Why Are Young Adults Walking Away From Church - 11AM

According to research, 40-50% of Millennials connected to the church in their teens will walk away after their senior year of high school. This trend has been happening for almost a decade and it’s time to ask why? Today we look at Acts 20, getting a fly-on-the-wall perspective into Paul’s final message for the Ephesian Elders. And in Paul’s instruction, we find the clues to address our Millennial crisis.

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﻿                       Whitehorse Baptist Church 
                    "7 POWERFUL CONVERSATIONS" 

   "WHY ARE YOUNG ADULTS WALKING AWAY FROM CHURCH?" 
                         (ACTS 20:28-36) 
                OUTLINE STYLE: SUBJECT-COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. PRE-MESSAGE PRAYER (Facilitated by Worship Team) 
2. (VIDEO) LASTING IMPACT - CONVO 5 CLIP (C. NIEUWHOF) 
3. (SLIDE 1-2) LASTING IMPACT QUOTE (Convo. #5, Pg. 87-88) 
4. (SLIDE 3-4) SERIES RECAP. & MESSAGE INTRO. 
  a) " WHY ARE YOUNG ADULTS WALKING AWAY FROM CHURCH?" 
  b) CAVEAT: 40-50% of Millennials have walked away, but it should 
    overshadow the 50-60% who have stayed! 
    i) Barna & Sticky Faith (Fuller) Research Groups (1st Time Problem!) 

TEACHING & APPLICATION: 

5. (SLIDE 5-6) ACTS 20:28-35 
  a) Important to note, that Paul is speaking to an established Eldership. 
  b) 2 DIFFICULT QUESTIONS: Acts 16:1-5 & Lasting Impact, Convo #5 
      Ø "Why Many Millennials Have Stopped Attending Church" (5 Principles) 
6. QUESTION #1: ARE PEOPLE FINDING GOD? 
  a) (SLIDE 7-8) Lasting Impact Quote: Convo. 5, Pg. 94 & Pg. 96 
      Ø Principles, "2. God is missing from the church." & "4. People aren't learning about God." 
  b) (SLIDE 9) Paul To the Ephesian Elders - Acts 20:28-31: (1) Pay 
    attention to yourselves, (2) pay attention to the flock (church), (3) Be 
    alert and (4) remember my admonishments (warnings). 
    i) (SLIDE 10) WHY? (1) Wolves (false teachers) might enter, (2) you 
      might twist the truth and (3) you might draw disciples away. 
      Ø Trials will come, even from within their own leadership! 
  c) (SLIDE 11) Message To Church Leaders - Back to Acts: (1) Pay 
    attention to yourselves, (2) pay attention to the flock (church), (3) Be 
    alert and (4) remember my admonishments (warnings). 
    i) (SLIDE 12) WHY? (1) A generation of sheep (church attenders) 
      have left the flock. (2) Church leadership has to take responsibility. 
      Ø Millennials didn't see spiritual and numeric growth, which led to a 
        irrelevance in the church and hypocrisy within it's leadership. 
      Ø Preach Christ every week! The future of the church depends on it! 
7. QUESTION #2: ARE PEOPLE FINDING COMMUNITY? 
  a) (SLIDE 13) Lasting Impact Quote: Convo. 5, Pg. 97  
      Ø Principle, "5. They're not finding community." 
  b) (SLIDE 14) Paul To the Ephesian Elders - Acts 20:32-36: (1) Do not 
    covet (yearn for) riches. (2) Minister to (take care of) personal needs 
    and the needs of others. (3) Work hard to help the weak. 
    i) (SLIDE 15) WHY? This was Jesus’ way, how He built community. 
      Ø Out of all the quotes, why did Paul chose this one? 
  c) (SLIDE 16) Message To Church Leaders - Back to Acts: (1) Do not 
    covet (yearn for) riches. (2) Minister to (take care of) personal needs 
    and the needs of others. (3) Work hard to help the weak. 
    i) (SLIDE 17) WHY? This is Jesus’ way and builds a community of 
      growth, both spiritually and numerically. 
      Ø True community is active community. For young adults, projects 
        will always trump policies and procedures. 
        o  Perhaps, this is another sign that the traditional, institutional 
           church is dying? Education and fellowship isn't community. 
      Ø Serving our city is one of the greatest ways to reach our city. 
        o  True community is active community! 
        o  Food Bank & Women's Shelter 

CONCLUSION: 

8. (SLIDE 18) AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP AND CONNECTION 
  a) Acts 20:36-38: As hard and stern as Paul seems to be from the 
    Scriptural evidence, here we see the balance within his heart. 
  b) (SLIDE 19) Lasting Impact Quote: Convo. 5, Pg. 103 
9. (SLIDE 20) INVITATION (Worship In Response) 
      Ø POST-MESSAGE PRAYER (Pray for OFFERING & Close Message) 

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