I mentioned briefly in the last post that my theory is that young adults tend to value powerful presentation over pastoral care. While that's probably not the healthy way to live, I think we can extract some 'good' out of it.
Let me explain: I think its amazing that young adults who are Christians are so familiar with guys like John Piper or Rob Bell or Matt Chandler or Andy Stanley or Neil McClendon or Voddie Baucham. (That's quite a varied group, ain't it? Wouldn't you love to see all of them around a dinner table?)
Here's what I mean: I think that for the first time in a long time, young adults are more passionate about finding teachers that actually know their stuff. We've got an entire movement of Christan college students who are reading, hearing and studying deep, theological issues. I realize that all college students get a bit pretentious, but I'm willing to bet that Christian college students are better-read these days than, say, fifteen years ago. And that's what we're factoring into the Remnant.
Understanding that we are probably going to be dealing with a group of people who are used to, and expect, a certain level of quality in sermons, classes, studies, lectures, we've decided to invest our time in crafting study of the Bible that is going to be thoughtful, prepared, and well-delivered. In addition to that, we're intentionally playing down the "show."
The Remnant will be held in the "chapel" of our church, a small space with stained glass, pews, the whole deal. To be honest, the idea of "postmodern" or "ancient future" never occured to me as we picked this location. Frankly, I just love the room and have wanted to have more meetings in there for two years. (I'm a sucker for the stained glass at night.)
Lufkin has had multiple young adult outreaches over the years - all with full bands, projection screens, video clips and lots of pseudo-momentum - but none of them have lasted. I'm not against bands or screens. I like them and use them on every single Sunday morning. But I think there's something to be said for trying something that's more low-key in its approach. My prayer is that each of these services will communicate a relaxed atmosphere while also being very focused on the study of scripture.
Oh, did I mention that I'm the one preaching? Yeah...I'm not leading worship at this one, folks. That's worth the price of admission right there!
Monday, January 07, 2008
What I'm Doing, Part II
Posted by Todd Wright at 1:34 PM
Labels: church, ministry, preaching, the remnant
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9 comments:
Todd, I think you've touched on an issue that shows us why large gatherings like Promise Keepers is no longer effective on the large part. I think the Big Show/Video/Sermon/Invitation age is coming to a close. Popular now is circle of couches, coffee, "here's what I think this means" mentality. If you ask me I'd much rather sit in a couch and drink coffee than sit in a numbered-metal seat.
However, the biggest disadvantage to the latter in my opinion is the reader-response atmosphere that stays at "Here's what I think Jesus meant" dialogue verses the "Who cares what you think... here is what the Bible says" attitude.
The best way to hold this type of dialogue is not to gather around you people who will puff up your own theology but to gather around you people who have tested the topics with Scripture, Experience, and Knowledge... you've got to have people there who speak Truth regardless.
If not, then what you get is a group of people that leave having formed their theology on what 'feels' right verses on what 'is' right. And in my experience seldom am I correct when I base my theology on what 'feels' like the right thing to do.
Luckily for your crew I know you will speak Truth to them regardless of how it makes you look.
I would LOVE to be at that dinner!!! Neil would just end up bashing all their heads in cause he thinks he's smarter than all the rest.
The thing is, young adults are drawn to guys like this because they are all geniuses, in their own rights. People don't really care to go to a service or gathering where the speaker is just preaching at them what every other speaker has preached at them before. These guys (and others) KNOW the bible...and have spent time building their ministries by interpreting the scripture and turning around and showing it in a unique way. Yes, there are plenty of places where it's appropriate to approach it as "this is what the bible says".....but it's soooo much more affective and appealing to people when you can open up the scripture and say, "This is what this means" or "This is how I see this" or "What do you think about this?"....all still being bibically based, of course. Finding that approach is the key though.
I've been to one Promise Keepers deal....and that was more than enough for me. I just don't see how someone can get anything out of that kind of setting. The same way I don't see how you can grow any sort of community or bond with your church when your attendance is like 4,000 or 5,000 people...or more. I know some people LOVE those churches, and that's great. But it's just not for me. I'd much rather be in smaller church where you know more people than just those in your small group that meets. And where you actually can TALK TO THE PASTOR if you want!!! And give me a group sitting around drinking coffee and breaking open the bible anytime, like Robert said.
