Few people will argue that church attendance in many churches in America is declining. Our own research indicates that the majority of churches in our country are not growing.
Most of us have our own ideas why attendance is declining. Many have suggested that our nation is shifting away from its Christian roots, and thus the churches are declining as a smaller proportion of our country are believers in Christ.
I certainly will not argue with that premise. Certainly attendance declines are related to massive cultural shifts in our nation. But I would also suggest that one reason for declines has a greater impact than others.
The Frequency Issue
Stated simply, the number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago. Allow me to explain.
If the frequency of attendance changes, then attendance will respond accordingly. For example, if 200 members attend every week the average attendance is, obviously, 200. But if one-half of those members miss only one out of four weeks, the attendance drops to 175.
Did you catch that? No members left the church. Everyone is still relatively active in the church. But attendance declined over 12 percent because half the members changed their attendance behavior slightly.
This phenomenon can take place rather quickly in an individual church. And leaders in the church are often left scratching their heads because the behavioral change is so slight, almost imperceptible. We really don’t notice when someone who attends four times a month begins to attend only three times a month. Nor do we typically catch it when the twice-a-month attendee becomes a once-a-month attendee.
Five Possible Approaches to the Problem
Of course, the heart of the problem is not declining numbers but waning commitment. As I addressed in my book, I Am a Church Member, church membership is becoming less and less meaningful in many churches. As membership becomes less meaningful, commitment naturally wanes.
While I don’t want to suggest there is a magic bullet to this problem, I do want to offer some approaches to address it. These five have proven to be the most helpful in hundreds of churches:
- Raise the expectations of membership. You may be surprised how many church members don’t really think it’s that important to be an active part of the church. No one has ever told them differently.
- Require an entry class for membership. By doing so, the church makes a statement that membership is meaningful. The class should also be used to state the expectations of what a committed member looks like.
- Encourage ministry involvement. Many members become less frequent attendees because they have no ministry roles in the church. They do not feel like they are an integral part of the church.
- Offer more options for worship times. Our culture is now a 24/7 population. Some members have to work during the times of worship services. If possible, give them options. One businessman recently told me that he changed congregations to a church that offered a Saturday worship time because his job required him to catch a plane on Sunday morning.
- Monitor attendance of each member. This approach is often difficult, especially for worship attendance. That is why the traditional Sunday school approach of calling absentees was so effective. Perhaps churches can incorporate that approach in all groups. Members are less likely to be absent if they know someone misses them.
When Church Membership Becomes Meaningful
People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves.
Unfortunately, in many churches membership has become less and less meaningful. Until we get our churches back to the committed membership the Apostle Paul mandates in 1 Corinthians 12, we will continue to see declining attendance. But when membership becomes truly meaningful, our churches will become an unstoppable force for the Kingdom and glory of God.
Posted on August 19, 2013
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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280 Comments
I like your suggestions. The only one that may be difficult is the last one about the different service times. We used to have a Saturday night service. It was my favorite. My brain works better in the evening. You don’t have to yell at the kids to get up. They are already showered and dressed by that time of day. And it made it possible for us to volunteer the whole morning Sundays. Unfortunately not everyone sees it that way. So that means the staff and volunteers that do volunteer get spread pretty thin and they can burn out.
Strangely enough the 9AM service seems to be the fullest one. I’m assuming for a variety of reasons.
Very interesting and timely post. John and I just had a conversation about church membership over sweet tea and brats with another family from our church just last night. Our church had over 100 more adults on average each week this summer than we did the previous summer, yet we have a net of 0 new members. There are many reasons for this. One is that we only scheduled 1 membership class during the summer months. Another is that visiting families usually take time to kick the tires of a church before committing. However, a huge reason seems to be that people do not value membership as they did even a decade ago. Commitment to organizations of any type is down. I wonder how the issue of frequency and commitment to membership factors into the issue of millennials leaving the church. I bet if I dug deeper there would be some correlations. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and insights, Amy
Thanks Amy. Great to hear from you.
It seems like we are focusing on the 99 and forgetting the one lost sheep . . . or should I say, we are focusing on the 1 and neglecting the 99 lost sheep. Calling it a success when you get every member attending every service falls far short of addressing the cultural shift and the church’s purpose and mission..
The bigger question is: Why has the church failed to reach this generation with the gospel. It may be because we are more focused on programs and traditions than we are on people. Until we are moved with compassion for the lost we are fighting a losing battle to focus on church attendance. Matthew 9:36; Luke 19:10 I once heard a pastor say, “I will do anything short of sin to reach the lost.” We need to repent and do the first work. Revelation 2:1-7
AMEN!
