| It must be nothing but confusing for anyone | | | | churches address, millions of adults who are |
| who comes to America - who practices a | | | | the most serious about their faith in God |
| religion other than Christianity - when they | | | | were the ones least likely to be satisfied by |
| notice how many churches there are on any | | | | what their local church was delivering in |
| given street, ALL of which consider | | | | terms of resources, opportunities, evaluation |
| themselves to be Christian. According to | | | | and developmental possibilities. The |
| American Church Lists, there are 386,000 | | | | consequence is that millions of committed |
| churches in the USA alone.While the Church is | | | | born again Christians are choosing to advance |
| thriving, amidst persecution, in third world | | | | their relationship with God by finding |
| nations, here in America the traditional, | | | | avenues of growth and service apart from a |
| local church no longer ranks as the only | | | | local church.Asked if this meant that the |
| place to go as the Christian's primary | | | | Revolution he describes is simply a negative |
| meeting place. Millions of people claim they | | | | reaction to the local church, he suggested |
| are drawing closer to God but farther from | | | | that most Revolutionaries go through |
| any involvement with traditional churches. | | | | predictable phases in their spiritual journey |
| What's happening? According to California | | | | in which they initially become dissatisfied |
| Researchers called the Barna Group, "...new | | | | with their local church experience, then |
| ways of experiencing and expressing faith, | | | | attempt to change things so their faith walk |
| such as through house churches, marketplace | | | | can be more fruitful. The result is that they |
| ministries, and cyberchurches, are becoming | | | | undergo heightened frustration over the |
| the norm for millions of people."A new book | | | | inability to introduce positive change, which |
| by the group's founder, George Barna, | | | | leads them to drop out of the local church |
| entitled Revolution, indicates that since the | | | | altogether, often in anger. But because this |
| turn of the millennium there have been major | | | | entire adventure was instigated by their love |
| changes occurring in how people experience | | | | for God and their desire to honor Him more |
| and express their faith. Based on a series of | | | | fully, they finally transcend their |
| national surveys conducted by his company | | | | frustration and anger by creating a series of |
| during the past 25 years, Barna discovered | | | | connections that allow them to stay close to |
| that discontent with congregational churches, | | | | God and to other believers without |
| changes in lifestyles, and a gowing desire to | | | | involvement in a local church.One of the |
| get closer to God, have caused many people to | | | | hallmarks of the Revolution of faith is how |
| seek new ways to felowship with God and with | | | | different it is for each person. "It would be |
| other God-seeking people.In the year 2000, | | | | wrong to assume that all Revolutionaries have |
| most of America's Christian activity took | | | | completely turned their back on the local |
| place by way of local churches. Today, in | | | | church," the researcher stated. "Millions of |
| 2005, during a typical week, 9% of all adults | | | | Revolutionaries are active in a local church, |
| attend a house church. An even greater | | | | although most of them supplement that |
| proportion (22%) engages in spiritual | | | | relationship with participation in a variety |
| encounters that take place in the marketplace | | | | of faith-related efforts that have nothing to |
| (e.g., with groups of people while they are | | | | do with their local church. The defining |
| at their place of work or play, or in other | | | | attribute of a Revolutionary is not whether |
| typical daily contexts). The Internet serves | | | | they attend church, but whether they place |
| as the foundation for interactive faith | | | | God first in their lives and are willing to |
| experiences for more than one out of every | | | | do whatever it takes to facilitate a deeper |
| ten adults. Personally, though I attend house | | | | and growing relationship with Him and other |
| churches, have held high school Bible studies | | | | believers. Our studies persuasively indicate |
| for over a year in a hair studio and the past | | | | that the vast majority of American churches |
| three years have led a college Bible Study in | | | | are populated by people who are lukewarm |
| a local coffee shop. In recent months I have | | | | spiritually. Emerging from those churches are |
| preached twice at a Disciples of Christ | | | | people dedicated to becoming Christ-like |
| Church, and have taught Sunday School at the | | | | through the guidance of a congregational form |
| local Methodist Church for a month of | | | | of the church, but who will leave that faith |
