The Greatest Message Ever Told

Dr. George Barna, Director of Research for the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released his annual “American Worldview Inventory 2023” report, considering this time, “How the Faith of Americans Has Shifted Since the Start of the Pandemic.”

Of all Barna’s findings, let me share just a few stark indicators of the spiritual state of America and the American church.

“One of the four unfortunate behavioral transitions concerned whether people describe themselves as “deeply committed to practicing” their religious faith. Prior to the start of the pandemic, six out of 10 adults (60%) made that claim. Today, less than half (48%) claim to be deeply committed.”

American Worldview Inventory 2023, Release #3: How the Faith of Americans Has Shifted Since the Start of the Pandemic, Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, Release Date: April 20, 2023, first accessed April, 2023.

One of the most frequently measured religious behaviors is church attendance. The American Worldview Inventory (AWVI) 2023 found that church attendance has declined since the start of the pandemic by about 6 percentage points.

“Just one out of three adults (33%) currently attends a church service during a typical week—”

++“A decline representing the loss of about 15 million churchgoing adults each week.”

“The percentage of born-again adults who believe that they have a unique, God-given calling or purpose for their life was sliced nearly in half, from 88% to 46%.”

There, “... was [also] a 35-point swing regarding born-again individuals claiming that they are deeply committed to practicing their religious faith.”

Deeply committed to practicing their religious faith -

“The proportion dropped from a very robust 85% in 2020 to merely half of the group (50%) in 2023.”

Decreases in biblical beliefs included a 14-point drop in the number contending the Bible is unambiguous in its teaching about abortion and a 14-point decline in those who believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life during His time on Earth. The other double-digit decline was a 12-point downturn in people saying human life is sacred.

Last statistic to share --

“Another decline is in studying or reading the Bible during a typical week, which declined 5 points, from 60% in 2020 to 55% in 2023.”

Remember the earlier statistic?

The American church showed a decrease of 15 million a week average or those who attend a church during a typical week.

Where is the church of America headed?

Where is our church headed?

Where are you headed?

Are you … will you be a part of these statistics?

The church of America is moving away from faith in the Bible, the God of the Bible, and Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. At the same time crime, loneliness, despondency, and hopelessness is on the rise. The problem is that America is rapidly moving away from the very solution to their personal, cultural, and societal struggles which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And folks, the American church is not only watching them do it and letting them go, many of our ranks are following suit.

The only question that needs to be asked and answered by the American church and all the people and people groups of the world is this.

Do you know who Christ truly is and what God has done for you through Him?

Christ revealed Himself, so you might have faith (Luke 24:36-49)

++Why are you troubled and have doubts? (Luke 24:36-43)

++God will do everything He has promised, because He has done everything that He had promised (Luke 24:44-45)

++Accept God’s Call for you without delay (Luke 24:46-49)

How should we then respond?

Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in Christ’s name to all nations, for that Jesus died and rose again.

++Be the witness God has called you to be.

++Live like you have God’s power, because He has given you His power

Christ revealed Himself, so you might have faith (Luke 24:36-49)

Related Media

Related Sermons