Reverse the Trend

October 04, 2010 Monday Message:

For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at declining church attendance, and how to reverse the trend. Let’s keep going:

4. We need to improve our typical Sunday morning program. Some of you don’t like referring to our worship service as a presentation or program, but THIS program is about Jesus, so it needs to be the best it can be. When a visitor drops in, show them the good stuff. In fact, we should treat our regulars to the good stuff as well. Every week – every meeting. Musicians and vocalists, sound and lighting, media and video operators – all need to be “on” their game. Any missed cue can jar the congregation out of a “God moment.” But good technology won’t make up for bad theology, and so the teachers…

5. Someone gifted in public speaking should be entrusted with the weekly teaching. Attending a seminary does not magically cause one to receive this gift. Chuck Swindoll says he doesn’t understand how some Bible teachers can bore people with the greatest story ever told, but they do it every week.

I recently sat through a sermon that left me confused. (Not my home church…)The pastor was jolly, everyone seemed to like him, but I walked away saying, “What was that about?” I still can’t tell you his main point, although he claimed the text was from “somewhere in Colossians.”

Another thing that troubles me is sermons with no substance. You hear a few jokes, cute personal stories, maybe some video clips, and we’re told to be a good person. But the Bible seems to be an afterthought, not the starting point. Better sermons start with the Word of God and then expound upon it, rather than predetermine a scenario and then search for scripture to support it.

The Lutheran church in the US may be declining, but the Lutheran Church worldwide grew by 1.6 million last year. Perhaps with intentional diligence we can reverse our nation’s trend and get on the increase side of things. Godspeed.

May the Holy Spirit bolster your journey this week.

Norton Lawellin