I’ve been thinking a bunch lately about how we help our students best understand the Church and its work in the mission of God. I have received several recent emails in which youth workers have expressed a deep concern for their students understanding of the church.
Can the students in your youth ministry describe the nature of the Church? Do your students recognize the role of the Church in the mission of God? Are your students able to identify with the biblical metaphors of the Church? All of these questions are born out of the concerns that I have heard youth workers repeatedly expressing. As we are all aware there has been a great deal of dialogue surrounding the data concluding that students are ‘leaving the church’ upon the completion of high school with no plans to return. I’ve heard many reasons as to the cause of this great challenge we face ranging from the increased level of apathy of students (which I don’t think is in anyway the primary reason) to the abandonment of today’s youth by both culture and the Church to a myriad of other suggested causes that are in some way connected to the inability and desire for local churches to embrace change and new practices.
I’m not an expert on the issue of what is so often thought of as the most daunting challenge facing the church today — that being the mass exit of emerging adults. For all I know there may be dozens of causes that have led to this challenge. So I don’t proclaim my absolute conclusions. I do, however, have a hunch. My hunch is that many of our students, as a result of not knowing the Bible’s story, haven’t been guided toward an understanding of the work of the church in the mission of God and therefore have no framework for or devotion to the church and its nature and work.
What is your hunch as to the cause of such a challenge? Maybe you have more than a hunch; you have a conclusion? If so, what have you concluded and what might the church do differently to cultivate a passion for the church among emerging adults?
Perhaps a great starting point for our students is to help them see the Church as a people who are about conversion, community and conformity.
> By conversion I mean that the Church is to be a people concerned about evangelism, hospitality, generosity, liberation and formation.
> By community I mean that the Church is to be a people concerned about providing a sense of belonging, responsibility, inspiration, sharing, diversity and inclusivity.
> By conformity I mean that the Church is to be a people concerned about their desire to form spiritually. That is, a community that is consistently seeking to arrange its personal and communal lives around the mission of God, the person and work of Jesus, submission to the gifts and roles of the Holy Spirit in order t become a people full of grace and dedicated to the healing of all people through salvation and justice.
What else might we consider as part of the framework to help students best understand the nature and work of the Church? As far as you are concerned, do you feel like the Church is doing a good job helping emerging adults understand the Church? How might the Church improve in its efforts?
[...] as of April 29, 2009 Posted by John Burton in Related Stories on 04 29th, 2009 | View commentsComments The Foreclosed Soul: Part Two – thetractarian.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 The Foreclosed Soul –it directly to the Holy See Come to Jesus – tynanfamily.wordpress.com 04/29/2009 Jump to CommentsWhen Adam sinned, God placed all mankind under a curse: work will be hard and you will die. Adamand Eve were then driven from the garden so they would not eat of the tree of life and live forever in their fallen state–cursed eternally. That was never God’s intention.We humans have been looking for the tree of life ever since You are kept by the power of God! – sammanjac.wordpress.com 04/29/2009 ” An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God”(1 Peter 1:4,5) … step by step. Do you know why she was healed? Because, this girl was anointed by the Holy Spirit … about your sickness and weakness. The Holy Spirit is ready to set you free from all your bondages On the episcopal election in Northern Michigan – sevenwholedays.org 04/29/2009 In case you haven’t been following it (not everyone who reads 7WD is a church geek), there’s been a brouhaha surrounding the election of Kevin G … . In good faith, they invite the Holy Spirit’s presence as they vote. These votes are not meant Delete, delete, delete…. – nanabananadesigns.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 Do you like this picture???? You’ll probably see it as a header sometime soon. It’s not the best quality, but I took it Sunday evening after church and had to add my favorite Bible verse, of course. It was just a beautiful sunset, and Pappy actually stopped in the middle of the road and let me take the picture… John 8 – epcblog.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 In the previous chapter of John’s gospel, at the Feast of Tabernacles, that feast that celebrates God dwelling with His people, … flows. Jesus is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and He has promised that in Him we shall truly be the temple of the Holy Spirit, of which He is the Cornerstone. Here in John 8, Jesus says, “ The Martyrs of Lazeti and of Georgia – ohioanglican.