| Sundays. Just yesterday, the Pastor of the | | | | center if it does not further such a |
| local Cowboy Church asked if I'd be | | | | commitment to God. They then find or create |
| interested in teaching a cults class on a | | | | alternatives that allow that commitment to |
| Thursday which he would open up to the entire | | | | flourish."How do most Revolutionaries justify |
| community and, just this morning, I was | | | | calling themselves devoted disciples of |
| invited to take part in an outreach with a | | | | Christ while distancing themselves from a |
| Baptist College in Oregon. In each instance, | | | | local church? "Many of them realize that |
| according to the examples set by the Apostle | | | | someday they will stand before a holy God who |
| Paul in Acts Chapter 16 with Lydia at "First | | | | will examine their devotion to Him. They |
| Riverside Church" and with the Jailer at | | | | could take the safe and easy route of staying |
| "Slammer Assembly of God," these gatherings | | | | in a local church and doing the expected |
| are nothing less than THE Church in all its | | | | programs and practices, but they also |
| fullness, never intended to be a mere bolt-on | | | | recognize that they will not be able to use a |
| program for the REAL Church.The findings from | | | | lackluster church experience as an excuse for |
| several Barna Group surveys conducted during | | | | a mediocre or unfulfilled spiritual life. |
| the past twelve months reveal the | | | | Their spiritual depth is not the |
| characteristics of this emerging population | | | | responsibility of a local church; it is their |
| of people who had to leave Church to find | | | | own responsibility. As a result, they decide |
| more of God in their lives. Referring to | | | | to either get into a local church that |
| these individuals as "Revolutionaries" who | | | | enhances their zeal for God or else they |
| are intent upon "being the Church rather than | | | | create alternatives that ignite such a life |
| merely going to church," Barna believes that | | | | of obedience and service. By and large, these |
| the magnitude of this movement into new forms | | | | are people say they have stopped going to |
| of religious community will change the face | | | | church so they can be the Church."The |
| of the entire religious community - not ONLY | | | | Revolution: Challenges and OpportunitiesWhile |
| the Chrsitian community - during the next ten | | | | the Revolution brings with it some very |
| to twenty years.PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS, | | | | promising qualities, an intense pursuit of |
| LISTEN UP!According to Barna's research, some | | | | godliness, new networks of believers |
| of the more intriguing attributes of these | | | | supporting each other, heightened financial |
| Revolutionaries who seek to experience and | | | | giving to ministry endeavors, greater |
| express their faith in alternative ways | | | | sensitivity to the presence of God in the |
| are:*It's the Baby Boomers, those who are | | | | world, a greater sense of freedom to be a |
| largely responsible for the megachurches that | | | | genuine disciple in the midst of a secular |
| have redefined the Church environment during | | | | society, Barna also pointed out that the |
| the past quarter century, who are now making | | | | Revolution brings great challenges to those |
| up the greatest part of the Revolutionary | | | | who choose that route."There is the danger of |
| ranks.*Adults involved in marketplace | | | | exposure to unbiblical or heretical teaching. |
| ministry are more than twice as likely as | | | | There is the possibility of experiencing |
| those connected only to a congregational | | | | isolation from a true community of believers |
| church to have a biblical worldview and more | | | | and the accountability and support that can |
| than twice as likely to identify the Bible as | | | | provide. It could become easier to hoard |
| the source of truth in life. They are also | | | | one's treasures rather than giving |
| one-third more likely to contend that | | | | generously. Some might find it more difficult |
| absolute moral truth exists.*About two-thirds | | | | to sustain a life of worship without a place |
| of all adults engaged in a house church | | | | or means of expressing that praise to |
| attend in any given week, with the remaining | | | | God."Barna contends that these are very |
| segment attending at least once a month. That | | | | serious challenges faced by Revolutionaries |
| is nearly identical to the attendance profile | | | | but that they are no more serious than the |
| of people for whom a congregational church is | | | | threats to the spiritual health of regular |
| their church home.*Men and women are equally | | | | church-goers. As one who has serve |
| likely to participate in marketplace-based | | | | inleadership in traditional church settings, |
| ministry activity, while men are slightly | | | | I can recall several instances of cultic and |
| more likely to engage in house church | | | | heretical teachings that permiated our ranks |
