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First, read Thom Rainer’s Five Major Trends for Churches in America. Soak it in, marinade on it, then read my thoughts below:

1. It’s more important than ever that churches have competent outreach programs that not only reach deep into unchurched culture but programs that are relevant, not ones that try to be relevant on the surface (read: cool clothing, pop culture mirroring, etc.). Churches will be able to demonstrate relevance by taking care of those in need.

2. The church has to be the church, and unapologetic at the same time. People come to church to see what we’re about, and we have to show them that we’re about Jesus, we’re not some cool club that doesn’t do anything different than the world does except pretend to be religious.

3. We employ seniors to take aggressive mentorship roles for younger adults and couples. We also employ seniors aggressively in outreach to other seniors, allowing the discussions to remain relevant and levels of respect to be established earlier. More than ever we need solid senior leaders.

4. We may see a swing where Boomers remain in leadership positions longer, but instead of remaining in the same roles, they shift to help cover more areas due to their “booming” interest in the gospel. This generation might be game changers in helping to implement points 1-3 and 5.

5. Churches will need to have more cross pollination between adult worship, and “youth” worship (high school, middle school, and younger), having more intentional family Sundays where the whole family is invited to be together on a Sunday. More opportunities for family-friendly small group environments and more family-friendly outreach opportunities.

Thanks to V-Mac for the link to the original article.

What do you think?

Are you a new Christian asking, “what’s next? Now that I’ve chosen to follow Jesus, what do I do now?”

Or, maybe you’ve been a Christian for a long time but you’ve been luke warm or cold in your faith, but you’re ready to make a move, and to start living for Christ. The question, “what’s next,” would apply to you, too.

My first encouragement to you would be, connect with one of the pastors at your church. Ask them what’s next in your spiritual walk.

Then again, maybe you’re asking “what’s next” and want info now. WhatsNextKit.tv can help.

WhatsNextKit.tv is a great website that will give you an idea of what’s next in this new life of following Jesus. You can even get a free Bible plus info on going deeper, serving, and getting help.

Don’t wait – check out WhatsNextKit.tv today.

Image by Kent.

From Matthew 26:

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, Sit here, while I go over there and pray.37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, So, could you not watch with me one hour?41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again

Have you ever had friends that you were sure would be there for you, but at the most critical time, in your hour of desperate need, you were alone?

Jesus experienced this as he was praying to God to “take the cup” of crucifixion from him. Jesus was so distraught he was sweating blood (a known condition called Hematidrosis), in complete anxiety over his impending death.

You may be in the same position as Jesus. All alone, with no one to turn to.

Let me encourage you by saying, Jesus knows what you’re going through. He needed friends to be close as his death approached and yet he weathered his last moments on his own. Jesus knows what you’re feeling.

Turn to him, confess your troubles, open your heart to him, tell him everything. He hears everything you say to him. And remember, no matter how you feel…

You are not alone.

This post was originally a guest post for @inprogress. I’m reposting as I find it to be more and more relevant to today’s church.

37 And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38 This is the great and first commandment.39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. -Matthew 22

Do you love your neighbor?

Who is your neighbor?

I see people who, because they can’t define their neighbor, choose not to love their neighbor and, instead, do nothing at all.

There are even people who hide behind Twitter and Facebook and the television instead of going out and risking by having “breathing the same air” relationships. We have nerves in our skin, people – we’re meant to rub shoulders with other humans.

While the Bible doesn’t define our “neighbor,” allow me to do that for you so you can get to work loving them as yourself (just in case you’re not sure who your neighbor is).

Go out your front door. Do a 360 degree turn all the way around. If you can see a door, that’s your neighbor.

For those of you who live in an apartment complex or dorm, just consider your floor (or, for smaller venues, the whole building) your neighbor. If you live out in the country, expand your radius to 1 or 5 or 10 miles.

So, stop reading this post, get up, and go out your front door. Right now. Go take a “neighbor inventory.”

(cue the Jeopardy theme – you can hum this while you’re looking around if you want)

Now what? How do you love your neighbor as yourself?

42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. -Matthew 5

Start with your immediate, literal next door neighbor. If you don’t know them, go introduce yourself. Ask them out for coffee (your treat). If you do know them, slap together a casserole or some cookies and drop them by. “Hey, just wanted you to have these.” No strings attached. Give them the food and exit.

Be intentional and check in on them from time to time. I’m terrible about remembering to do this so I use Google Calendar’s recurring events function regularly to ensure I keep up with my “neighbor.”

Then, make a dinner date. Get to know them. Find out where they’re from, what they do, what they love, what they hate, how they play, how they’re suffering, and how you can pray for them.

Sure, you can ask them to church. Try developing a relationship first, though. They’ll feel more like they’re trusted than just a trophy.

The most important thing is that you’re consistently being in relationship with them. Consistency shows them they matter to you, and ultimately to the Christ you serve. Christ is there for us every day. Shouldn’t you model that same trait?

It’s as if we’ve lost the simple art of being human. Instead, we’re absorbed with having an intimate relationship with this Creator but we forget why he became flesh. He died so that we might live, and that we might share that good news, that gospel, with the world.

We who claim to follow Christ are to be his hands and feet while we walk this dirt and we need to have intimate relationships with the Creator’s creation while we’re here. Being friends with “church” people, going to Sunday worship and pot lucks and Wednesday night bible studies just isn’t enough.

It’s time to start living outside our comfort zone, to start living in discomfort, so the world can come to know the Comforter.

Ninjas can be invisible.

Christians should be invisible.

Do all things so Christ shines, so He gets the glory, and we fade into the background, hiding in the shadows, doing the servant’s work so the Master is made famous.

Can I get an amen?