Connect with the church

Hebrews 10:23-25

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Introduction:

People are leaving the church. In a post-COVID world, 1 out of every 3 practicing Christians has stopped attending church. (Barna)

Church membership is now below 50% of the US population for the first time. The reasons people give comprise a long and meandering list, and it’s almost impossible to narrow down.

People are leaving church for two main reasons:

Relationships

People will attend church for a majority of reasons; they stay because of relationships.

When relationships dwindle or fall apart, people leave church

People hurt one another, both intentionally and unintentionally

Love (v.13); encouraging one another (v.15)

meaningful and genuine relationships/connections

Service

People need to be needed, and want to be wanted.

When places for gift-oriented ministry dies, people leave church.

Good deeds (v.14)

fulfilling use of their gifts and abilities

Where am I going with this?

You need the church

People are in the habit of no-longer associating with the church

Technology affords us wonderful opportunities, but it is no substitute for person-to-person connection.

Technology is a wonderful backup plan (like today), and another avenue for communication and connection, but it fails in developing relationship. Technology can strengthen relationships, but it will never substitute them.