| It must be nothing but confusing for
| |
| | spiritual development that most local
|
| anyone who comes to America - who
| |
| | churches address, millions of adults who
|
| practices a religion other than
| |
| | are the most serious about their faith in
|
| Christianity - when they notice how many
| |
| | God were the ones least likely to be
|
| churches there are on any given street,
| |
| | satisfied by what their local church was
|
| ALL of which consider themselves to be
| |
| | delivering in terms of resources,
|
| Christian. According to American Church
| |
| | opportunities, evaluation and
|
| Lists, there are 386,000 churches in the
| |
| | developmental possibilities. The
|
| USA alone.While the Church is thriving,
| |
| | consequence is that millions of committed
|
| amidst persecution, in third world
| |
| | born again Christians are choosing to
|
| nations, here in America the traditional,
| |
| | advance their relationship with God by
|
| local church no longer ranks as the only
| |
| | finding avenues of growth and service
|
| place to go as the Christian's primary
| |
| | apart from a local church.Asked if this
|
| meeting place. Millions of people claim
| |
| | meant that the Revolution he describes is
|
| they are drawing closer to God but farther
| |
| | simply a negative reaction to the local
|
| from any involvement with traditional
| |
| | church, he suggested that most
|
| churches. What's happening? According to
| |
| | Revolutionaries go through predictable
|
| California Researchers called the Barna
| |
| | phases in their spiritual journey in which
|
| Group, "...new ways of experiencing and
| |
| | they initially become dissatisfied with
|
| expressing faith, such as through house
| |
| | their local church experience, then
|
| churches, marketplace ministries, and
| |
| | attempt to change things so their faith
|
| cyberchurches, are becoming the norm for
| |
| | walk can be more fruitful. The result is
|
| millions of people."A new book by the
| |
| | that they undergo heightened frustration
|
| group's founder, George Barna, entitled
| |
| | over the inability to introduce positive
|
| Revolution, indicates that since the turn
| |
| | change, which leads them to drop out of
|
| of the millennium there have been major
| |
| | the local church altogether, often in
|
| changes occurring in how people experience
| |
| | anger. But because this entire adventure
|
| and express their faith. Based on a series
| |
| | was instigated by their love for God and
|
| of national surveys conducted by his
| |
| | their desire to honor Him more fully, they
|
| company during the past 25 years, Barna
| |
| | finally transcend their frustration and
|
| discovered that discontent with
| |
| | anger by creating a series of connections
|
| congregational churches, changes in
| |
| | that allow them to stay close to God and
|
| lifestyles, and a gowing desire to get
| |
| | to other believers without involvement in
|
| closer to God, have caused many people to
| |
| | a local church.One of the hallmarks of the
|
| seek new ways to felowship with God and
| |
| | Revolution of faith is how different it is
|
| with other God-seeking people.In the year
| |
| | for each person. "It would be wrong to
|
| 2000, most of America's Christian activity
| |
| | assume that all Revolutionaries have
|
| took place by way of local churches.
| |
| | completely turned their back on the local
|
| Today, in 2005, during a typical week, 9%
| |
| | church," the researcher stated. "Millions
|
| of all adults attend a house church. An
| |
| | of Revolutionaries are active in a local
|
| even greater proportion (22%) engages in
| |
| | church, although most of them supplement
|
| spiritual encounters that take place in
| |
| | that relationship with participation in a
|
| the marketplace (e.g., with groups of
| |
| | variety of faith-related efforts that have
|
| people while they are at their place of
| |
| | nothing to do with their local church. The
|
| work or play, or in other typical daily
| |
| | defining attribute of a Revolutionary is
|
| contexts). The Internet serves as the
| |
| | not whether they attend church, but
|
| foundation for interactive faith
| |
| | whether they place God first in their
|
| experiences for more than one out of every
| |
| | lives and are willing to do whatever it
|
| ten adults. Personally, though I attend
| |
| | takes to facilitate a deeper and growing
|
| house churches, have held high school
| |
| | relationship with Him and other believers.
|
| Bible studies for over a year in a hair
| |
| | Our studies persuasively indicate that the
|
| studio and the past three years have led a
| |
| | vast majority of American churches are
|
| college Bible Study in a local coffee
| |
| | populated by people who are lukewarm
|
| shop. In recent months I have preached
| |
| | spiritually. Emerging from those churches
|
| twice at a Disciples of Christ Church, and
| |
| | are people dedicated to becoming
|
| have taught Sunday School at the local
| |
| | Christ-like through the guidance of a
|
| Methodist Church for a month of Sundays.