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 On this day we remember those Christians of the east martyred by the followers of Mohammed that had invaded the region … and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Epistle – 2 Esdras … holy martyrs of Lazeti and Georgia triumphed over suffering and were faithful even unto death: Grant Lessons from the Life of Gideon: Gideon’s New Name – jimlaffoon.wordpress.com 04/29/2009 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior Guarding my heart – charltonscullard.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15 Scripture: Mathew 15: 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand … of my spirit by the gentle words of the Holy Spirit. I hear Him clearly, “Guard your heart, take care of your spirit, rest.” I know these words to well. I sit in the place of solitude today. I am waiting Dial Daily Bread: Daniel’s “Time of the End” Is NOW – dialdailybread.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”The only Bible that Jesus had when He was with us 2000 years ago was what we know as the Old Testament … so prominent and so terrible (vss. 23-25), they were deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit that we are now living Dial Daily Bread: That “Hunger and Thirst” – dialdailybread.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”TIME magazine for April 6 reports that the number of people watching TV’s prime time shows has dropped from 75% in … exercise when the Holy Spirit (He is God) would be delighted if they did “hunger and thirst after Crime Incidents Like Abduction, Robbery, Murder and Theft on the Rise Anew in Caraga Region – mindanao.com 04/29/2009 by Ben Serrano April 29, 2009 BUTUAN CITY- Crime incidents like theft, robbery, stabbing, hacking, shooting and abduction were on the rise in the first quarter this year, compilation from police blotters made by Caraga Police Regional Information Office revealed On Prayer and Piety: Flying back from Tel Aviv – bahaiviews.net 04/29/2009 Some swear by the power of prayer; others reject it as magical thinking. For Baha’is, prayer is the glue that cements their loving communion with God. The core of religious faith, the Baha’i writings say, “is that mystic feeling which unites man with God.” Done in the right spirit, prayer does that. “In the highest prayer,” says Abdu’l-Baha A Difficult Goodbye – lagringajoya.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 If you read the text at the bottom of the above picture you will notice Jessie’s departure date is April 28th – today! … through the islands. They will be doing a variety of ministry – pray that the Holy Spirit works in them Who do you say is the King? – ruralmissourian.christianagrarian.com 04/29/2009 Some of you may have seen the controversial painting of the president called “The Truth,” no less, that depicts him with a crown of thorns on his head with his arms stretched out holding open black curtains wherein he is about to veil or has already unveiled the presidential seal behind him Sons & Daugthers – weisern.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 I was listening to a sermon by Pr.Kong Hee about sonship in Christ recently and I agree with one of this points which says, Being a son is not just being baptized by the Holy Spirit of being baptized by water, it is being baptized by the generic code of the house. That phrase hits me and I totally agree Radically Altered Retreat – Day 3 Session 4 – radicallyaltered.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 On the last day, we had perfect weather for a Sunday morning service outside in the chapel of the prayer garden … in the water and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, invited them to remember their baptism What Art Thou? – ramblingtaoist.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 One of the topics I discuss quite frequently on TRT is…religion. It can be a difficult subject to broach and discuss because different individuals and groups employ different words and concepts to describe, sometimes, similar ideas. So, to attempt to get many of us on the same page, LETS WAKE UP – sarahberiyth.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 PLEASE open this page and then read what I have to say… http://www.joshuaproject.net/unreached … , saving up money and food for “those who will stay behind” I have one question: If the Holy Spirit Thinking about Miracles and Hope… – benjaminyost.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 On Sunday Wes Thompson at Canton South Nazarene talked about Miracles… praying prayers that we believe can really happen … of the kingdom of God and Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Holy Spirit who brings Life. Granted Accountability…….. – ajoytobeme.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 Okay, so what thoughts do ya’ll have on accountability? I would really like to know … that is clear in Scripture? What about the Holy Spirit? I thought we could trust him to lead … me. I think I will stick with the Holy Spirit as my guide, first and foremost. And when I need to talk Holiness is Not an Option – mikeratliff.wordpress.com 04/29/2009 by Mike Ratliff Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 ESV) … but made alive in the spirit, (1 Peter 3:18 ESV) This is Christ’s passive obedience in which His death Easter Sunday Slideshow – shoreline.marshillchurch.org 04/29/2009 On Easter Sunday the Holy Spirit was pleased to pour Himself out on our campus in a beautiful display of the redemptive work of Jesus in the lives of the 39 people who were baptized that day Pondering the Path of Life…. – mercynotsacrifice.