Stetzer: The next 10 years
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Trends on Jan 4th, 2012 | 5 commentsWhat will the church need to deal with in the next 10 years?
Ed Stetzer gives some thoughts:
1. Churches that used to been ‘seeker targeted’ will find that many people just aren’t seeking that much anymore. They have no ‘religious memory’ as Ed calls it. That will force churches to come up with a new model to engage people like this.
2. Churches will need to concentrate on the gospel. That’s accomplished by a church thinking through what the gospel is and actually living it out. It’s time to reassess and reorganize since we may find ourselves a little off track.
3. Christians will rethink discipleship. Stetzer argues that discipleship doesn’t need to be re-invented, but rather re-defined.
4. Churches will need to be innovative and implement new ways of doing church. Some churches are already doing that through things like multi-site and global initiatives. But these things are still new to myriads of churches.
My apologies to Ed for the synopsis. You can read his actual thoughts here.
But… what are YOUR thoughts? What are the big things on YOUR church’s agenda for the next decade?
5 Responses to “ “Stetzer: The next 10 years”
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Great article. your summary is very good, btw. Ed obviously knows more than most of us (and more than many of us put together).
I am predicting the rise of mainlines, btw. I think their organizations are getting just desperate enough and they have the kind of history to tackle these issues better, I think, than the johnny-come-lately nondenoms of late. (nothing wrong with that…)
Regarding point #2: what is the gospel?
Midnight Watch,
“Regarding point #2: what is the gospel?”
I think the best definition of the Gospel came from J.I.Packer.
Adoption by propitiation.
I am convinced that a major growth principle is so simple that it is overlooked. Authentic humility. Scripture is clear in declaring that God exalts those who humble themselves before Him!
First, Peter is correct. Mainline churches will be coming back because of their reverence for God, theological hymns, non-worldly music, appropriate dress, etc. Second, to answer Todd, the big thing on the agenda for my non-mainline church will be to survive.