| |
| | congregational form of the church, but who
|
| Just yesterday, the Pastor of the local
| |
| | will leave that faith center if it does
|
| Cowboy Church asked if I'd be interested
| |
| | not further such a commitment to God. They
|
| in teaching a cults class on a Thursday
| |
| | then find or create alternatives that
|
| which he would open up to the entire
| |
| | allow that commitment to flourish."How do
|
| community and, just this morning, I was
| |
| | most Revolutionaries justify calling
|
| invited to take part in an outreach with a
| |
| | themselves devoted disciples of Christ
|
| Baptist College in Oregon. In each
| |
| | while distancing themselves from a local
|
| instance, according to the examples set by
| |
| | church? "Many of them realize that someday
|
| the Apostle Paul in Acts Chapter 16 with
| |
| | they will stand before a holy God who will
|
| Lydia at "First Riverside Church" and with
| |
| | examine their devotion to Him. They could
|
| the Jailer at "Slammer Assembly of God,"
| |
| | take the safe and easy route of staying in
|
| these gatherings are nothing less than THE
| |
| | a local church and doing the expected
|
| Church in all its fullness, never intended
| |
| | programs and practices, but they also
|
| to be a mere bolt-on program for the REAL
| |
| | recognize that they will not be able to
|
| Church.The findings from several Barna
| |
| | use a lackluster church experience as an
|
| Group surveys conducted during the past
| |
| | excuse for a mediocre or unfulfilled
|
| twelve months reveal the characteristics
| |
| | spiritual life. Their spiritual depth is
|
| of this emerging population of people who
| |
| | not the responsibility of a local church;
|
| had to leave Church to find more of God in
| |
| | it is their own responsibility. As a
|
| their lives. Referring to these
| |
| | result, they decide to either get into a
|
| individuals as "Revolutionaries" who are
| |
| | local church that enhances their zeal for
|
| intent upon "being the Church rather than
| |
| | God or else they create alternatives that
|
| merely going to church," Barna believes
| |
| | ignite such a life of obedience and
|
| that the magnitude of this movement into
| |
| | service. By and large, these are people
|
| new forms of religious community will
| |
| | say they have stopped going to church so
|
| change the face of the entire religious
| |
| | they can be the Church."The Revolution:
|
| community - not ONLY the Chrsitian
| |
| | Challenges and OpportunitiesWhile the
|
| community - during the next ten to twenty
| |
| | Revolution brings with it some very
|
| years.PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS, LISTEN
| |
| | promising qualities, an intense pursuit of
|
| UP!According to Barna's research, some of
| |
| | godliness, new networks of believers
|
| the more intriguing attributes of these
| |
| | supporting each other, heightened
|
| Revolutionaries who seek to experience and
| |
| | financial giving to ministry endeavors,
|
| express their faith in alternative ways
| |
| | greater sensitivity to the presence of God
|
| are:*It's the Baby Boomers, those who are
| |
| | in the world, a greater sense of freedom
|
| largely responsible for the megachurches
| |
| | to be a genuine disciple in the midst of a
|
| that have redefined the Church environment
| |
| | secular society, Barna also pointed out
|
| during the past quarter century, who are
| |
| | that the Revolution brings great
|
| now making up the greatest part of the
| |
| | challenges to those who choose that
|
| Revolutionary ranks.*Adults involved in
| |
| | route."There is the danger of exposure to
|
| marketplace ministry are more than twice
| |
| | unbiblical or heretical teaching. There is
|
| as likely as those connected only to a
| |
| | the possibility of experiencing isolation
|
| congregational church to have a biblical
| |
| | from a true community of believers and the
|
| worldview and more than twice as likely to
| |
| | accountability and support that can
|
| identify the Bible as the source of truth
| |
| | provide. It could become easier to hoard
|
| in life. They are also one-third more
| |
| | one's treasures rather than giving
|
| likely to contend that absolute moral
| |
| | generously. Some might find it more
|
| truth exists.*About two-thirds of all
| |
| | difficult to sustain a life of worship
|
| adults engaged in a house church attend in
| |
| | without a place or means of expressing
|
| any given week, with the remaining segment
| |
| | that praise to God."Barna contends that
|
| attending at least once a month. That is
| |
| | these are very serious challenges faced by
|
| nearly identical to the attendance profile
| |
| | Revolutionaries but that they are no more
|
| of people for whom a congregational church
| |
| | serious than the threats to the spiritual
|
| is their church home.*Men and women are
| |
| | health of regular church-goers. As one who
|
| equally likely to participate in
| |
| | has serve inleadership in traditional
|
| marketplace-based ministry activity, while
| |
| | church settings, I can recall several
|
| men are slightly more likely to engage in
| |
| | instances of cultic and heretical
|
| house church options.*The Midwest is the
| |
| | teachings that permiated our ranks and
|
| stronghold for congregational church
| |
| | shipwrecked many a sincere Believer. Barna
|
| connections, while the southern states
| |
| | adds, "Objectively speaking, these are the
|
| have become the most fertile spawning
| |
| | very same problems that we identify among
|
| grounds for marketplace ministry
| |
| | people who rely upon the efforts of a
|
| involvement, and participation in a house
| |
| | local church to facilitate their growth.
