Friday, November 15, 2024

The next chapter for the Church

The Next Chapter for the Church. r

Saw this Article in the KYOWVA Evangelistic Association: newsletter earlier this year,

I made a few editorial clippings but the overall message is we need to Prayer for the Church and have lots of work to do. Enjoy.

The American church is facing a series1of challenges regarding its future. 80% of churches pre covid, could be in the category of subtracting or suryiving. Those in the subtracting category are

those who are experiencing a numerical decline. Those in the surviving category are those who have currently reached a state of plateau. Neither growing nor declining. For the first time in the that Gallup has tracked American religious membership, more adults in the United States do not attend church than attend church. In the book the Great De-churching, author Jim Davis reveals, "More people have left the church in the last twenty-five years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening, and Billy Graham crusades combined."

Many of those declining congregations are made up of an aging congregation who are growing weary and who also have some uncertainty about the future of their local expression of the Kingdom of God. We are seeing churches close at a rate unlike anything we have seen in America. According to Lifeway Research, in 2019 approximately 3,000 Protestant churches were started in US, but 4,500 Protestant churches closed. Just five years prior, in 2014, the same Lifeway study found that 3,700 churches had closed and 4,000 had opened.

Another challenge that must be considered is a diminished pool of those who preach the Word It is not uncommon for churches to face a ministerial search that lasts more than a year.

Focusing on keeping the people you have and not reaching those who are lost. This type of thinking also confuses what it means to be faithful. Faithfulness is defined as keeping the lights on and the door open instead of being on a mission to reach those who are outside of a relationship with Christ. Faithfulness should be defined as being the best stewards of God's resources.

The changes that are facing us today require us to be very intentional about our solutions. It is also time for congregations to consider what is possible if they were to unite their resources with like-minded congregations. Church mergers have always been a challenge, but examples are available to give us hope for the future.

In the event that a church makes the painful decision to no longer

operate. The best solution is to what to do with the resource to make the most Kingdom Impact. That’s Kingdom thinking even in death of a congregation.

WWJHMD? What Would Jesus Have Me Do?

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning! Great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24.

A fourth grader celebrating his birthday while on crutches, so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school without help. His mother asked her sixth grade son to help his brother carry them in. “I could,” he said, “but I’d prefer not to.” Spotting a teaching moment, her husband asked, “What would Jesus do?” The boy answered, “Jesus would heal him so he could carry his own cupcakes.”

Sometimes I think the whole WWJD (What would Jesus Do) question should be translated to What Would Jesus Have Me Do? This has been a question we’ve been tackling on Wednesday nights with our Intentional Churches study. Looking at from the Street to the Seat perspective of changed lives for Christ. I quote this phase of being Jesus’ hands and feet. And it becomes more than a question but about impact in our community for Christ. May we continue to focus on Him.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Guidelines to Discussion

I've used the following guidelines for our Small Group Discussion on our study with Intentional Churches and looking at our own church its good and bad.

1. Criticism is Good. A way to look at one's self and improve.

2. Critic the policy, not the person. Personal attacks are not helpful. Politics needs to learn this value.

3. Revisit the past, don't live in it. We like to think the past was the greatest thing and to relive the "Golden Years." The problem is the past is behind us and we have to strive for the future.

4. Remember the Golden Rule. Treat others as you'd like to be treated. In discussion and heated debate, respect goes a long ways.

Others you might add?

Guidelines

Monday, October 07, 2024

From Open Network - 3 Tips to preaching on Sexual Sin.

3 Tips for Preaching on Porn and Other Sexual Sin

58% of Americans have watched porn online. This is why it's so important that we talk about overcoming pornography from the stage, and we want to help you feel ready.

Use sermon outlines available for free on Open Network, then follow these three tips for preaching on porn at your church.

Be Direct
For many attenders, your sermon may be the first time they've heard a biblical perspective on overcoming pornography.

Those who are struggling need you to clearly share the hope and guidance that God's Word offers.
Give Attenders a Heads Up
Communicate early to help them prepare their hearts and make plans to take their kids to children's church.

In addition to communicating throughout the week, you can use this free slide to remind attenders before the service starts.
Prepare Next Steps
Overcoming an addiction to pornography usually takes time.

While your message will help attenders start seeking freedom, they will need support along the way.

Identify helpful tools and next steps like finding an accountability partner, downloading content-filtering software, devotionals, etc., and have them ready.

You can find the four next steps we recommend in this post.