Could it be that the real problem is the behavior of the church outside the walls of the church buildings? Are we really serious about reflecting CHRIST to the world?
Interesting thoughts on the numerical decline! It was only a few years ago when Sunday’s (at least Sunday mornings) were “reserved” for church. If you have children or students in your home, you now know how much our community activities can pull us away from church at least once per month. It’s an interesting topic … Even as a staff and church leader, I will strugge with difficult choices when my son, who is playing college football, plays a game 12 hours away on a Saturday night.
Jonathon makes a great point–’belonging to something bigger than yourself is attractive’, just belonging to ‘something’, not so much. Too often church has been sold as the ends in itself and it will. not. satisfy.
I AM a member of the Body. I have no interest in ‘being’ a member of a local organization. Churches that place as much emphasis on membership as they do on being a member of the Body (or even more emphasis on the former) are missing the boat entirely. However, cast a vision for the Kingdom, provide an opportunity for me to exercise my own Kingdom calling in community with others who are doing so and I’ll give you more time, energy, effort and money than you could ever imagine! But, don’t even think about making it about your local organization! It sure wasn’t about that 2000 years ago.
We’ve called people to ‘get saved and go to church’. Why are we surprised then when, after they’ve done that, there’s not much else to keep ‘em? Call them to discipleship, model discipleship, don’t model the one or a few ‘doing it all’, empower them and anticipate that they will do the disciple-making, show them how you do it. Don’t try to manage them, that’s the job of the Head. I’ve seen too many aloof leaders, you know, the ones who ‘don’t do email’, ‘just do the teaching’, ‘are too busy’, are ‘guarded’ by their minions– I’m not going to be part of that! First off, their vision is too small and myopic.
Be prepared to ‘lose’ your church and your job—you’ll be amazed at what God does next! “Except a kernal of wheat falls to the ground and dies,…..” John 12:24 I think this principle holds true in this conversation as well.
too many tares, not enough wheat
modern altar calls, easy-believism and decisional regeneration have all contributed to bloated membership rolls
http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2006/02/southern-baptists-unregenerate.html
Doug, I believe you are right on. We have to hit it head on with the Gospel. Gotta connect salvation with sanctification and pray that some “members” start following Christ.
I would like to toss in my two cents on why I am currently not a member of a church nor attend a church. I was a member in good standing and attended a small S. Baptist church in my area for many years. I was even baptized as an adult in this church. In 1996 I became extremely ill after a botched back surgery. Did anyone from my Sunday school class drop by to say hello, are you still alive, can I go get you a burger? No. I heard nothing from no one other than the church secretary calling me after 4 months asking why I had not tithed in so long and that she would take a credit card over the phone. I was shocked and hurt by this. I explained my situation but all she was interested in was my money. Maybe my expectations were too high. I am from the South, not currently living there, and if a church member becomes ill or there is a death the church family falls all over themselves to make sure that there is food, prayer and comfort. When I was able to leave the house and start attending church again I returned to what I considered to be “my church home” but it felt wrong and I no longer felt like I was welcome. Since that time I have been church shopping I have tried different denominations and large and small churches. In the majority of churches I have attended I see cliches, few people come up to greet you and make you feel welcome, I am not one that needs coddling just a welcoming handshake or greeting , not people glancing over their shoulder with a scowl on their face, Sermons have grown increasingly political, I don’t go to church to get the ministers political views I go to church to talk about and learn the Bible. I detest the hate and intolerance that is being spread and hangs in the church rafters like a plaque. Hatred over sexual preference, hatred for those with differing views and opinions, hatred for women who must make gut wrenching decisions as to what to do with their body. As a child I was taught in Sunday school to pray for those who sin but not to pass judgement on them. It was okay to hate the sin but not the sinner and this is something I have carried with me throughout the years. To hear a minister spewing hatred to the congregation is to me the highest form of hypocrisy. Where has community service gone? I love working with my church family while serving the community as a whole. Hypocrisy runs rampant. It is almost like since they are attending church, the way that people act throughout the week doesn’t matter because come Sunday all will be forgiven because they are going to church. I had been attending a nearby church for several months and one day at the grocery store I pulled in to the handicap parking spot, hung my little placard and got out of the car. A woman had parked her car directly behind mine and came charging at me yelling that I “had taken her parking place.” I apologized but had not seen that she was waiting for that space and if her disability required her to have the space I would move over a couple of rows. She then yelled “I am not disabled I am in a hurry and I always park in this spot.” I recognized her from the church and told her so I then asked if she was the one that always parked in one of the handicapped spots at church yet did not have a handicap placard displayed. I turned on my heels and headed in to .the store with this woman yelling at me the entire way. As I returned to my car with my few purchases her car was still parked behind mine blocking me in. The following Sunday I visited with the preacher about this encounter and was told that this woman was on the Board of Director’s. I am not sure if this was the reason she was so un-Christ like, if this was an excuse or why this point was brought up. That evening I received a phone call from one of the elders telling me that “their” church might not be the one for me. Really? I now infrequently attend a non-denominational church but this time I went in with no expectations. I don’t attend Sunday school, I keep to myself, I am friendly if approached but I don’t feel as if I am part of the church body, the elite. I read my Bible throughout the week but I need my Sunday time with Jesus and I find myself, more often than not, taking 30-45 minutes on Sunday to read my Bible, meditate on the words and finding the solace, strength and serenity to get me through the week. If a church truly wants to attract new members and retain those members the minister, board and all decision makers need to really look inward and see what newcomers see. What is the first impression upon entering the church, do we have a welcoming environment, is the minister’s message one of God or one of man, how much involvement the church body has in the community they serve, etc.?
