Best spiritual resource on the net
 

Welcome to our New Age Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

(Browse for more articles)

 

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




www.soul-journey.com keyword stats [2007-06-09-2007-06-09]


Other search phrases:

baptist christian church streaming audio radio
religious symbols new age spa new york
age of consent in new york religious groups
beverage market share eternal light of healing
healing our waters new york age
new age realty new age electric
psychic reading life is a cabaret
celtic religions french religion
pirates of the new age new age graphics
professional training electric pocket bikes
tully health center stamford got a new age girl
healing tones german culture
new age girl dead eye





1- A- B- C- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47-