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 In a few History/Mystery posts I wrote not long ago, … hearts. The light of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and revelation is shed with its quickening and illuminating … 1 , says this Our hearts should bow in holy reverence and rejoice that the heavens Great Commission Resurgence – trevorbarton.typepad.com 04/29/2009 The Following is from http://www.greatcommissionresurgence … and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded … who pursue all that we do by God’s grace and for His glory. We believe we need the ministry of the Holy Couch Olympics – ylhelp.com 04/29/2009 I got an idea from a friend in an email for a scavenger hunt with a twist. It is Couch Olympics … on this one) You can check out my Facebook for more pictures. I also did a talk about receiving Christ and the Holy Spirit coming to live in you, I used this video. Never did a talk like that before. Have you? I might “Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength” Worship, Part 2 – apprehendinggrace.com 04/29/2009 This blog is a part of a blog series called “The Heart of a Worshipper” series , or HWS. My prayer is that you will be blessed and transformed as you grow in your own worship of the King of Kings. “Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength” Worship, Part 2 In Part 1, we began to look at Warren Wiersbe’s definition of Worship: Mystery of the Incarnation – catholic-bulletin.blogspot.com 04/29/2009 H ow does the Church set forth the Mystery of the Incarnation? … with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!” (Byzantine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom) CCC #464-470 and CCC … and Word of God you who are immortal, you who deigned for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy “Seeing” with our Ears is Believing – frted.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 Being a person with little training in music or the arts of any kind ( … Glory to God for All Things ,” says, “The breath of Your Holy Spirit inspires artists, poets Adrian’s Story Part Two – Receiving the Holy Spirit – adrianwarnock.com 04/28/2009 This is continued from part one of my story, which I shared last week. I wonder if my father thought that what had happened the night I said I wanted to become a Christian had been real. I was so young; could I really understand it? Could this short conversation which ended in me praying really make such a difference to me? Family is everything – mx777.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 The weekend was wonderful! Mom and I started out around 9:00 AM on Friday when we headed to Denny’s for breakfast … that about him already. It was something we could sense in our spirit. And that made the conversation A Touching Moment – jewellpage.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 There we sat, surrounded by smelly tennis shoes, and sweaty teenagers, in awe of what was taking place … ! Another missionary couple was there too. His challenge was about allowing the Holy Spirit to fill Revelation – ittybittyblog.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 As I have posted about before, my family is at kind of a crossroads in life. Danny lost his job back in January and has been looking since then. My job is part-time and so we have been living off of savings in the meantime. We are both certain that God has a plan for us and that He will provide for us and that the right job will come along for Mark Hankins Is Coming To Living Word Christian Church – faithfulfollowerofchrist.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 The countdown begins. Only one week until world renowned minister Mark Hankins and his wife Trina come to LWCC! I am so excited I can hardly wait … with the power of the Holy Spirit. Their message centers on the spirit of faith, who the believer is in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit with joy. The Pope and the Bible – thechurchofjesuschrist.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 Last week, I ran across a series of articles that caught my eye … , and that in Sacred Scripture God speaks to mankind in a human manner, the Holy Father laid out the three Pray this person would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit – northstarprayernet.typepad.com 04/28/2009 Please pray that I will be still and discern the voice of God. Help me seek Him when I am in need of direction and comfort. The beauty of divine conversation – spreadinggoodness.org 04/28/2009 Clive Cowell makes his debut on Spreading Goodness by offering a reflection stirred by a posting by Peter Mead on January 4 ( … is an eternal speaker, so the Son is spoken in eternity, and the Holy Spirit is an eternal listener. God’s triune being is an eternal conversation (my emphasis), and since the Holy Spirit tells One Bad Egg – renaebrumbaugh.com 04/28/2009 I John 2:21 “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth … written in God’s Word, and