Michelle,
I think you have raised some good questions. But may I offer that I got lost in a lot of emotional and relational baggage in your post and almost quit reading before the end. You have some hurts that need to be let go before you are ever going to be satisfied with any situational involvement in church. Maybe it’s not my place to say it, but what you just wrote has so much resentment in it, I don’t know if anyone knows where to start.
Kris, I appreciate your psychologic analysis and yes I did ramble. For a total stranger to pop up with “a lot of emotional and relational baggage..”, “some hurts that need to be let go before you are ever going to be satisfied with any situational involvement in church…” and “has so much resentment …” you have just emphasised the point I was trying to make. You don’t know me from Adam yet you were very quick to pass judgement based on a quickly typed interruption filled comment on an Internet forum .
I sounded rude and it wasn’t meant. I re read and agree with that. I just think this blog was about a decline a church attendance which means churches addressing their systems and how they fix these issues.
I just felt your response was deep and I think there are some hurts there that if God helped you heal might better solve your apprehension to get involved in another church.
My apologies. I approached this pretty practical and dogmatic. I hope God can help you with these hurts and remember not all churches operate this way.
Thank you Kris. I am safe and secure in my spirituality and my relationship with the Holy Spirit. No worries on that front. I was trying to point out that there is more than 1 reason for the decline in church attendance. We have discussed this topic often in my Bible study group and every person has had an experience, or twenty, that has prompted them to find new churches and some have opted to worship on their own.
i disagree…she was spot on as i and many have experienced fall out in much the same way…and nothing is being addressed or done about it…blessings to you, sister in Christ..do not be affected, edureth all things and your reward will be great in heaven!
Michelle,
I appreciate you sharing your heart with us. I’m saddened to hear how you were treated and also by how this experience has affected your desire to attend worship regularly.
Much of what you describe is (and always has been) peppered throughout the Body of Christ, but usually not all in the same place! I agree, yuck! However, as Christians we have a duty to hold to what is good, so maybe we just move down the road until we find the place that God has for us. We can do this and still keep the people that we meet through these experiences in our prayers.
If I can offer one unsolicited piece of advice; let’s not allow the behavior of others to cloud our own commitment to Christ and our ability to remain connected to the Body. Since our individual relationships with Jesus are uniquely personal, I think we should focus there and let Him sort out all the other foolishness that goes on.
Be blessed, I will be praying for you 🙂
Michelle, I am sorry that your church experience was negative and hurtful. I will hold you in my pryaers and hope that your new congregation truly lives out Christ love in the church, parking lot and the world 🙂 Peace-
Michelle, You are rightly questioning your treatment by the church you were involved in. You seem to be going though the same transformation that many of us who have been spiritually dissatisfied with the church system. May I humbly submit something for your discernment, prayer and consideration. Actually, this is for anyone else on this forum as well, including Mr. DeLong and Mr. Rainer.
A brother posted the following on this very blog…(you may have missed it in amongst the many other comments). May Jesus bless you sister…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7.”Jim, I left the following comment on Mr. DeYoung’s blog article:
Most of the people who I know that have come out of the traditional, cultural church experience are people who were pillars in these same places before their exit. Why did they leave?
Obedience: the Holy Spirit led them out.
