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How do we know a famine of the word is affecting a church?

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A famine of the word is evident when preaching lacks the power of the Spirit, Christ is absent from the congregation, and the ordinances are observed without genuine worship.

A famine of the word can manifest in several ways within a church. Firstly, when preaching occurs without the power of the Holy Spirit, it becomes mere words rather than life-giving truth. As seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul emphasizes that true gospel preaching comes with power and assurance through the Holy Spirit. Secondly, when there is external form but no presence of Christ, the worship becomes hollow, as illustrated by the story in Luke 2:41-45, where even the parents of Jesus were unaware of His absence on their journey. Thirdly, scripture can turn into a source of controversy rather than conviction and comfort, wherein doctrinal debates take the place of spiritual transformation and heart engagement with God's word. Therefore, the presence or absence of the Spirit, Christ, and genuine worship are critical indicators of a spiritual famine.
Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Luke 2:41-45

Sermons (1)

The Famine of Our Day
Frank Tate · Jan 3, 2016
Joshua

Joshua

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