|
| church is equally common everywhere
| |
| | We find plentiful evidence of unbiblical
|
| outside of the Midwest.*Evangelical
| |
| | teaching in small groups, Sunday school
|
| Christians are those most likely to get
| |
| | classes and other local church venues. We
|
| involved in an alternative form of the
| |
| | know that few churched Christians give 4%
|
| Christian church and also the groupmost
| |
| | of their income back to God, much less
|
| likely to participate in both a
| |
| | 10%. We recognize that most people
|
| traditional and alternative church form.
| |
| | attending worship services in a church
|
| More than four out of ten evangelical
| |
| | sanctuary leave feeling that God was not
|
| adults are involved in an alternative form
| |
| | present and that they did not personally
|
| of church on a regular basis.*Many parents
| |
| | connect with the living God through that
|
| are involved in both a congregational and
| |
| | experience. We have identified the
|
| alternative church form presumably to
| |
| | relative absence of accountability within
|
| address the diverse interests of both the
| |
| | most congregations. So even though
|
| adults and children.*One-third of the
| |
| | Revolutionaries face serious challenges in
|
| alternative church crowd engages God and
| |
| | blossoming into the fervent God-follower
|
| other believers in a church form other
| |
| | they hope to become, perhaps the main
|
| than a house church, that is, they are
| |
| | difference is simply that they have a
|
| involved in a marketplace ministry, a
| |
| | wider range of options for achieving their
|
| cyberchurch, or a series of faith-focused
| |
| | faith goals than do people who are solely
|
| events that connect them with God and
| |
| | focused on faith delivered through a local
|
| other Christ-followers.Interestingly,
| |
| | church. In either case, it is ultimately
|
| Barna also pointed out that surveys of
| |
| | up to the individual to make sure that
|
| people's religious activity often blur our
| |
| | they have their spiritual priorities
|
| understanding of Church behavior because
| |
| | right, that they are investing themselves
|
| many participants in alternative church
| |
| | in activities that draw them closer to
|
| experiences are not sure whether to
| |
| | God, and that they stay focused on
|
| describe themselves to survey interviewers
| |
| | pleasing God more than themselves or other
|
| as "attending a church service" or not.
| |
| | people."How does the traditional Church
|
| "Some of these individuals are so
| |
| | view the Revoltionaries?One man's
|
| comfortable with their new, alternative
| |
| | Revolutionary is another man's Rebel. The
|
| forms of church that they do not hesitate
| |
| | explosion of Revolutionaries in the U.S.
|
| to say they attend Church. Others,
| |
| | raises new challenges for people involved
|
| however, have been so conditioned to think
| |
| | in ministry. "This new movement of God
|
| of "Church" as the activities taking place
| |
| | demands that there be new forms of
|
| on the campus of a certain denomination
| |
| | leadership to appropriately guide people
|
| that they are more likely to describe
| |
| | in their faith journey," Barna said. "It
|
| themselves as unchurched, even though they
| |
| | requires new ways of measuring how well
|
| engage in worship, service, prayer,
| |
| | the Church at-large is doing, getting
|
| financial sharing, and discipleship
| |
| | beyond attendance figures as the indicator
|
| activities through their alternative faith
| |
| | of health. And it demands that new tools
|
| community."What we're about to experience,
| |
| | and resources be accessible to a growing
|
| according to Barna, will be the most
| |
| | contingent of people who are seeking to
|
| massive reshaping of the nation's faith
| |
| | introduce their faith into every dimension
|
| community in more than a 100 years.THE
| |
| | of their life."READ ACTS 16:6-33, then ask
|
| RISE OF NEO-CHURCHISMRelying upon national
| |
| | yourself these questions (my own answrs
|
| research conducted over the past several
| |
| | provided for the sake od study and
|
| years, noted that although measures of
| |
| | teaching):vs 6-13 Questions1) After two
|
| traditional church participation in
| |
| | closed doors and then a vision, what level
|
| activities such as worship attendance,
| |
| | of expectation did Paul probably have as
|
| Sunday school, prayer, and Bible reading
| |
| | he sought to go into Macedonia?(Confidence
|
| have remained relatively unchanged during
| |
| | was most likely quite high)2) In this
|
| the past twenty years, the Revolutionary
| |
| | century and culture, how were women viewed
|
| faith movement is growing rapidly."A
| |
| | in comparison to men? (Subserviant; less
|
| common misconception about
| |
| | than slaves?)3) How many women do you
|
| revolutionaries," says Barna, "is that
| |
| | estimate there were? (5 or so?)4) Do you
|
| they are disengaging from God when they
| |
| | think Paul envisioned a greater crowd and
|
| leave a local church. We found that while
| |
| | success than God had arranged for on the
|
| some people leave the local church and
| |
| | river bank? (He probably had a different
|
| fall away from God altogether, there is a
| |
| | idea in mind)5) How did Paul respond to
|
| much larger segment of Americans who are
| |
| | the group he found? (He obeyed the
|
| currently leaving churches precisely
| |
| | Spirit)vs 14-15 Questions1) Do you think
|
| because they want more of God in their
| |
| | God was at work in Lydia's heart long
|
| life but cannot get what they need from a
| |
| | before Paul ever arrived? If so, why? Why
|
| local church. They have decided to get
| |
| | not? (Yes, because her steps were ordered
|
| serious about their faith by piecing
| |
| | and she was born for that moment in
|
| together a more robust faith experience.