The increasing apostasy evident in the traditional church experience is a sign of God’s judgment against the errors they contain. What are these errors? Here are some examples [prefaced by a question]: “By whose authority do you support practices that God clearly rejects?
For example, referring to the church as a building or place, which is a pagan idea and practice. Under the New Covenant, there is no official holy place for believers to gather: rather, we are the temples of the Holy Spirit that are built up together for a habitation of the Holy Spirit, as a holy people (2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Peter 2:5).] Jesus emphasized this truth in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:20-24).
For example, the observance of special times and the creation of a holy day: Christians are no longer to observe special times and days, for they have been called to a sabbath lifestyle–in which every day is a day of rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ–and set apart to God.
For example, dividing the body of Christ on the basis of creeds and interpretations, and this includes creating a list of members, as if it is man [and not God] who has the power to make men members of the body of Christ. We have no power to reject anyone whom God has received. Tragically, the entire system of organized religion is built upon a spirit of division that continually undermines people’s understanding that we are all of one Lord, faith, and baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Knowing the Lord makes us part of His body, not subscribing to a particular creed or emphasizing particular truths. Jesus’s last prayer for His followers before laying down His life was that they would receive the revelation of their unity in Christ (John 17:20-23): therefore, dividing [denominating] the body of Christ is a direct contradiction to the revealed will of God. Denominations are the fruit of men who desire to build their own kingdoms in order to receive the glory intended for God (1 Corinthians 1:10-15). Notice, these natural boundaries negate the work and leadership of the Holy Spirit to draw saints into fellowship and ministry with one another according to the Father’s will and direction.
For example, creating an elevated class of spiritually elite believers who occupy the best seats within the assembly, wear special clothing, and are addressed by spiritual titles: whose function is to direct worship at a physical temple and collect tithes from the people to support themselves and temple activities. This includes allowing a human personality to predominate the assembly at the saints. Not only is this idolatry, the practice negates and grieves the work of the Holy Spirit to minister through the gifts of all the saints (1 Corinthians 12 and 14). This is an attempt to re-institute the Old Testament, Levitical priesthood and a rejection of the nature and reality of the New Covenant founded upon and sealed by the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28; Romans 7:4; Hebrews 8:13, 12:24). Jesus commanded His disciples to never allow other believers to refer to them by any spiritual title, including ‘master’ or ‘teacher,’ stating, you are all brothers (Matthew 23:8). Every believer is a member of the royal priesthood, fully authorized and commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel, baptize in Jesus’ name, and partake of the Lord’s Supper with other believers, as the Spirit leads.
All of these practices corrupt people’s understanding of the true nature of Christ’s atoning work, what He died to accomplish and reveal.
Of course, many attempt to justify their support of what is false by pointing out the good that they also do: however, Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you,” (John 15:14).
It is immoral to point to our good works, as a means of justifying the evil we do in the sight of God.
How will we be judged?
We will be judged on the basis of the truth we have received (Matthew 11:21-24; Luke 12:48)
We will be judged on the basis of what we say and do (Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 12:36; Romans 2:6-11)
We will be judged on the basis of God’s clear commands, as revealed through scripture by the agency of the Holy Spirit (John 12:48)
Comment by Mark Bryan Finger — December 16, 2013 @ 8:14 pm
so why then are preachers, teachers, leaders and the entitled elitist fellowmen of our congregations not getting this?
Thom thanks for the post! “We really don’t notice when someone who attends”…In the avg church smaller church of about 80-100 as a pastor of one I see those who are not there quite clearly. Just sayin:) And my wife reminds me too:)
But…I am doing exactly what you suggest in #1 & 2, & 3. Starting 9-8 we will have Discover EBC, a requirement to becoming a member. What can I do about the current members who have not and will not go through the orientation class to raise their level of comm? Your suggestions are appreciated!
“People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves.” And what if they really dont? I mean some churches and members have given in and have been spiritually “sedated”. They just dont care. How do you get people to care and want to be something bigger than themselves? This is a bog issue to what you are blogging about today. Please…your thoughts are appreciated
The reason may be very simple, yet I’m not dismissing a need for change within the church: 2Thess 2:3 “(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” Many are quick to say the end is near, yet miss that fact that if it is, there will be a great falling away first!
Dan,
With respect, that would be an easy explanation if the “falling away” were impacting the entire Body of Christ. The decline in the church is most obviously in western Europe and North America. While the church is growing like wildfire in other places around the globe.
