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A church revitalization movement is sweeping across North America, and I’m encouraged about the hopeful direction in which many churches are moving. Today we cover nine reasons for this encouragement.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM ARTHUR
Jonathan sometimes jokingly refers to you as the Church Mortician, but you also often call yourself an obnoxious optimist. So let’s hear about some of the positivity. What about church revitalization and replanting gives you hope for the future of the church in North America?
Episode Highlights:
- Perfunctory and routine prayer is not a good example of corporate prayer.
- The more we get into routines in the church, the less we focus outward.
- A church about me, myself, and I is not really a church at all.
- Until there is a rekindling of evangelism, there will be a dearth of healthy churches.
- Good theology results in works and obedience.
The nine reasons I’m hopeful are:
- A new wave of corporate prayer.
- A rekindling of evangelism.
- A balance between theological and practical.
- The waning of worship wars.
- A heightened emphasis on church revitalization.
- A surge of re-birthed churches.
- A renewal of meaningful membership.
- A concerted focus on impacting the community.
- Balanced views of numbers.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- EvangelismRenewal.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
I have heard bless the gift and the giver and take this money and use it here and around the world almost every week at church!
I always hear something to the effect of, “Bless the money being given and the hands that are giving it.”
Before becoming a minister, I thought that was supposed to be the food prayer ????
I also have heard the gift and giver blessing as well as prayer for the lost during offertory prayer.
Desciple making in addition to evangelism has to go hand in hand. Jesus didn’t just command us to go. Many pastor’s are lacking in this area.
“Help it to build your kingdom”, says the deacon in the Church with no mission giving.
Bonus:
Elder in another church: “Help it to keep our doors open.” In spite of that, they’re still open. God did what they asked.
Bless those who can give and those who can’t.
Depending on who prays, bless the gift and the giver, others bless those who give. My personal is usually use this to further your kingdom. Enjoy the podcast.
Sadly most of the time they say something like, we give to keep the lights on in the air conditioner running…
I have aways heard people pray “go with us through the rest of this service”
Let’s face the facts ( observed for 38 years 3 States and now in South America).
The average ” Christian” does not do independant bible study, pray consistently, evangelize or make disciples.
Church is a routine relgious act condoned by the leadeship.
Otherwise we woud have
” Doers not heares” be obedient to God’s Word, share the Gospel instead of practicing Undercover Christianity, always complaining we don’t have time or generous gifts to give.
We are slowly dying and ineffective.
Our Pastor ties the offering to vision or the things we do as a church. This what I here often at our church. I want to thank those of you who give to God through Name of our Church. I want to remind you that your giving is really helping so many people in so many different ways whether it be through our food bank that is open 6 days per week, or our free medical pediatric clinic that is on campus every Tuesday or the different outreaches we do. Your giving is truly making a difference in our community and around the world…
In todays crazy secular world, we need the Word of God and His church more than ever.