Does pastoral care have to come from a pastor or another authority figure?
I don't expect for Matt to make time in his week for me to sit down and talk about life with him. His role is to teach and preach. I've got 7-10 Godly guys in my home-group for that. If it's an issue that is beyond that groups capacity I've got some older men in the church I can go to, or one of the other pastors. It works because the framework is there.
As a 20-something young adult my big hope and dream for the Village is for older men and women to lead or even just host home-groups for younger adults; to have them pouring into the lives of those who haven't experienced as much of life.
Our problem is we have plenty of young adults but not nearly enough willing older adults to take on that task.
Imagine a church where fathers did more than just drive the family to church!
That said, I commend YOU for stepping up and meeting an obvious need in the church. I think for the ministry to survive you'll need to call on other men and women to step up and help meet this enormous challenge.
Todd, I'm not clear on what this is supposed to be. What place do you see this taking in the life of your typical attendee?
There are two factors:
1. We are a large church that has extremely poor involvement/attendance/commitment among folks in the 18-30 age group.
2. We are serving a town/community with a large percentage of citizens in this age group who are completely "unchurched" or "lost" or whatever other phrase you might want to use.
Essentially, our church wants to do two things - try a new ministry to encourage and disciple our own folks into following God. I imagine this would take the form of teaching this group how to actually study the Bible, what God's Word says about worship and reverence and ministry, that sort of thing.
The second is that the unchurched in our town have been served a shoddy bill of goods over the past few years by churches trying to evangelize and disciple. We wanna' take a shot. I think we're armed pretty well for it.
I'm totally aware that this may fail miserably, but for now and for this town and for this time, we're gonna' give it our best.
I hope that all makes sense...
There has to be something to draw in these "unchurched" or "lost" or whatevers though. More than likely, if they are lost and not involved in the church, coming and studying the bible probably isn't going to appeal to them that greatly. I think the offering of a new and fresh way to disciple young folks and show them the bible is great...but I think it might only be interesting to someone who is already somewhat into the church scene...you know? Just a thought.
So this is an evangelistic meeting, not a Church service for believers? Then that gives you a little leeway on the production front. Your music, for example, isn't limited to worship songs. And your presentation can be of a more, shall we say, "mere Christianity" variety.
I think it's going to end up having a mixed crowd of folks who follow Jesus and folks who don't.
But we'll know come February.
"But for now and for this town and for this time, we're gonna' give it our best."
You nailed it Todd! How many times have we tried to 'reproduce' what has worked in the past? "Big", "Metro", etc. Let's face it, those were attempts trying to replicate Breakaway Ministries.
Typically the style of gathering we grew most spiritually in is the style we will trumpet our entire lives. Why? Because we know it worked cause it worked on us. However just because Fanny Crosby made my Grandmother bow down to worship does not mean it will have the same effect on me. And just because I surrendered to the ministry because of a Tomlin song (not really) does not mean that every time my students hear that song they will become preachers. The element that we fail to embrace is the power of the Spirit 'at that time.'
We must ask ourselves what is our plan for our sphere, for this time, in this age?
I agree with Paul in that for effective relationships to be cultivated it takes a multitude of styles. When older folks mentor younger folks (and younger folks give vibrance to the older) community happens. Not because that is what is popular now but rather that is a standard throughout time.
How I long for adults to attach themselves to some of my students who have not the parents who care about God. I desire for a strong family father to 'adopt' a young student who's own dad cares more about cigarettes and Nascar than he does the spiritual condition of his own family.
Take the young college student for example. They are away from home (maybe just mentally if not physically). They need guys like you and some of your older men to model for them 1) Not only is this Christian thing real... but 2) Here's how to do it.
This goes for other scenarios as well. Link together an older married couple with a newly married couple, bond a widowed grandmother with a family who can remind her of her importance.
This happens seldom, but when it does... oh how beautiful!
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