A Long Time Coming

In a fallen world all organisms pass through a lifecycle of birth, growth, decline and death. In biological organisms the length of this cycle is clearly described in terms of average life spans. What about non-biological entities? Are they subject to the same type of cycle? Is it inevitable for organizations to undergo a similar pattern of growth and decline? Is the visible, local manifestation of the Church subject to the same cycle? In the Prefactory to his Institutes of the Christian Religion, Reformer John Calvin suggests that from time to time God may allow the visible manifestation of the invisible, universal church to decline to the point of not being visible. We certainly see that in both the Scriptures and church history. The seven churches of Asia Minor in the book of Revelation no longer exist as discrete entities and most of us have seen churches close their doors as a result of a slow decline or sudden conflict. Local churches have life spans. Those that have long life spans seem to be able to remain faithful to their mission.   While there are certainly many external and internal factors that may contribute to a local churches life span, primary among them must be her ability to remain faithful to her God-given mission of making disciples through evangelism and nurturing believers through the preaching and teaching of the Word. The purpose of this blog (which has been a long time coming) is to humbly examine together how we can renew the local church in her mission to reach this generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.