Western cultures are wealthy and depend on themselves for the things which sustain them. We need to be honest with ourselves and with God about what is truly going on in the countries experiencing decline for the past 30 years.
Here’s a scripture that comes to mind as I ponder the decline in the Church in western culture:
“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Hosea 13:6 (NIV)
Johnathon,
I don’t disagree with you, as stated there is need for change in the church, however if we are in the end, the other is true too.
If you wish honest answers one must look at several things:
1) Salvation is “sold” as just believe and it’s done and once you say this “prayer” it’s done, yet this is not Scriptural – One is saved by acknowledging Christ as Lord (Rom 10:9-10), Lordship means to surrender one’s self as slave to the Master (Christ), which is NOT taught in American evangelicalism, thereby producing false converts that then run the church;
2) Church in America has become “business” and in such uses gimmicks to “sell” salvation and increase attendance, when God calls use to preach (1Cor 1;18-23) and make disciples (Mt 28:19-20; 3) there is no training for the most part in church today other than the basics (Heb 6:1-2);
3) Leaders are as babes in Christ and lack faith and convince in the Word of God and you expect the followers to be any different, many of which do not even know what the definition of faith or grace is: faith is defined as Heb 11:1, yet the word means: confidence in the Word of God. Many don’t even believe the historical account of Genesis! Grace is teach as “God’s unmerited favor”, yet it means: gracious divine influence on one’s heart reflected in their life;
4) the church claims to know and love God, yet this verse comes to mind: 2Tim 3:5 “(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
5) Many do not even understand that Christ NEVER did any of His miracles, God DID THEM THOUGH Christ (Jn 14:10) because Christ being God limited Himself to act as a mere man (Phil 2:6-7);
6) We don’t believe Christ’s own words: Lk 17:6, Mk 11:23 and others in Matt because we do not believe; we say we do, but our lives show we do not – Words are an empty shell, it’s our actions that fill them and bring them to life.
7) We don’t live out our faith – Read 1Jn for numerous examples.
I could go on, but this is too long already. The reason Western Europe and American churches are in decline is because the vest majority of them are dead (religious) churches, not ones full of a relationship with Christ, which WILL change lives and the outside world wants to see life, not more death. in fact, you could remove God and Christ from most churches in America and their members will still attend. I’m not trying to condemn anyone, merely pointing out the truth as to why people are no longer interested. SHOW the world Christ and they will come until the end when the great falling away happens, if it hasn’t started already.
Dan,
You have hit the nail on the head. In my experience, a small group of true believers, filled with faith, are more effective than a large mass of people who are only in the game for what they can get out of the Church. A major problem for Christianity in the US today is that Churches have become “Fire Insurance” companies. In many Churches, the meaning and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been so watered down as to make unbelievers believe that “if I make a profession of faith and get baptized, then I can go about my life, but will not burn in hell.” This, obviously, has no basis in the Holy Word of God; nevertheless, this is what, I believe, a plurality of Christians believe. This scares me, since God has placed a heavy burden on my heart for the lost. Ministering to the lost is really easier than ministering to the pseudo-saved. I run into “christians” who believe they are saved (i.e. they walked the isle, answered the Pastor’s question correctly, and went for a swim); however, it is readily apparent that they have not received the conviction of the Holy Spirit based on their actions and fruits. It is very hard to convince pseudo-christians that they are not saved and that God requires more from the relationship than getting wet. This is not a problem of youth. I have found this problem in all age groups and is a contributing factor for reduced Church attendance, as these pseudo-Christians (i.e. tares) have a tendency to run off those of the lost who are at a point of readiness to have the Gospel opened to them.
Amen and Amen….my family full of pseudo-Christians…you cannot say anything to them and they are hostile to the truth…red flag!!
If the sheep are wandering and lost it is because the shepherds are not teaching them. If the students are not learning the teachers are not teaching. I don’t think we can blame the members. Sin was not invented in this decade. People have always been stiff necked and rebellious. It is our job as leaders to be change agents. People do not do what we EXPECT but what we INSPECT!
I forgot to affirm the idea Thom presented ot knowing the sheep by name and counting them every week. If a member of the family misses two or three meals go visit and see what is wrong with them. What kind of shepherd will not even count his sheep?
If we don’t even follow up on them and let them know we love and appreciate them it shows spiritual malpractice on our part. It is not the fault of the sheep! It is not the fault of the culture! Rome, Ephesus, Corinth, etc all had more blatant sin than us. But that was not blamed and people came to Christ.
It is not rocket science but I Corinthians 12, 13 and 14.
