I want to open up a conversation with blog visitors about 21st century ministry. If you will take a look at my reading list for while I'm here, you'll notice that I'm reading "UnChristian." It is based on a broad survey and study of young adults 18-29, related to their perspectives of the Christian faith and the church. Some of the responses to the survey are predictable, I've read them elsewhere and heard them in conversation but some of the responses are somewhat surprising. I'll share some of them later because I don't want to prejudice the conversation I am inviting here.
I am in the process of scheduling some gatherings in the two churches I'm serving here in England this month. Those gatherings are with church folks and particularly people under 40. I am hoping for them to be round-robin discussions on Bible, theology, faith and the church's ministry. I am sure I'll learn a great deal and hope that we can share ideas for how to reach a new generation of people with the Gospel.
So, to you blog visitors, a question to kick off our discussion - what should be a local church's essential tasks?
To paraphrase Henri Nouwen (Christian spiritual writer) "If we do not understand that which is essential to ministry, we might spend most of our time doing the merely important."
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Mmmm this is an interesting one. Whilst I was thinking about it a came across this:
Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” So, according to this Scripture, the purposes / activities of the church should be:
(1) teaching Biblical doctrine
(2) providing a place of fellowship
(3) observing the Lord’s supper
(4) praying.
I think the church has several essential tasks but within the context of your message and given the decline of church goers over the years I think the church should be focusing on the second point.
I quote: "The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn." - John Lubbock. I believe that providing an environment that is welcoming, supportive and dare I say entertaining is the key to spreading the Good News through our churches.
People have not changed over the years they look for understanding, support and social interaction. These days the family network is often not there and so surely people should be turning to the church as a surrogate family. So why aren't they? I believe:
a)it's because people don't remember or have never known that the church is a family. We've all watched good families on a day out the ones where everyone joins in, even the sulky teenager is smiling and clearly enjoying themselves. I know I've often wished I was a part of that family. And that's what I believe our local churches need to do - show everyone what a great family we are.
b)local churches have forgotten how to be a family. I think the church needs to refocus on being a family and doing what families do.
We need to learn how to be that cool family on a day out. How will I know how to look after my daughter when she turns 16? TO be honest I'll probably google "dealing with teenagers" but hopefully and more importantly I'll watch her and talk to her
My friend and I went to the local library's storytime this afternoon and got talking to a mum who was new to the area and like most of us was trying to find friendship for her and her little girl. The talk turned to the church and the very wise woman I was with talked briefly about why she loved going to her church. She spoke only the truth; she talked about finding help to look after her small child, being given advice on the things that happen in her life, finding practical help with everyday things, having good friends to sit and natter with (chat/visit to you Americans!) She painted a picture that showed her church to be eactly what we were all looking for yet not at any point was that scary God mentioned. Whether the woman will come to church or not remains to be seen but she's at least been reminded that the church offers her the family life she's after.
It won't surprise you to know that my wise friend has a husband called Tommy and a daughter called Addie!!
Wow! Thanks for your comment. I like that wise friend! You are right to point us to Acts 2 Naomi. It rightly returns us to the life and work of the earliest Christian church and roots us in the way they lived out what it meant to be the family of God. Hopefully it is through us, acting as a loving family, that they find out that God is not scary afterall. Thanks!
hey bro -- great stuff on the whole blog. I'm catching up a little while still on vacation. This is a helpful question because it's easy to list way too many "essentials." And that saying of Nouwen's is one of my favorite bits of wisdom about life as well as about ministry. So, here's an offering to this conversation...
1. Worship God - both when corporately gathered for Word & Table, Song & Prayer, Creed & Offering
2. Form persons in Christlikeness - reconciled to God by the cross & resurrection, form persons in Christlikeness that they (we) may be restored in our bearing of the image of God
3. Build/nurture a kingdom-centered, Christ-redeemed, new creation, covenant community of deep hospitality and welcome
4. Participate in God's mission in the world however he leads us in that--typically by continuing the kingdom ministry begun by Jesus, doing "greater things that these" [done by Jesus] in the power and grace of his Spirit.
This is such a Youth/Children's Director analogy, but to be the skin for the Body of Christ! We're all a part of the body as individuals and then each church is a part of the Church of Christ, being one body. The Church is the skin that connects us all together, keeps us intact and moving in the same direction. We're what people see from the outside and we're made to reach out, touch, and feel in this world. We're the "front lines" for the Body of Christ.
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