“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

The church in the United States is declining. The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s membership has declined from 3,500,000 in 1990 to 1,000,000 in 2020. We are not alone. All mainline denominations, United Methodist Churches, the Evangelical Lutherans, the Episcopal church, and Southern Baptists, Assemblies of God are in decline.

In the midst of loss, many are searching for the elusive silver bullet to solve our decline. Leaders go to conferences to learn about innovation, vision casting, and becoming more relevant.

No one is considering the possibility that perhaps the reason why we are in such a decline is because we no longer obey as we once did.

Andrew Root is one of the main speakers at the National Gathering at the Fellowship Community this year that Pastor Brad and I are attending. The Fellowship Community is a gathering for evangelically minded pastors and congregations who are still in the PC(USA).

Andrew Root was asked what he thought was the reason the churches in America are in such decline and he said that the problem has little to do with innovation but with obedience. Root said, “Instead of asking how do we innovate?” churches ought to be asking, “How will we obey Jesus?”

I think Root is spot on. It’s Christ’s church. The key to thriving churches has little to do with our innovations and visions. It has everything to do with Jesus and his church.

So, Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, “How shall we obey Jesus?”

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him” (1 John 2:3-5).

What Would Jesus Do?

Remember that? That was the question Christians were asking. I like that this focused our attention on Jesus. But I think there’s a better question to ask – “What did Jesus say?“

Asking “What would Jesus do?” makes us the persons responsible for figuring out what Jesus would or would not do. That’s really not our role. If we are followers of Jesus, we simply do what Jesus did. We do what Jesus commands.

Look at our text today:

• We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
• Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
• But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.

We don’t have to ask, “What would Jesus do?”

We simply need to ask, “What did Jesus say? What did Jesus command?” and focus on doing what he already told us to do.

Bet ya. When we do that, we’ll be too busy to ask, “What would Jesus do?”

“I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10).

This is one of the favorite verses of the prosperity gospel preachers. The claim is that Jesus wants your life to be abundant. That is true. But, where people go wrong is thinking that the things that make life abundant are in this world. So that, our lives are abundant when we are healthy and wealthy by living our best lives now.

Jesus did not die on the cross and descend into hell just so we can be comfortable, wealthy, and healthy. If that’s why Jesus died on the cross, he should have instead been a doctor and an investment expert. Jesus died on the cross to transform sinners into sons and daughters of God. Jesus died on the cross so that we can be holy and acceptable to God, to shape and mold us into the image of Christ.

We are told:

• For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29)
• And all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The source and the location of what makes life abundant is not on this earth nor in this life now. Jesus is the source of all life. Jesus is the source of all abundance. Colossians 3:1-2 tells us – Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

It is true that Jesus came that we might have the abundant life, AND he is the source of abundant life.