Young People in Churches: The Gospel Shock absorber

One Sunday Night i turned up to church alone. None of my friends came to church,

None of my friends came to church,

The problem of why do young Christians leave church and why don’t young unbelieving kids want to come along.

problem why do young Christians leave church and why don’t young unbelieving kids want to come along.

We are going to address this major problem that church has today.

Why are kids leaving the church?

Lets look at the problem of young people turning their backs on the church

Lets ask why has this problem occurred

Then Lets look at what the Bible has to say about this

And finally Lets look at what we need to do to solve the problem

You might find that this problem is rellivant to you tonight. I have tried to listen a lot over the years why people leave the church or dont come at all and this is what I heard so far. But if you have another way of seeing this I would love to hear.

a. Young people leaving churches.

b. Non-Christian teenagers are not coming to church, we cannot evangelise them at school,

Soul Revival was started to try to solve the problem

The first question we asked was why are young people leaving the faith and not wanting to check out Christianity.

One Sunday Night

Let’s talk about the big problem for churches in Sydney today

Our church communities are getting older, nearly 50% of our young people leave church and stop being Christians as they become adults. And in our region of Sydney our Anglican youth groups have declined by 30% in 5 years.

That means statistically every second young person in this room will not be a Christian in 10 years.

So the problem has 2 parts

a. Young Christians are leaving churches.

b. Non-Christian young people are not coming to church

Soul Revival was started to try to solve the problem 26 years ago.

So lets have a look at what we have found over all those years

Why do we young people turn their backs on the church

First: Lets look at why unbelieving Young people are not coming to church.

Why do we young people turn their backs on the church

First: Lets look at why unbelieving Young people are not coming to church.

1. They say it is boring

2. They say it is not relevant

3. They say it is not cool

4. They say it is not true

5. They say it is dangerous

And there are probably many other reasons. You may be thinking our your own reasons right now.

They are secular consumers. And their judgement is that we do not have a product they want to buy into.

Secularism. Secular is a world view that there is no God and therefore only materialistic or human explanations for things are all that matters. The non-believing secular views on life do not include or respect Gods views.

Second: Lets look at why are our Christian kids leaving the church?

After 26 years of Youth ministry experience. I see personally see 2 big reasons

1. Number One Reason why Young Christians leave the church: They stop believing

Unbelief or Secularism is Catching on Young unbelieving people often have big problems with Christianity. Christian young people can end up asking the same questions that their non Christian friends have about church. Why shouldn’t I do this or that like everyone else. Why do I do this or that that no one else does.

How it effects Christians Christian young people can end up asking the same questions that their non Christian friends have about church. This can happen through non-Believing friends or through the media, movies and sport cultures or through a romantic relationship. Un-Believers try to get us to justify what we believe based on their work view, their values. Should I be loyal to my generation and think as a young person despite what the adults tell me or should I think like my Christian community and believe the same as they do?

Young unbelieving people often have big problems with Christianity. Christian young people can end up asking the same questions that their non Christian friends have about church. Unless they get good answers to these questions they can become disaffected.

Unless they get good answers to these questions they can become disaffected.

They ask can feel conflicted, and ask “am I to be loyal to my generation and think as a young person despite what the adults tell me or should I think like my Christian community and believe the same as they do?” This is really hard

Secular values are different to Christian values on many topics like: sexuality, money, suffering, alcohol, justice and many more.

If young people get overwhelmed by this they go quiet and then start to question their identity and their community, the local church. I call this the Christian cringe.

If young people get overwhelmed by this they go quiet and then start to question their identity and their community, the local church. I call this the Christian cringe.

Outcome: If Christians become embarrassed by the church they start to become a secular Christian. Become a progressive Christian or a far rightwing Christian with secular values and Christian values, then they leave the church altogether.

The problem is that people see themselves as an individual based on their own particular values. They start judging their local church like their non-believing friends do

2. Number Two Reason why Young Christians leave the church: They become Christian Consumers

Consumerism Their experience of church as taught them to be Christian consumers and not servants. If they are taught to consume church they will ultimately be disappointed.

a. They only develop relationships with people of the same age.