made even more clear to us by His Holy Spirit – we will recognize any lie Adrienne’s Catholic Corner (2009-04-28 15:35) – adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 Senate confirms health secretary nominee – Kathleen Sebelius ***** Make no mistake about what I am about to say … . I have complete faith that the Holy Spirit and the truth will prevail, but that does not give us license commentary and reflections – easter 4B – lectionary.wolsblog.com 04/28/2009 April 28, 2009 Bethlehem shepherd Acts 4: 5-12 NRSV textPsalm 23NRSV text1John 3: 16-24NRSV textJohn 10: … and the Spirit. Very comfortable, hovering on the edge of sentimentality (it’s always good to be able sermon for easter 4B – lectionary.wolsblog.com 04/28/2009 April 28, 2009 Lawrence Moore, Director, The Windermere CentreActs 4: 5-12 Psalm 23 1John 3: 16-24 John 10: 11-18Tough LoveWhat a gift these texts appear to be! Psalm 23 – we’ve known that since childhood. Good! Then there’s the epistle – all about love and abiding and the Spirit. Very comfortable Religious And Spiritual? – enrichingyourlifenow.com 04/28/2009 ( NOT A MEMBER YET? The Blogs as well as the Articles here on Enriching Your Life Now are avaialbe for anyone, so enjoy! The information on this web site, NOW MORE THAN EVER, will be of great help for those who want to live a dynamic life and get real results For God is not a God of confusion but of peace – ericnordhoff.typepad.com 04/28/2009 From “The Daily Verse”…”For God is not a God of confusion but of peace … to use, and at the same time, He has given you the Holy Spirit to help, guide and discern Evening Prayer 4.28.09 – dailyoffice.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 For joy in God’s creation: yucca in bloom. On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it … to help us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning … your praises, O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy DK’s Inner Speech Writer – ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 Luther identified Enthusiasts as Schwaermer , because they were always buzzing around someone’s head … on the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. Reject and fight the notion that human-born ideas and methods can make the Holy Spirit more efficient in Evangelical ventures Easter 3, Year B, 2009 – sarahgaventa.com 04/28/2009 I love watching footage of Publisher’s Clearinghouse winners or housewives who get surprised by Oprah’s cameras … the time that lapsed between Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. God gave … the curveball of the Holy Spirit at them. Our Gospel lesson today is from the Gospel of Luke. You’ll remember Imagination Explored: Indulgences – imaginationbuster.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 A recent article from Science Daily ( http://www.sciencedaily.com ) had the following written in an article: ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2009) ? Some people overindulge on junk foods or needless shopping sprees when they feel depressed. Others lose control the minute they feel happy. Is there a way to avoid such extreme actions? Re: [Church_of_Christ] Re: Questions on Marriage – familyofgodchrist.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 Shawn said…… Are you suggesting that you have the right and the authority to determine how another free citizen lives their life; what rights and benefits they enjoy and receive, simply because their sexual orientation is different from your own? Beth said… The Extended Scepter… – kairoskingdomwomen.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 He Extended His Scepter … Dear friends and family at the beginning of last week, … and myself, and was looking forward to this event with other women of Faith. I asked the Holy Spirit … . I inquired of the Holy Spirit whether this was a feature story, an opinion piece, a review Priests And Marriage – wizbangblog.com 04/28/2009 I am a Christian.I am not a “bible thumper”, nor do I go to church as much as I probably should. And my prayer routine is somewhat lacking of late … , but if you are a Christian, your life is supposed to be devoted to the Holy Spirit alone. So if I or anyone RE: [Church_of_Christ] Re: Questions on Marriage – familyofgodchrist.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 Greetings, Ray wrote: > God created man. God created woman. God created the union between them … this particular issue in comparison to sharing the good news and allowing the Holy Spirit to work THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL – vatopaidi.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 Christ giving Holy Communion to His disciples. Byzantine mosaic from Kiev.by St … s spirit. The rich man represents a sensible Christian, who has heard, understood, and laid An Update – consciousfaith.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 (posted by kepha)When I first started this blog I had already been on my quest for over a year … . There are three things that have kept me going: 1.) Holy Spirit; 2.) the prayer of the righteous Lion and Lamb as Metaphors of Divine-Human Relationships – bibbiablog.com 04/28/2009 by Richard D. Patterson The characteristics of the lion and the lamb form a vivid contrast of expectations when used metaphorically. While the lion is known for its strength and ferocity, the lamb is regarded as a gentle and dependent creature. Nevertheless, both are at times associated with the person and work of God Banner Leicester 06b – darbygray.