| options.*The Midwest is the stronghold for | | | | and shipwrecked many a sincere Believer. |
| congregational church connections, while the | | | | Barna adds, "Objectively speaking, these are |
| southern states have become the most fertile | | | | the very same problems that we identify among |
| spawning grounds for marketplace ministry | | | | people who rely upon the efforts of a local |
| involvement, and participation in a house | | | | church to facilitate their growth. We find |
| church is equally common everywhere outside | | | | plentiful evidence of unbiblical teaching in |
| of the Midwest.*Evangelical Christians are | | | | small groups, Sunday school classes and other |
| those most likely to get involved in an | | | | local church venues. We know that few |
| alternative form of the Christian church and | | | | churched Christians give 4% of their income |
| also the groupmost likely to participate in | | | | back to God, much less 10%. We recognize that |
| both a traditional and alternative church | | | | most people attending worship services in a |
| form. More than four out of ten evangelical | | | | church sanctuary leave feeling that God was |
| adults are involved in an alternative form of | | | | not present and that they did not personally |
| church 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 relative |
| alternative church form presumably to address | | | | absence of accountability within most |
| the diverse interests of both the adults and | | | | congregations. So even though Revolutionaries |
| children.*One-third of the alternative church | | | | face serious challenges in blossoming into |
| crowd engages God and other believers in a | | | | the fervent God-follower they hope to become, |
| church form other than a house church, that | | | | perhaps the main difference is simply that |
| is, they are involved in a marketplace | | | | they have a wider range of options for |
| ministry, a cyberchurch, or a series of | | | | achieving their faith goals than do people |
| faith-focused events that connect them with | | | | who are solely focused on faith delivered |
| God and other Christ-followers.Interestingly, | | | | through a local church. In either case, it is |
| Barna also pointed out that surveys of | | | | ultimately up to the individual to make sure |
| people's religious activity often blur our | | | | that they have their spiritual priorities |
| understanding of Church behavior because many | | | | right, that they are investing themselves in |
| participants in alternative church | | | | activities that draw them closer to God, and |
| experiences are not sure whether to describe | | | | that they stay focused on pleasing God more |
| themselves to survey interviewers as | | | | than themselves or other people."How does the |
| "attending a church service" or not. "Some of | | | | traditional Church view the |
| these individuals are so comfortable with | | | | Revoltionaries?One man's Revolutionary is |
| their new, alternative forms of church that | | | | another man's Rebel. The explosion of |
| they do not hesitate to say they attend | | | | Revolutionaries in the U.S. raises new |
| Church. Others, however, have been so | | | | challenges for people involved in ministry. |
| conditioned to think of "Church" as the | | | | "This new movement of God demands that there |
| activities taking place on the campus of a | | | | be new forms of leadership to appropriately |
| certain denomination that they are more | | | | guide people in their faith journey," Barna |
| likely to describe themselves as unchurched, | | | | said. "It requires new ways of measuring how |
| even though they engage in worship, service, | | | | well the Church at-large is doing, getting |
| prayer, financial sharing, and discipleship | | | | beyond attendance figures as the indicator of |
| activities through their alternative faith | | | | health. And it demands that new tools and |
| community."What we're about to experience, | | | | resources be accessible to a growing |
| according to Barna, will be the most massive | | | | contingent of people who are seeking to |
| reshaping of the nation's faith community in | | | | introduce their faith into every dimension of |
| more than a 100 years.THE RISE OF | | | | their life."READ ACTS 16:6-33, then ask |
| NEO-CHURCHISMRelying upon national research | | | | yourself these questions (my own answrs |
| conducted over the past several years, noted | | | | provided for the sake od study and |
| that although measures of traditional church | | | | teaching):vs 6-13 Questions1) After two |
| participation in activities such as worship | | | | closed doors and then a vision, what level of |
| attendance, Sunday school, prayer, and Bible | | | | expectation did Paul probably have as he |
| reading have remained relatively unchanged | | | | sought to go into Macedonia?(Confidence was |
| during the past twenty years, the | | | | most likely quite high)2) In this century and |