| |
| | time)2) Because Paul was listening to God
|
| Instead of going to church, they have
| |
| | he was led clearly to a group that was not
|
| chosen BE the Church, in a way that
| |
| | his first choice. Agree or Disagree?
|
| harkens back to the Church detailed in the
| |
| | (Agree)3) After Lydia responded to Paul's
|
| Book of Acts."BIG CHANGES IN THE MAKINGOne
| |
| | message, how did they bring the Good News
|
| of the most eye-opening portions of the
| |
| | to her "household"? Did they hear the Good
|
| research contained in the book describes
| |
| | News that same day or later? (Through the
|
| what the faith community may look like
| |
| | women; Seems later - by Lydia and the
|
| twenty years from now. Using survey data
| |
| | other women)4) When were they baptized? By
|
| and other cultural indicators he has been
| |
| | whom? In what water source? (Silas in the
|
| measuring for more than two decades, Barna
| |
| | river)5) This group became a church, in
|
| estimates that the local church is
| |
| | God's eyes, in verse 15! Agree or
|
| presently the primary form of faith
| |
| | disagree?vs 16-241) How successful did
|
| experience and expression for about
| |
| | Pauland Silas feel in place of service to
|
| two-thirds of the nation's adults. He
| |
| | which God had directed them? (Felt low)vs
|
| projects that by 2025 the local church
| |
| | 25-33How did Paul bring the Good News to
|
| will lose roughly half of its current
| |
| | jailers "household?" Who was the jailer's
|
| "market share" and that alternative forms
| |
| | "household?" (Jail ministry, Family,
|
| of faith experience and expression will
| |
| | slaves).QUESTIONS WE MUST ASK OURSELVES
|
| pick up the slack. Importantly, Barna's
| |
| | ABOUT THE ACTS 16 CHURCH...This group
|
| studies do not suggest that most people
| |
| | became a church that very night in God's
|
| will drop out of a local church to simply
| |
| | eyes...agree?What does this story say
|
| ignore spirituality or be freed up from
| |
| | about our expectations and view of
|
| the demands of church life. Although there
| |
| | Biblical success?What are the minimum
|
| will be millions of people who abandon the
| |
| | essentials, in God's eyes, for starting a
|
| entire faith community for the usual
| |
| | church?What role do relationship
|
| reasons - hurtful experiences in churches,
| |
| | connections play in starting a Church?What
|
| lack of interest in spiritual matters,
| |
| | are the chances the jailer's household
|
| prioritizing other dimensions of their
| |
| | would have ever been converted and
|
| life - a growing percentage of church
| |
| | involved in Church if Paul had not taken
|
| dropouts will be those who leave a local
| |
| | CHURCH to THEM?Who is well-suited to take
|
| church in order to intentionally increase
| |
| | the Gospel to other groups who have unseen
|
| their focus on faith and to relate to God
| |
| | barriers to church?How much do these
|
| through different means.That growth is
| |
| | churches cost to start? How big do they
|
| fueling alternative forms of organized
| |
| | get? How many did they reach? How long did
|
| spirituality, as well as individualized
| |
| | they last? How successful were they? Who
|
| faith experience and expression.THE
| |
| | were their pastors?Apply these answers to
|
| PASSION-DRIVEN CHURCHIn the effort to
| |
| | the American Church TODAY. Compare to the
|
| increase their obedience and faithfulness
| |
| | burgeoning Third World Churches.Need
|
| to God, Barna discovered that
| |
| | pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or
|
| Revolutionaries are characterized by what
| |
| | IM me at Every blessing!Now, scroll to the
|
| he identified as a set of spiritual
| |
| | bottom and FORWARD this message. Please
|
| passions, specific emphases that drive
| |
| | RATE the message as well. If you need
|
| their quest for God and a biblical
| |
| | Pastoral assistance, e-mail me at Lord
|
| lifestyle. Although these are areas of
| |
| | bless!
|
