Reading a challenging and thought-provoking book right now called The American Church in Crisis by David Olson. You can view it here. It's based on massive amounts of research and study and is full of great stats/charts/etc. But bottom line, it demonstrates how the church in America is in decline - and has been for some time. It also projects how on our present course the church faces a major crisis. It challenges us as church leaders, denominations, etc. to be bold enough and willing to pay the price for what it will take to change, impact culture, and experience growth. Olson calls for a missional approach to church.
I'm waking up. Olson's findings resonate deep within me. I pray other church leaders are experiencing this as well. We have been complacent for too long. It's time we take a serious look at ourselves, our motivations, our structures, everything. We need to be willing to change for the sake of the Kingdom. Not sure what all this means, but I do know that the Church needs prophetic voices willing to focus the center on Jesus Christ and His teachings and His mission in our world.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Great thought John. Thanks for the heads up about the book too. I've got a backlog on reading write now.
I'd like to hear more about your thinking regarding "...change for the sake of the Kingdom." Maybe that is in route in another post. Though it might point directly to what you're doing with discipling your daughter.
"Change for the sake of the Kingdom" means the willingness of the Church to do whatever it takes to align ourselves with the Kingdom message and mission of Jesus in the world we live in. In my opinion, we're far too interested in our own agendas, and are content to attach God to these agendas, rather than being willing to discover God's Kingdom agenda and live into it.
Good to hear from you!
Been praying for your church launch! How are things?
Post a Comment