Studying Church GrowthStudying Church Growth

Considering Culture Choices

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 9:229:22

 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law 

(not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save 

some. 

Methods

change, but not

the messag

e.

THREE CHORES FOR THREE CHORES FOR EVERY CHURCHEVERY CHURCH

1.1. Think… Think… about what we’re doingabout what we’re doing

2.2. Determine… Determine… how to do the best we canhow to do the best we can

3.3. Always abound! Always abound! 1 Corinthians 15:58 1 Corinthians 15:58

Influencing Our Growth

1.The CHOICE factor, 1 Cor. 3:6-8

2.The ISSACHAR factor, 1 Chron. 12:32

3.The ISRAEL fallacy, Amos 9:7

4.The NUMBERS factor, Acts 2:41-6:7

THE FACTS ARE IN…THE FACTS ARE IN…

1940-70 – everyone rode the 1940-70 – everyone rode the wavewave

1970’s- started asking questions1970’s- started asking questions 1970-95- numerous studies1970-95- numerous studies

CONCLUSION?CONCLUSION?Growth is largely in the hands of Growth is largely in the hands of the congregation.the congregation.

Trends among growing and Trends among growing and declining churches of Christ declining churches of Christ indicate 6 clear choices for indicate 6 clear choices for churches that churches that have decided have decided to grow.to grow.

Not really open to discussion anymore. It’s Not really open to discussion anymore. It’s just a matter of whether we’ll choose to act.just a matter of whether we’ll choose to act.

Trends indicate 6 clear choices for Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow.churches that have decided to grow.

CHOICE #1CHOICE #1

The Culture ChoiceThe Culture Choice

Recognizing the generation Recognizing the generation gap is now a culture gap!?!gap is now a culture gap!?!

How It Was…How It Was…

Stable homesStable homes

Stable commun.Stable commun.

Stable schoolsStable schools

Stable marriagesStable marriages

Support systemsSupport systems

Auth. LeadershipAuth. Leadership

Linear lifestylesLinear lifestyles

High marital High marital expectationsexpectations

How It Is…How It Is…

Value freedomValue freedom

Team orientedTeam oriented

Mobile lifestylesMobile lifestyles

Low marital Low marital expectationexpectation

Question allQuestion all

Resist authorityResist authority

Open to changeOpen to change

Desire warm Desire warm personal personal atmosphereatmosphere

The culture difference has become so great The culture difference has become so great that over a decade ago the Denver that over a decade ago the Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary determined Conservative Baptist Seminary determined that it would train all future American that it would train all future American ministers as foreign ministers as foreign missionaries assigned to a missionaries assigned to a foreign culture.foreign culture.

Edward E. Plowman, National and Edward E. Plowman, National and International Religion Report 5. no. 11 (20 International Religion Report 5. no. 11 (20 May 1991.May 1991.

Most young adults Most young adults today…today… Have never experienced the benefits of a Have never experienced the benefits of a

stable two parent home, an extended family, or stable two parent home, an extended family, or growing in one community.growing in one community.

Are more concerned with meaningful Are more concerned with meaningful relationships than pre-war adultsrelationships than pre-war adults

Are attracted to small personal home groupsAre attracted to small personal home groups Prefer an enthusiastic, warm, and personal Prefer an enthusiastic, warm, and personal

atmosphere in worship servicesatmosphere in worship services Seek churches with community, practical Bible Seek churches with community, practical Bible

teaching, and uplifting, inspiring worship.teaching, and uplifting, inspiring worship.

Composite of most Composite of most receptive potential receptive potential new Christian?new Christian?

Age 20-39-Age 20-39- married with children married with children

Been in community 1 to 5 yrs.Been in community 1 to 5 yrs.

30 somethings-30 somethings- attracted by attracted by quality preaching and excellent quality preaching and excellent worshipworship

20 somethings-20 somethings- attracted by attracted by need meeting ministry and need meeting ministry and warm accepting congregation.warm accepting congregation.

5 yr. Study in Churches of Christ, 5 yr. Study in Churches of Christ, 12 Congregations, 1,085 new members12 Congregations, 1,085 new members

In Growing Churches In Growing Churches 65% of new members 65% of new members were 18-39 years old.were 18-39 years old.

Focused on young adultsFocused on young adults And on non-membersAnd on non-members

5 yr. Study in Churches of Christ, 5 yr. Study in Churches of Christ, 12 Congregations, 1,085 new members12 Congregations, 1,085 new members

Declining churches Declining churches concentrated on concentrated on satisfying older members satisfying older members by by

• maintaining past practices, maintaining past practices,

• and were inward focused.and were inward focused.

EZ Study Results Seen…EZ Study Results Seen…Similar trends in denominations and churches of ChristSimilar trends in denominations and churches of Christ

In spite of culture In spite of culture differences, age balance is differences, age balance is key for church growthkey for church growth

Growing churches have a greater Growing churches have a greater percentage of young adults; a percentage of young adults; a balance in age groups between balance in age groups between children, young adults, and older children, young adults, and older adults.adults.

Declining churches have a greater Declining churches have a greater percentage of older adultspercentage of older adults

Why is age balance Why is age balance important?important?

Balanced churches feel more of a Balanced churches feel more of a positive atmosphere among members vs. positive atmosphere among members vs. low morale when the balance is olderlow morale when the balance is older

People look forward to assemblies and People look forward to assemblies and feel they’re warm and friendly to visitorsfeel they’re warm and friendly to visitors

Members felt their church is more Members felt their church is more accepting of people with differences vs. a accepting of people with differences vs. a narrow and critical spiritnarrow and critical spirit

Conclusion???

• Growing churches are willing to do the ministry to reach out, and are looking to balance ages in spite of culture differences.

Evangelize or FossilizeEvangelize or Fossilize……I have become all things to all men, so I have become all things to all men, so

that I may by all means save some.that I may by all means save some.

1 Corinthians 9:221 Corinthians 9:22