Tag Archives: servant evangelism

Why Are Churches Dying?

closed-church

Churches are dying. Some are thriving, but the overwhelming majority are not. Attendance is dwindling. Most are hanging on by a thread. Many will have to shut their doors in as little as one generation.

A lot of this is because we live in a Post-Christian society that embraces the emerging postmodern worldview.

  • Millennials (born ’82-’04) aren’t being reached.
  • Generation X (born ’61-’81) & Y (born ’77-’95) are dropping out.
  • Baby Boomers (born ’46-’64) are ready to pass the torch.
  • The Builders (born ’25-’45) are going home.

Look, people: we are at a tipping point. It is the 4th quarter and we are trailing.

We must re-think, re-tool, and re-frame. We must shift, evolve, and adapt.

If not, we will be mourning church closing after church closing.

“Churches across this country are going out of business, closing their doors, because they’ve lost their relevancy. They chose not to change with the times. They chose to keep people over 60 happy and forget about reaching people under 30. They, like my granddaddy, measured faithfulness by doing things the same way year after year, regardless of the response or the results.” – Edward H. Hammett

Please read that quote again only slower this time.

(I can feel you nodding your head in agreement.)

Traditions are great. But if traditions are only servicing personal preferences, then we need to take a hard look at them.

  • Are we inwardly-focused or outward?
  • If we closed, would the community even notice?
  • Are we a museum for saints or a hospital for sinners?

I know these are tough questions, but they need to be asked and honestly answered.

I’m convinced that people love Jesus, but have lost their love for church. I’m not saying that is correct, I’m just saying that seems to be the trend. The next generation does not see the relevancy church.

How do we reach a new generation for Jesus Christ? How do we help them fall in love with church again?

Ref: Hammett, Edward H. Reaching People under 30 While Keeping People Over 60: Creating Community Across Generations (TCP the Columbia Partnership Leadership Series): TCP Books, 2015.

http://thomrainer.com/2017/08/dying-churches-die/

My Boring Playbook

 

playbook

I am boring, I suppose. I have the same answer to every problem because the same answer is the answer to every problem.

My playbook has only one play in it: Give the ball to Jesus.

I don’t have an onside kick, a fake punt, or a reverse. I have just one strategy: Put Jesus in.

I don’t have a Top Secret play that I have been working on. I don’t have Shooter run the Picket Fence. I don’t have Daniel-san do the Crane Kick. I have the same play we’ve always used: Pass it to Jesus.

Ever watched a game where one athlete is just heads and shoulders better than everyone else? Its almost not fair. We all watched as Shaun White and Chloe Kim just crushed everyone at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics the other night. They take it to the next level. They are just that good.

We have Someone on our team that is heads and shoulders better than everyone & everything we will ever face. INFINITELY BETTER!

Why in the world would you not put Him in the game? Why try to take on the devil and his demons all by yourself? It’s like leaving Michael Jordan on the bench and telling him, “Don’t worry, Mike. I got this.”

Seriously man, are you insane?

Ref:

 

Small Things Done With Great Love

love-heart

Mother Teresa said that small things done with great love will change the world.

Small things turn into big things. Drop a stone in a calm lake and you can watch ripple after ripple extend all the way to the lake’s edge. The whole lake can be touched, moved, and changed. Every little thing we do has the potential for a wonderful ripple effect.

Of course, the opposite is equally true: small things done with great hate can also change the world. Splashing around violently will cause choppy waves to crash against each other resulting in utter chaos.

“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.” – Matt. 5:16

Servant evangelism is such a vital part of our Christian faith. Our day is full of small things. Do them with great love. In every little thing point others to Jesus (Col. 3:23).

Then watch as the lake is transformed. Then watch as the world is changed!

Happy Valentine’s day, everyone!

Ref:

Hammett, Edward H. Reaching People under 30 While Keeping People Over 60: Creating Community Across Generations (Tcp the Columbia Partnership Leadership Series). Grand Rapids: TCP Books, 2015.

Rusaw, Rick, and Eric Swanson. The Externally Focused Church. Loveland, Colo.: Group Publishing, 2004.

Sabotaging the Sabbath

job-interview(1)

Let’s say you have an interview this weekend. What are you going to do? Prepare for it, right?

  • Get a good nights sleep.
  • Get your clothes ready so you aren’t rushing around.
  • Set your alarm. (Better safe than sorry: set 2!)
  • Have a full breakfast that morning.
  • Leave extra early just in case there is traffic or something.

Why do you do that? You don’t want any interference.

Ok, you made it with no hiccups.

  • What would happen if you fell asleep during the interview?
  • What would happen if you showed up late?
  • What would happen if you just skipped it because ___________________?

Why is that? Well, because a job interview is a very special thing, silly.

What if we treated meeting with God and His people with the same preparation? Are we sabotaging the Sabbath by not preparing for it?

COUNTDOWN: It is only 2 days until Sunday! 48 hours and we get to worship as a group! Are you getting excited? Are you getting prepared?

Karen Burton Mains has written a lovely book on this subject called, Making Sunday Special. She’s right; Sunday is special. Are you looking forward to it?

– If this blessed you, please like & share!

Ref: Mains, Karen Burton. Making Sunday Special. Waco, Tex.: W Publishing Group, 1987.