Count and love the sheep by name and pray for them in power. They will stick for sure.
Gary,
Yes, leaders have responsibilities to the sheep, nonetheless they are not to coddle them, feed them, yes, equip them, yes. Jesus did NOT coddle them; He told them the truth and they responded, He did not chase them down to win them over. They received what was taught or were offended and left and Jesus let them leave because Christ knew God is who holds them, not us or our methods. As for students not learning because of poor teaching, that is not true. Students have a responsibility to learn. Each person will be held accountable for what each person did with Christ regardless of the teacher. A teacher cannot force a student to learn, nor can a student force the teacher to teach. Each will be accountable for their own part.
Coddling and caring is forbidden by Jesus.
Luke 15: Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.
2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.
We did a yearlong research study with Christian people who have disabled kids. No one from the church ever
called, visited or prayed for them or their sick child. Is that too much coddling? Would it mean that preachers and laity might have to actually know the sheep and ask why they are missing the services?
Was the Israelites Moses fault? Wasn’t Jonah mentored by God? Judas lived, traveled and learned from Jesus. Do we blame Jesus?
Gary,
1) Never said caring was not to be done, however coddling goes far beyond caring.
2) As for teachers, they are responsible to teach and students are responsible to learn BOTH are responsible to God and will give account. James does warn against being teachers for there is greater responsibility in such
3) The OUTCOME is NOT in our hands, it’s in God’s hands.
4) The issue is the church in America is failing because it leaders do NOT lead according to Scripture and the students do NOT care to learn; as a whole it has become a business NOT worship; there are greater amounts of lost as church members than saved and it’s time to clean house; let the offended leave, let the worshipers of God stay AND actually LIVE OUT their faith instead of merely talking about it.
5) We do not get saved by works, nor keep salvation by works, yet we are saved to DO good works! Matt 5:16 “(16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Jas 1:27 “(27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” 1John 3:17 “(17) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1John 4:20 “(20) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
6) the church is so busy trying to find the next program that will solve the problem and fix the decline, they don’t see what God says to do about it – SEE #5; the world is tired of hearing about Jesus, they want to SEE HIM in those who claim to have HIM in their lives! Jas 1:22 “(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
7) Matt 5:13 “(13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” IF we aren’t going to LIVE OUT our faith, Scripture says we are good only to be trodden on.
8) 2Chr 7:14 “(14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Who is at fault according to God? HIS PEOPLE, not the world, HIS PEOPLE (leaders and students alike).
Melody,
Both student and teacher are responsible. The student to learn, despite the teacher, and the teacher, despite the student’s response.. Each person is responsible before God for how they handle what comes there way. The student cannot say the teacher never told me, the student has the Bible; the teach cannot say, they never listen, God told the prophets to teach even when the students would not listen. The only one you can blame in the end is YOU. The only one I can blame in the end is ME. It’s that simple. My point in my post was to show how leaders are falling short of their responsibility. I started with leaders because leaders are more accountable – Jas 3:1 “(1) My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” I said they were a lot more reasons, but did not continue. The post was already too large.
Dan
Is that not what I said?
It stands to reason that I was speaking to someone else then and have no control over how the site posts it.
🙂
have we forgotten the prodigal son and how the father responded upon his return? Geeeez!
We are looking at using your book – “I Am a Church Member” in our Sunday School. Do you have teacher lessons that go with it? Thanks.
Use the Bible. Too many churches use books that talk about the Bible, yet not the Bible itself. Use the Bible.
JonathanG “hit it on the head”. Pastors and their staff have gotten less relational. And, I add, too “professional” . . .and seminaries are often to blame. If they would spend a little less time polishing their sermons and spend that time with their flock, they would have such greater results. The best sermons are not preached from the pulpit, but along side people in the trenches of life.
The Great Commission is to make disciples, not just church members. Just a little time getting down out of the pulpit and relating to people in their everyday world, will go a lot further ; and see more results than the best sermons. Ask people what was the sermon was about two weeks ago and see what response you get. But, spend a half hour over a cup of coffee listening, really listening to the passion of ta person God has given though his spiritual gifts, and see the long term results. That will take a lot of stress off pastors.
I agree here that pastors are becoming too professional and less relational. Also they are developing a mindset that says “that’s not my job, it’s my co workers job” when called to come along side hurting members. The pulpit is of the utmost importance but the “one another’s” of ministry ate great discipleship and teaching opportunities that are often missed out on. When there is connection and relationship there is a desire to attend and build on it.
Great post!