Church is about being a Christian with people your own age. Statistics show that if young people do not have strong Christian relationships with people in their family and church of different ages then they are the most at risk to loosing their faith. This seems counter intuitive to us. We think unless we make a relevant expression they will leave. Or in other words if church is not cool enough and they can choose they will leave. Youth group has become disconected from church for young people. They are not committed to their church and youth group. See the 2 as seperate. Go to church with parents and then go to a youth group with their christian friends. Creating a Christian get a bubble.

b. They become transient with no long lasting relationships.Going from church to church looking for an expression of church for them. They look for people their age.

c. Eventually they do not find what they are looking for because at it’s core the christian Church is not about meeting your needs it is about God and other people. Jesus said unless you loose your life you will not save it. But we live in a pleasure pain world view where pleasure and comfort are good and pain and discomfort are bad. So we are slowly changing how we interpret Jesus’ words into unless you have a good Christian. We have lost the idea of self sacrifice. The outcome is that if everyone is coming to church to have their needs met, who is going to look after them? The answer usually is the pastors, the ministry teams or even worse ‘the church’ that impersonal institution that is always letting me down. Mutual benefit it is a business model of Church. I will love those and serve them who can serve me back.

The Local church is just a spiritual petrol station, I can get my fill of God anywhere, so I look for the best fuel at the cheapest prices with the best convenience store attached.

Sutherland Shire for many years people have seen church as a petrol station. Herd of Christian teenagers that move around to what is the latest coolest church.

Many of us adults here today have been brought up as Christian consumers too. Sure we love God, love his church love rich and poor alike, try to reach out to our unbelieving friends.

Material secularism consumerism and individualism is the air we breath. We swim in this world view and it has made us all into Christian consumers, you and me.

The answer is not to try and be cool like the world.

Soul Revival Since 1992, its more than a Saturday Night it’s a Lifestyle.

We tried to be cool and couldn’t. Then we tried to work out what Jesus thought we should do and Jesus changed everything for us.

, Love God and love everyone-All age All stage.

Jesus teaches us to love.

Materialism, secularism, consumerism and individualism is the air we breath.

What does the Bible say?

, stay in the world,20 us

The New International Version Chapter 22

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’c i 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d j 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus said we are to come to love the people and not just come to be loved by an organisation

Me outside church

says we are servants not consumers:

Jesus showed us how to live by dying.

Taught us to love through dying too.

Jesus changes everything by changing how we think.

Let’s look at together

1. says we are servants not consumers:

Jesus showed us how to live by dying.

Taught us to love through dying too.

Jesus changes everything by changing how we think.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The New International Version Chapter 12

Therefore, I urge you,f brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,g holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conformh to the pattern of this world,i but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.j Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will isk—his good, pleasingl and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-

2. says we are part of a community not just individuals.

Jesus showed us that he is building the church, a body.

Jesus showed us how to live by dying.

Taught us to love through dying too.

The New International Version Chapter 12

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere.v Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.w 10 Be devoted to one another in love.x Honor one another above yourselves.y 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,z serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,a patient in affliction,b faithful in prayer.c 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.d Practice hospitality.e

14 Bless those who persecute you;f bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.g 16 Live in harmony with one another.h Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.c Do not be conceited.i

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.j Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.k 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.l 19 Do not take revenge,m my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,

Jesus changes everything by changing how we think.

Romans 12:3–8 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:3-

The New International Version Chapter 12

3 For by the grace given mem I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,n 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body,o and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts,p according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,q then prophesy in accordance with youra faith;r 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;s 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;t if it is giving, then give generously;u if it is to lead,b do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Jesus showed us that he is building the church, a body.

The New International Version Chapter 12

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere.v Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.w 10 Be devoted to one another in love.x Honor one another above yourselves.y 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,z serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,a patient in affliction,b faithful in prayer.c 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.d Practice hospitality.e

14 Bless those who persecute you;f bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.g 16 Live in harmony with one another.h Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.c Do not be conceited.i

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.j Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.k 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.l 19 Do not take revenge,m my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,

3. says we are to love everyone and not people we like.

even our enemies

So Jesus Changes Everything

We are to serve and not consume

I think that makes church what it should be.

Encouraging me to be commited to loving Jesus and loving others.

Romans 12:9–19 NIV

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:9-

I think Paul is echoing Jesus from John 15:15

The New International Version Chapter 15

15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

We are not Just Jesus’ servants if we live like this, we know his think ing and are transformed so we are his friends.

We aspire to be mates who serve each other in

So What should we do?

4 views of youth ministry

Inclusive of young people: Everyone together all the time.

Preparing Young People: young people are not the church of today they are the church of tomorrow.

Mission to Young People Leave the Christian kids reach out to the lost.

Strategical send out Young People: Mother daughter churches.

soul revival is a new catagory:

The Gospel Shock Absorber, All age All stage: Soul Revival

Jesus changes everything, including our consumer attitude. All Age All Stage Living sacrifice love. Work out what the Gospel means today in community.

We aspire to be mates who serve each other in

or we are friends who serve eachother. This goes both ways. It is not about some serving and other consuming

Story

Grew to 500 and started a church and now growing to 500 again

Community: work out the gospel in community:

Answer questions, get generations working together and serve as friends.