New, Part 2

Church attendance and engagement has been in decline in the West for some time. Chances are the present global pandemic has only accelerated the rate of decline. If the church is supposed to be more than just another social institution, then why are they opting out?

Battle Belongs
Phil Wickham

Fountains
Josh Baldwin

Living Hope
Phil Wickham

New Thing
Hillsong Young and Free

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”

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Robert Putnam from ‘Bowling Alone’
“Community has warred incessantly with individualism for preeminence… The dominant theme is simple: For the first two-thirds of the twentieth century a powerful tide bore Americans into ever deeper engagement in the life of their communities, but a few decades ago— silently, without warning— that tide reversed and we were overtaken by a treacherous rip current. Without at first noticing, we have been pulled apart from one another and from our communities over the last third of the century.”

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Dallas Willard
“The greatest question the church now faces is whether it can really present the world with a new humanity or whether it is only attractive for the moment because it seems to support certain traditional values that comfort people bewildered and frightened about the future.”

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Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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Traits Not Seen in the Early Church
1. Individualism

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Matthew 14:26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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Traits Not Seen in the Early Church
2. Isolation

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Traits Not Seen in the Early Church
3. Consumerism

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Ephesians 3:8-12
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

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Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

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Our Strategy – Connect. Equip. Mobilize.

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Connect People to God and His Family

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Equip New and Maturing Disciples

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Mobilize Seven Marks Disciples for Mission