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New Millennium Church

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!




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