Did You Know? Nearly 75% of young people quit church Disillusionment and dissatisfaction with Christianity is leading many to abandon their faith in Christ 70% of 18-year-olds who went to church regularly in high school quit by age 23 By age 30, 34% still have not come back Same problem for many adults Christianity paints an overly simplistic picture with a decidedly judgmental brush Tired of pat answers to the wrong questions Appalled at the utter lack of grace and mercy Fed up with the self-congratulatory hypocrisy

Nearly 75% of young people quit church

Disillusionment and dissatisfaction with Christianity is leading many to abandon their faith in Christ

70% of 18-year-olds who went to church regularly in high school quit by age 23

By age 30, 34% still have not come back

Same problem for many adults

Christianity paints an overly simplistic picture with a decidedly judgmental brush

Tired of pat answers to the wrong questions

Appalled at the utter lack of grace and mercy

Fed up with the self-congratulatory hypocrisy

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3

Growing Christians That Will ENDURE 2 Timothy 4:7

The Wrong Way to Grow a Strong Tree

The Better Way

Psalm One 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

A More Authentic Faith in Christ A resurgence among some mainline congregations Cultivating spiritual practices in daily life Promoting tradition without practicing exclusion Offering a quest for wisdom, not pat answers Creating communities that are purposefully diverse Practicing hospitality on a regular basis “ People are on a quest for MEANING . [This] isn’t the same thing as answers. They want to know how to navigate suffering. What about their vocation or job? They want to know how they can change the world.” (Diana Butler-Bass, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Leadership , Fall 07, p.15)

A resurgence among some mainline congregations

Cultivating spiritual practices in daily life

Promoting tradition without practicing exclusion

Offering a quest for wisdom, not pat answers

Creating communities that are purposefully diverse

Practicing hospitality on a regular basis

“ People are on a quest for MEANING . [This] isn’t the same thing as answers. They want to know how to navigate suffering. What about their vocation or job? They want to know how they can change the world.” (Diana Butler-Bass, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Leadership , Fall 07, p.15)

Two Stakes, Not Just One Teach them the entire gospel that was exemplified by the radical revolutionary Jesus Missional living Biblical reconciliation Spiritual transformation Wrestle with deeper aspects of faith, prayer, suffering, evil, loving enemies, materialism, pluralism, repeat offenders, etc.

Teach them the entire gospel that was exemplified by the radical revolutionary Jesus

Missional living

Biblical reconciliation

Spiritual transformation

Wrestle with deeper aspects of faith, prayer, suffering, evil, loving enemies, materialism, pluralism, repeat offenders, etc.

Essential Tension Relationship with God thru Christ Sacred Word Sacred Practices Sacred History Solid Theology Sound Doctrine Faith Village Bonds Real-life Struggles and Issues Science Homosexuality Colonialism Pluralistic World Hypocrisy Exclusive Cliques

Relationship with God thru Christ

Sacred Word

Sacred Practices

Sacred History

Solid Theology

Sound Doctrine

Faith Village Bonds

Real-life Struggles and Issues

Science

Homosexuality

Colonialism

Pluralistic World

Hypocrisy

Exclusive Cliques

It Takes a Faith Village to Grow an Artist

What’s the Difference?

Factory or Art School?

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations Rev 22:2