two thoughts. The first is generational shift - the changes and adaptations that Kevin is talking about, the shifts in content delivery, are all large geared toward a generation that is already saturated with church. The congregations that have grown under that model have largely done so among boomers (or incubator kids, who grew up in the church). This is not a negative thing; it’s been very effective at reaching into that community. But that community has been saturated with that model, and may have reached the point of diminishing returns. Content repackaging isn’t hitting generations younger than 35 with the same kind of impact that it did 10 years ago.

The second thought is this. The churches that are growing like wildfire, reaching emerging generations and splitting off to replant almost as quickly as they are started, are churches that don’t show up in a barna-like study. They meet in homes, in clubs, in bars, in the basements of other more established churches. They don’t have a spot in the yellow pages, or membership in a denomination, and they are notoriously hard to count.

I wonder how Barna’s assessment of the state church would change if he had a way of taking into account the new emerging communities?

I think that one very serious problem in the church’s not impacting our society like it once did is sin.  The world has crept into the church.  For many Christians, the only difference between their lifestyle and that of the unsaved is that they go to church on Sunday.  (What kind of image does that present of the church?) They talk the talk around other Christians, but they do not walk the walk around the unsaved.  If the churches are full of people like this, think of how it robs the church of God’s power.  The solution doesn’t lie in changing the churches “system” but in living a passionate life for Jesus Christ.  Believe me, I think growth is of utmost importance.  But so is impact.  We can have large numbers inside the church, and absolutely no impact in our community.  I certainly believe that along with repentance and developing a heart after God, we should also examine our methods and discard any that are outdated and ineffective.  We should always ask the Holy Spirit to scrutinize any and everything we do!  But let’s get hot for God again!

The church must be culturally relevant, but not culturally driven.  The days of giant crusades to reach the lost are gone and relational evangelism is in. (Actually it was always here - we just ignored it).  America is a post-Christian nation and we have to act like it if we are going to have an impact; yet most of the church at large still thinks this is a Christian country. 

There are growing movements of “flat” or de-centralized churches and these are encouraging.  Believe it or not, according to Barna, 50% of all Christians now attend less than 18% of all churches.  Meaning, 1/2 of everyone who claims to velong to God are ignoring 82% of existing churches.  Why?  The new American paradigm of consumerism as life.  Our church saw nearly 2,000 people join last year, but only 200 of those were through conversions.  We aren’t doing our part to reach this new culture - but we are blessed to have a Senior Pastor who is changing the church to meet this new cultural need. 

If a mission-minded church flew to Africa and met a tribe of people whose every whim was easily met, whose attention span was 30 minutes and who had no real concept of God, but instead, valued “spirituality”, then this church would adopt a strategy to reach them.  We need to do the same in America today.

Jesus said “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me”. 

For the most part the church has become man-centered instead of God-centered.  For instance, a recent message I heard about David and Goliath talked about David’s character, etc instead of the fact that God can do ANYTHING! 

We have become preachers of behavior modification instead of sanctification.  Try it - and you will see how purposeful you must be to make something God-centered.  Take a passage and write some thoughts about it, then review it and see how much is about the character and nature of God and how much is centered around Man’s character or nature.  You will be shocked. 

When something is man-centered and not God-centered, it becomes passionless.  History had proven that passion is what draws the masses, especially the younger ones. 

When we become God-centered in our own lives and then in our preaching, passion will return, we will lift up Jeus and people will once again be drawn in; both believers and unbelievers.

Quote:

“The world has crept into the church.”

They haven’t “crept in” they’ve been welcomed with open arms so they can be counted as “members” and added to the bottom line of the “growth chart.”

The reason why the “church” in America is faltering is that there is NO difference between the society and the “church.”

Wow!  As I sit and read the comments it appears as though noone is doing “church” right or, maybe most of you are simply hard to please.  Are you really so down on men and women who are trying any model or method to reach people for Christ?  I get the impression that if a church is too big and can’t be figured out, they must be doing something wrong.  Do really believe the church is faltering...the world has crept in?  Is your outlook on the church that shallow?  Come on...stop the bangin’ Go develop relationships with your neighbors and people in the marketplace and get a taste of how God can still change lives...right in front of your eyes!

Why is the church not advancing? 

Could part of the reason be that the church loves the world and ignores the New Testament commandment to not love the world?

Could part of the reason be that the two commandments on which all the Law & the prophets hang is being substituted with the world’s self-help philosophies that claim the *real* first commandment is “love yourself” because if you don’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else and the result is a “church” full of people focusing on the “right” priority - “fixing myself”.

Could part of the reason be strife and division in the body of Christ?  Too many believers walking in such pride that they find it terribly easy to criticize and condemn their brethren rather than accept, love and encourage them… and then build websites and “ministries” based on warning everyone how heretical everyone *else* is?

Could part of the reason be that we don’t see the Lord Jesus formed in our leadership but instead see a leadership that has not taken to heart the command, “beware and be on your guard against *every* form of greed”?