| Revolutionary faith movement is growing | | | | culture, how were women viewed in comparison |
| rapidly."A common misconception about | | | | to men? (Subserviant; less than slaves?)3) |
| revolutionaries," says Barna, "is that they | | | | How many women do you estimate there were? (5 |
| are disengaging from God when they leave a | | | | or so?)4) Do you think Paul envisioned a |
| local church. We found that while some people | | | | greater crowd and success than God had |
| leave the local church and fall away from God | | | | arranged for on the river bank? (He probably |
| altogether, there is a much larger segment of | | | | had a different idea in mind)5) How did Paul |
| Americans who are currently leaving churches | | | | respond to the group he found? (He obeyed the |
| precisely because they want more of God in | | | | Spirit)vs 14-15 Questions1) Do you think God |
| their life but cannot get what they need from | | | | was at work in Lydia's heart long before Paul |
| a local church. They have decided to get | | | | ever arrived? If so, why? Why not? (Yes, |
| serious about their faith by piecing together | | | | because her steps were ordered and she was |
| a more robust faith experience. Instead of | | | | born for that moment in time)2) Because Paul |
| going to church, they have chosen BE the | | | | was listening to God he was led clearly to a |
| Church, in a way that harkens back to the | | | | group that was not his first choice. Agree or |
| Church detailed in the Book of Acts."BIG | | | | Disagree? (Agree)3) After Lydia responded to |
| CHANGES IN THE MAKINGOne of the most | | | | Paul's message, how did they bring the Good |
| eye-opening portions of the research | | | | News to her "household"? Did they hear the |
| contained in the book describes what the | | | | Good News that same day or later? (Through |
| faith community may look like twenty years | | | | the women; Seems later - by Lydia and the |
| from now. Using survey data and other | | | | other women)4) When were they baptized? By |
| cultural indicators he has been measuring for | | | | whom? In what water source? (Silas in the |
| more than two decades, Barna estimates that | | | | river)5) This group became a church, in God's |
| the local church is presently the primary | | | | eyes, in verse 15! Agree or disagree?vs |
| form of faith experience and expression for | | | | 16-241) How successful did Pauland Silas feel |
| about two-thirds of the nation's adults. He | | | | in place of service to which God had directed |
| projects that by 2025 the local church will | | | | them? (Felt low)vs 25-33How did Paul bring |
| lose roughly half of its current "market | | | | the Good News to jailers "household?" Who was |
| share" and that alternative forms of faith | | | | the jailer's "household?" (Jail ministry, |
| experience and expression will pick up the | | | | Family, slaves).QUESTIONS WE MUST ASK |
| slack. Importantly, Barna's studies do not | | | | OURSELVES ABOUT THE ACTS 16 CHURCH...This |
| suggest that most people will drop out of a | | | | group became a church that very night in |
| local church to simply ignore spirituality or | | | | God's eyes...agree?What does this story say |
| be freed up from the demands of church life. | | | | about our expectations and view of Biblical |
| Although there will be millions of people who | | | | success?What are the minimum essentials, in |
| abandon the entire faith community for the | | | | God's eyes, for starting a church?What role |
| usual reasons - hurtful experiences in | | | | do relationship connections play in starting |
| churches, lack of interest in spiritual | | | | a Church?What are the chances the jailer's |
| matters, prioritizing other dimensions of | | | | household would have ever been converted and |
| their 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 the |
| church in order to intentionally increase | | | | Gospel to other groups who have unseen |
| their focus on faith and to relate to God | | | | barriers to church?How much do these churches |
| through different means.That growth is | | | | cost to start? How big do they get? How many |
| fueling alternative forms of organized | | | | did they reach? How long did they last? How |
| spirituality, as well as individualized faith | | | | successful were they? Who were their |
| experience and expression.THE PASSION-DRIVEN | | | | pastors?Apply these answers to the American |
| CHURCHIn the effort to increase their | | | | Church TODAY. Compare to the burgeoning Third |
| obedience and faithfulness to God, Barna | | | | World Churches.Need pastoral counseling and |
| discovered that Revolutionaries are | | | | prayer? Write or IM me at Every blessing!Now, |
| characterized by what he identified as a set | | | | scroll to the bottom and FORWARD this |
| of spiritual passions, specific emphases that | | | | message. Please RATE the message as well. If |
| drive their quest for God and a biblical | | | | you need Pastoral assistance, e-mail me at |
| lifestyle. Although these are areas of | | | | Lord bless! |
| spiritual development that most local | | | | |