing Biblical and Grace-Centered Theological Resources for the Church