Church Growth devotion: Just a Generation Away - Judges 2:19

Today’s readings: (click on links)

Judges 2:16-23

1 Corinthians 14:13-25

Just a Generation Away

Judges 2:19    But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

I've heard some people say that we are just one generation away from the end of Christianity. I really don’t believe that, however I do understand the sentiment.

Every church has the responsibility of passing on the faith to the next generation. If any congregation wants to survive, it needs to take this seriously. For instance, during this year, 4000 new churches will open; however, 7,000 churches will close. There are many reasons which cause church closings, but amongst the most common is the reluctance or inability of an older generation passing on the faith to an upcoming one.

One of the saddest closures that I ever experienced in Tennessee occurred when an older white and wealthy congregation closed its doors. The reason? The community where the church resided was now full of immigrants, but instead of handing over the church to a brand new generation of local worshippers, the original members shut down the building and ended its ministry. I believe that was shameful and very unfaithful, but perhaps the present community is a whole lot better and stronger without those kind of ‘Christians’ anyway.

The challenge of continuity that all congregations face depends upon how willing church members are at both inviting and welcoming new people to church. If it’s all left to church staff or ‘someone else,’ then the church will plateau and growth will stagnate. However, if the good folks in the pews take up this challenge and encouragingly invite families and friends, colleagues and neighbors to church, then the congregation has a much greater opportunity of continuing its Christ-given mission.

Questions for personal reflection

When was the last time I invited someone to church? Who could I presently invite?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the Church belongs to You. You call our congregations into being in order to present a faithful witness of Your Gospel and Kingdom in our communities. Help us to care about being dedicated to You and give us opportunities to invite others to Your church where we serve. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest chess drawing called “Opposites.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/10336642203_97a3010332_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Meaningful Membership

Romans 12: 4,5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

There’s a current trend in Western Christianity of people church-hopping and resisting joining a local congregation. They don’t want to make a commitment to a certain church or denomination because it doesn’t exactly fit their personal beliefs and theology. They move from congregation to congregation seeking to get something, but never really stopping long enough to give something back in return. They are spiritual locusts who feed on what they can get and then move on to another place.

I feel sad for them because they never really get to know the joys of membership, fellowship, and discipleship. To them, Christianity is something to be consumed. While it’s good to be nourished by the Spirit, it’s even better to share those blessings. After all, wasn’t it Jesus who said, “It is far better to give than to receive?”

Membership is originally a Christian invention. It comes to us directly from the writings of Paul. The local church is the Body of the Lord and we are each called to be different parts of Christ. And the different parts of that spiritual body are called ‘members.’

I hope that this trend to be independent and individual begins to diminish. I can’t think of a worse form of Christianity that requires no humility and is always motivated by self-interest. We are meant to be members in the Body of Christ, not individual parts that wander off to go and do their own thing. Christianity works best when people of faith are joined together and serve the Lord by being banded together in a common faith, church, and congregation.

So let’s rejoice and celebrate our church membership. Let’s take time to thank God for this wonderful innovation that was inspired by the Holy Spirit through the writings of Paul so long ago. And let’s also remember, before we criticize Paul for instituting church membership, that he was significantly and deliberately chosen by Christ Himself to do this.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for church membership and how it is wonderfully celebrated and practiced throughout the world. We remember those Christians in China for whom church membership can bring imprisonment. We recall those Christian congregations in Iraq and Iran for whom membership can cost them their lives. And we remind ourselves that our own congregations are full of folk who are called to serve You together through the bonds of friendship, fellowship, and above all else, membership. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Book about Encouraging Visitors to Become Members