Just this afternoon I had a short conversation with a young adult who had picked up and read a bit of David Kinnaman's book "UN Christian". Clearly their interest was aroused. What struck me most was first their interest and second the absence of disagreement at least with the pages they had read. Although Kinnaman's book is a US study, the challenge for the Canadian church is not much different. A Canadian book tells a similar story of challenge for the churches of Canada. Although David Sawlers book "The Goodbye Generation" is different in content and style it reflects the fact that churches are losing young adults at significant rates.
It is important to understand our context has changed and we can no longer pretend that its 'ministry as usual'. This is not the first time the church has had to face significant circumstances that required change. Bob Dylan's words from his song 'The Times They Are A-Changin' may be appropriate to our time as we seek to respond to our challenges.
Come gather round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth saving
Then you better start swimmin
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a changin
Studies show that local churches are struggling and closing at a signficant rate. There is a need to rethink our ministries. It is important not to see our circumstances in merely human terms. I expect much of our present circumstances have their source in the church's tendency to develop strategies, programs and ministry without adequate dependance on the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church is a spiritual organism. It cannot be grown and developed on human terms. So if I were to make first recommendation for our community it would be let's get back to the basics. Personally and corporately we need to give time to God. I put the personal responsibility first because each of us have been given new life through the Spirit of God. If we do not grow personally in knowing the work of the Holy Spirit, we will likely be led by some human method. I am new to Southside. I wonder, 'how much do we prepare for and share in the small groups in which we partcipate?'. We need to take the advice James gave, 'if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God'.
Let me know your thoughts...
wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com
Recent comments...
Pastor Wes,
Right on! Now to get started….
Hello Pastor Wes,
Thank you for the sermon this morning. I can testify that I have talked to some of those young adults you are talking about, adults who grew up in church, Catholic or Christian, but now don't have a place for it in their lives. They have seen the structure, but don't know Jesus! I am amazed at how many people I meet at school don't actually know about what the Bible says. Anyway, I appreciate your sermons, and I find it especially nice when you summarize what you are saying into key points at the end, so that it's easier to grasp one concept and keep it. I totally agree that we need to put the priority on spending time with God ourselves! That's where it all begins.
Hi Pastor Wes,
I thought you would find this audio broadcast interesting. Basically says most marketing promotes an idea to sell a product but the "church" is trying to promote products to sell an idea.
Take Care,
Hi Ted,
I did give a listen. I found it thought provoking I will have to listen to it again without Rebekah distracting me. I did find my emotion being 'bumped around' by some of the comments, statements and observations. At some levels I agree that asserting that God is, is a form of persuasion. Really that is Genesis assertion and the story begins. But more than that to say that 'God is not' is a form of persuasion. "the fool says in his heart there is no God". I need to listen to it again there is alot that is being expressed. After all when you think of John the Baptist's ministry 'prepare ye the way of the Lord'. Really his role was that of persuasion and preparation.
Thanks for the link it got my wheels turning.
Wes
Hi Pastor Wes,
Daisy and I have always been sensitive to areas where Christian events/programs etc start leaning over to being big business. They most always start off with good intentions, but somewhere along that path they drift into being a business and loose the connection with there roots. You can see that happening with Promise Keepers, Strive etc...
The CBC broadcast is interesting and applicable particularly because this is our country's public broadcaster and is an example of what the public see's when looking at "the church".
Keep up the good work on opening eye's to interfacing with society at large and reaching the lost.
Take Care,
Ted
I listened to the audio program about advertising church and religion. It was thought provoking. It is an important point that the type of public exposure a church receives is not always the type that God can use.
Prayerful consideration as to what God really wants to accomplish through any church seems to me to be all the more crucial when you think that it is so easy to be dependent on the program or technology for the results and to convey the wrong message.
The question, as stated by yourself, of what God has in store for us individually and as a church may only be answered [over time] by seeking God's thoughts in prayer and bible study.
RobS