Paul’s Charge

My current church, which was planted in 2008, was established with seasoned believers. We began with an average attendance of about 100 and over the years continued to grow both numerically and spiritually. It was pure joy to worship when surrounded by such pillars of faith. However, the last couple of years changes in leadership and pastors caused a decline in attendance and we are once again averaging a little over 100. Even more disheartening is the fact that the spiritual maturity of the church is also declining. Paul said, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Tim 4:1-5 NIV).