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 Next we had three older men speak to the current situation 1. Peter Beale … is mediate (by the Word) but it is immediate (by the Holy Spirit). This wrong mentality is ruining things DC’s Anti-Gay Marriage Protest “Like A Hitler Youth Rally” – joemygod.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 At today’s anti-gay marriage rally in DC’s Freedom Plaza, NOM-organized haters turned with arms outstretched to cast the Holy Spirit upon the evil sodomites in the building across the street where DC’s City Council meets. JMG reader Russ sent The Saint of Totus Tuus – airmaria.com 04/28/2009 Ave Maria Meditations ST. LOUIS–MARIE GRIGNION DE MONTFORT 1673 – 1716 Feast: April 28 PRAYER TO JESUS: … from me, for whatever in me does not belong to Mary is unworthy of Thee. O Holy Spirit, grant me all these graces … hast bestowed upon me in giving me to Thy holy Mother through the devotion of Holy Bondage Follow Up Parties Begin – cullenallen.typepad.com 04/28/2009 Tonight we had our first night of follow-up parties for those who gave their lives to Christ during the Festivals … night we’ll start baptizing people and I’ll be speaking on the baptism in the Holy Spirit 24 (A Kingdom view of the end times.) – gscandrett.wordpress.com 04/28/2009 Several weeks ago I wrote in this post ( HERE ) these words: If we believe what is going on is just a precursor to the End, how does that affect the way we think? If we are just going to duck and cover during these so called “last days” of grave uncertainty and shaking, [Church_of_Christ] Re: Holy Spirit 3 – familyofgodchrist.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 George, wrote: George, I think I’m gonna have to content myself with agreeing to disagree … of us who can’t see God, since God is Spirit and no man can see Him and live, we can at least see love RE: [FamilyofGod] Gracious Heavenly Father – familyofgodchrist.blogspot.com 04/28/2009 amen and amen!! In agreement with this prayer!! Gloria Ask me about Nu Skin today! … to encourage and help them walk in your ways for all the days of their lives. Be their friend, Holy Spirit … with your Spirit for each of them. Let the lost be found and the sick be healed, set the captive free The Gift Conspiracy – holeinone.com.au 04/28/2009 I’m convinced there is a vast shower gift conspiracy operating in our culture. Think about it. For a wedding shower, she has all the fun … by the Holy Spirit, and that we are given these gifts RSSdoodle by The Lessnau Lounge. Results provided by Technorati. Share: [...]
You could probably replace “students” with “leaders” for a lot of this article and it’s no less true (but possibly more confronting and scary).
I’m not sure that many of us have really thought through these questions, and that’s the reasons many students haven’t either (and, to take this a step further, I also think that many who are in leadership over “emerging adults” haven’t really thought it through lots, either. Lots of people have a very narrow understanding of what church is, and (more specifically) what it looks and smells like, and this then filters through – either explicitly (”we don’t do things like that”) or implicitly (that uneasy feeling that, even if people say they’re happy for you to try something, it’s not going to fly).
I’ve been very blessed to be involved in a new faith community (church plant), who have been given Carte Blanche to do whatever we feel we should do, in whatever way we feel we should do it. Sadly, I think we are amongst a very small majority, because I haven’t heard of that situation in many other spaces, and yet in being given that freedom, we have wrestled with and taken very seriously the questions of what church looks like, what faith development looks like, what mission looks like. We don’t have all the answers (sometimes it feels like we don’t have many of the answers!), but at least we’re wrestling with it, together.
I like your 3 elements, and think there are a number of ways that they can be expressed, should those terms not be helpful for some. Regardless, I am firmly of the belief that we need to redeem the word “church” in its fullest expression, and that as we do, we will find that not only are more people engaging with the church, but maybe some of those who we think have “left the church” actually haven’t…
i think you all make good points.
to me, i think it is not just the youth misunderstanding the church. i think this is true, but there is much more to it.
i think that in the past few decades the church has lost it’s way. it is not about bringing healing, about helping people grow and experience God.
the church is about numbers, attendance, the sunday morning service, and about being a “successful church”.
have you ever noticed how much marketing goes on around the church? for events, for the service, for the webpage, for basically everything.
i think this current generation is very intune with what is genuine and that is not always found in the church.
i think this is a HUGE cause! our youth want what is genuine and real, and often get a program and marketing scheme instead.
any thoughts?