Church Is Dead Really What Is Happening to

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“Church Is Dead!” Really?

“Church Is Dead!” Really?

What Is Happening to “Church”? • Years ago, many people didn’t “go to church”

What Is Happening to “Church”? • Years ago, many people didn’t “go to church” because they didn’t think it was necessary to do so to be saved • Today, many people want to “go to church”, but not to a physical place

Source: “Church as we know it is over. Here’s what’s next. ” by Dave

Source: “Church as we know it is over. Here’s what’s next. ” by Dave Adamson (www. foxnews. com/opinion) Church, as we’ve known it for the past few generations, is over. Every church you’ve ever attended, or that you drive by on your way to a Sunday sporting event, was built on a physical attendance model that is location-centric.

As a result, church leaders and pastors have spent time every week encouraging, inviting

As a result, church leaders and pastors have spent time every week encouraging, inviting and pleading with people to come to a specific place at a specific time on Sundays. This approach has created church staffing models, systems and ministry strategies focused on improving attendance. It’s also why there is an annual Top 100 list of America’s most-attended churches.

But that way of doing church is dead. And just like Joshua needed to

But that way of doing church is dead. And just like Joshua needed to hear God say, “Moses my servant is dead” (Joshua 1: 2), so he could move into the next level of leadership, I think the Church needs to accept the fate of physical church as we know it, so we can move into the next phase of digital church.

Now, about a decade ago, forward-thinking churches realized that people no longer engaged with

Now, about a decade ago, forward-thinking churches realized that people no longer engaged with organizations just physically, so they developed online platforms that streamed services parallel to the physical church. This caused plenty of controversy at the time because people suddenly had the option to attend church OR stay home and watch online, rocking the old locationcentric model. So, church leaders opted to keep the physical and digital services separate enough to make it work.

Then, when social media and You. Tube entered the scene, those forward-thinking churches adjusted

Then, when social media and You. Tube entered the scene, those forward-thinking churches adjusted again, creating multi-channel strategies that allowed people to access some content physically, some online, and some on the church's social media platforms.

What Is Happening to “Church”? • More and more people are attending “church” (a

What Is Happening to “Church”? • More and more people are attending “church” (a location) less and less • What some church leaders are now suggesting is “digital church” or “online church”

What Is Happening to “Church”? • The mistake that is being made is thinking

What Is Happening to “Church”? • The mistake that is being made is thinking “church” is about transmitting information • “Church” in the NT is always about people (Mt. 18: 17; Acts 5: 11; 8: 1, 3; etc. )

What Is Happening to “Church”? • Convenience is what is being encouraged (1 Kings

What Is Happening to “Church”? • Convenience is what is being encouraged (1 Kings 12: 28) • Early Christians assembled together for a variety of good reasons (Acts 2: 46; 4: 31; 5: 12; 6: 1 -2, 6; 11: 26; 12: 12; 14: 27; 1 Cor. 5: 4)

What Should We Do? • First, teach the biblical mandate to assemble together in

What Should We Do? • First, teach the biblical mandate to assemble together in a place; don’t lower the bar • Assembling is an expression of my submission to God’s will (Deut. 12: 5, 11, 14, 18, 21 (etc. ); Heb. 10: 24)

What Should We Do? • Second, understand the value and benefit of assembling; we

What Should We Do? • Second, understand the value and benefit of assembling; we are blessed “together” and with “one another” • We need communion (Acts 20: 7; 1 Cor. 10: 16 -17; 11: 17, 18, 20, 33 -34)

What Should We Do? • We need edification (1 Cor. 14: 23, 26) •

What Should We Do? • We need edification (1 Cor. 14: 23, 26) • We need emotional support (1 Cor. 12: 26; 1 Thess. 5: 14) • We need spiritual renewal (Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16)

What Should We Do? • We need stirring up (Heb. 10: 24)

What Should We Do? • We need stirring up (Heb. 10: 24)

What Should We Do? • Third, make the assembly of worship the best it

What Should We Do? • Third, make the assembly of worship the best it can be (leaders and participants); bring your “first fruits” • Eccl. 9: 10; 2 Sam. 24: 24; Mal. 1: 13

What Should We Do? • Fourth, make the assembly of worship a priority; put

What Should We Do? • Fourth, make the assembly of worship a priority; put the kingdom “first” • Psa. 122: 1; Mt. 6: 33