1. Opening Prayer

2. “A State of the Church
Address”

3. Introduction Remarks

4. South:
80% of the Nation's growth
Growth 5X’s Faster than MW &
NE
In 15 years - most populace
region in U. S.

5. South:
More deaths and more births
than any other region in the
country
Racial Diversity in the South

6. South:
92.5% of urban areas growing in
2006
98% of professing evangelicals
in the South are certain about
the existence of God

7. South:
96% of professing evangelicals
in the South claim religion is
important in their lives
Only 58% attend a service at
least once a week

8. South:
Nearly 30% attend a couple of
times a year or fewer
Only 40% believe there is one
true interpretation of Scripture

9. South:
53% believe differing
interpretations of faith are valid
and
57% believe that many religions
can lead to eternal life

10. South:
25% never give anything to the
kingdom of God and
51% give less than 2% annually.
95% of professing Christians
have never led another person
to Christ

11. South:
The unbelieving population in
the South is 70,000,000

12. South:
4,000 churches close their doors
every year - Barna

13. South:
4,000 churches close their doors
every year - Barna

14. The end justifies the means?
The end: higher attendance
The means: whatever works

15. The Cross a symbol of God's
grace or my worthiness?

16. God exists to make my life
wonderful?
Shouldn't the church be about
me as well?

17. The results are in and we both
lost!

18. We both exchanged the glory of
the Incorruptible God So where
should we look?

19. Is God, God-centered or man-
centered?

20. The Lord will not forsake His
people for His name's sake. 1
Samuel 12:22
He leads me in paths of
righteousness for His name's
sake. Psalm 23:3

21. Remember not the sins of my
youth or my transgressions for
the sake of your goodness, O
Lord. For your
name's sake, O Lord pardon my
guilt for it is great. Psalm 25:7

22. For your name’s sake you lead
me and guide me; Psalm 31:3
Redeem us for the sake of your
steadfast love! Psalm 44:26

23. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wondrous works;
they did not remember the abundance
of your steadfast love, but rebelled by
the sea, at the Red Sea.
Yet you saved them for Your name’s
sake, that you might make known you
mighty power.
Psalm 106:6-8

24. Bring my sons from afar and my
daughters from the end of the
earth, everyone who is called by
my name, whom I created for my
glory Isaiah 43:6-7
I am he who blots out your
transgressions for my own sake
Isaiah 43:25

25. For my sake I defer my anger, for the
sake of my praise I restrain it for you, for
my own sake, I do it, My glory I will not
give to another.
Isaiah 48:9-11
Though our iniquities testify against us,
act, O LORD, for your name’s sake
Jeremiah 14:7

26. Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your
sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to
act, but for the
sake of my holy name, And I will vindicate
the holiness of my great name, and the
nations will know that I am the LORD, is
not for your sake that I will act, says the
Lord GOD; Ezekiel 36:22-23; 32

27. From Him and through Him and
to Him are all things. To Him be
glory forever!
Romans 11:36

28. Our Need - To be radically God-
Centered

29. What are we called to do?

30. In the same way, let your light shine
before others, so that they may see
your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God! 1
Corinthians 10:31

31. Serving - whoever serves, let
him do it as one who serves by
the strength which God
supplies—in order that in
everything God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:11

32. And it is my prayer that you
would be filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes
through Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
Welcome one another as Christ
has welcomed you, for the glory
of God.
Romans 15:7

33. Am I radically God-centered?

34. Closing prayer