Embracing Truth: Navigating Change and Spiritual Curiosity
Summary
In today's gathering at Oasis Community Church, we explored the profound importance of truth and the opportunities that lie ahead as we prepare for a new chapter in our church's journey. Reflecting on a personal health scare, I emphasized the necessity of confronting uncomfortable truths rather than accepting comforting lies. This analogy set the stage for discussing the current state of the church in America, where attendance and conversions have been declining. Despite these challenges, there is a significant opportunity for growth and outreach, especially as we approach a merger that promises new possibilities.
The pandemic has reshaped the religious landscape, but it also opened doors for spiritual curiosity. Many Americans are now more open to exploring spiritual matters, presenting a unique opportunity for the church to engage with them meaningfully. However, this requires a shift in our approach. We must move beyond traditional methods of evangelism and embrace relational, authentic connections with those seeking spiritual truth.
The story of the rich young ruler in the Gospels served as a poignant reminder of the need for genuine love and relational evangelism. Jesus' interaction with him highlighted the importance of addressing the heart's true needs rather than offering superficial solutions. As a church, we must be willing to engage with people where they are, allowing them to process and explore their spiritual questions without pressure.
Looking ahead, we must set our sails to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to be bold and creative in our outreach efforts. This involves creating safe spaces for dialogue and understanding, especially for younger generations who may feel disconnected from traditional church settings. By fostering genuine relationships and being open to new ways of sharing the gospel, we can effectively reach those who are spiritually curious and guide them toward a transformative relationship with Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace Truth Over Comfort: Just as I needed to hear the truth about my health to seek the right treatment, we must confront the realities of declining church attendance and conversions. Facing these truths allows us to address them effectively and seek God's guidance for renewal and growth. [28:13]
2. Recognize the Spiritual Curiosity: Despite declining church numbers, 72% of Americans express interest in spiritual matters. This curiosity is an opportunity for the church to engage with people authentically, offering them the truth of Christ amidst a sea of spiritual options. [45:50]
3. Relational Evangelism: The story of the rich young ruler teaches us the importance of loving people genuinely and allowing them to process spiritual truths at their own pace. Our evangelistic efforts should focus on building relationships rather than merely seeking conversions. [52:04]
4. Empowered by the Holy Spirit: As we navigate cultural changes, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us with boldness and creativity. This divine empowerment will enable us to reach out effectively to those who are spiritually curious, especially younger generations. [16:00]
5. Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue: To reach younger generations, we must create environments where they feel safe to explore their spiritual questions. This involves listening to their stories, understanding their perspectives, and sharing the gospel in a way that resonates with their experiences. [17:46]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [26:25] - The Importance of Truth
- [28:13] - Facing Uncomfortable Realities
- [30:16] - The Changing Religious Landscape
- [32:02] - Decline in Church Outreach
- [35:56] - Evangelism and Church Growth
- [39:41] - The Need for Honest Conversations
- [42:04] - Church Closures and Opportunities
- [45:50] - Spiritual Curiosity in America
- [47:18] - The Harvest is Plentiful
- [49:48] - Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
- [52:04] - Relational Evangelism
- [54:57] - Genuine Love for Others
- [57:13] - Avoiding Fads in Church Growth
- [01:00:35] - Curious George and Spiritual Curiosity
- [01:03:17] - Allowing Time for Spiritual Processing
- [01:10:27] - Preparing for Next Week's Practical Steps
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 10:17-22 - The story of the rich young ruler.
2. Luke 10:2 - "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
3. John 4:35 - "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the rich young ruler seeking when he approached Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to him? (Mark 10:17-22)
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the current challenges facing the church in America today? [30:52]
3. How does the pastor describe the shift in spiritual curiosity among Americans since the pandemic? [45:50]
4. What does the pastor suggest is necessary for the church to effectively engage with spiritually curious individuals? [52:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the interaction between Jesus and the rich young ruler illustrate the concept of relational evangelism? [52:04]
2. In what ways does the pastor suggest the church needs to change its approach to evangelism in light of cultural shifts? [30:16]
3. What does the pastor mean by "setting our sails to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit," and how does this relate to church outreach? [16:00]
4. How can the church create "safe spaces for dialogue" for younger generations, according to the sermon? [17:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between confronting an uncomfortable truth and accepting a comforting lie. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? [28:13]
2. With 72% of Americans expressing interest in spiritual matters, how can you personally engage with someone who is spiritually curious this week? [45:50]
3. Think about your current relationships. How can you practice relational evangelism by genuinely loving and listening to those around you? [52:04]
4. What steps can you take to rely more on the Holy Spirit for boldness and creativity in your personal outreach efforts? [16:00]
5. Identify a younger person in your life who may feel disconnected from traditional church settings. How can you create a safe space for them to explore their spiritual questions? [17:46]
6. Consider the story of the rich young ruler. What "possessions" or comforts might you need to let go of to follow Jesus more closely? [52:04]
7. How can you contribute to creating an environment in your church that welcomes and supports spiritual curiosity and growth? [17:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Truth Over Comfort
In life, we often face the temptation to accept comforting lies rather than confront uncomfortable truths. This is especially true in the context of spiritual growth and church dynamics. The reality of declining church attendance and conversions can be daunting, but acknowledging these truths is the first step toward seeking God's guidance for renewal and growth. By embracing truth, we open ourselves to the possibility of transformation and the opportunity to align our actions with God's will. This approach requires courage and faith, trusting that God will lead us through challenges to a place of greater spiritual vitality. [28:13]
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)
Reflection: What uncomfortable truth in your life or community have you been avoiding, and how can you begin to address it with God's help today?
Day 2: Recognize the Spiritual Curiosity
Despite the decline in church numbers, there is a growing spiritual curiosity among many people today. This curiosity presents a unique opportunity for the church to engage with individuals authentically, offering them the truth of Christ amidst a myriad of spiritual options. By recognizing and responding to this curiosity, the church can become a beacon of hope and truth in a world searching for meaning. This requires a shift from traditional evangelism methods to more relational and authentic connections, meeting people where they are and guiding them toward a deeper understanding of faith. [45:50]
"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him." (Acts 17:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is showing signs of spiritual curiosity, and how can you engage with them in a meaningful and authentic way this week?
Day 3: Relational Evangelism
The story of the rich young ruler in the Gospels highlights the importance of relational evangelism. Jesus' interaction with him was not about offering quick fixes but addressing the heart's true needs. As a church, we are called to love people genuinely and allow them to process spiritual truths at their own pace. This means building relationships rather than merely seeking conversions, creating an environment where individuals feel safe to explore their faith journey. By focusing on genuine love and understanding, we can guide others toward a transformative relationship with Christ. [52:04]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone you know who is exploring their faith. How can you show them genuine love and support in their spiritual journey today?
Day 4: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
As we navigate cultural changes, it is essential to rely on the Holy Spirit for empowerment. This divine empowerment enables us to be bold and creative in our outreach efforts, especially when engaging with younger generations who may feel disconnected from traditional church settings. By setting our sails to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit, we can be guided in our efforts to reach those who are spiritually curious and lead them toward a deeper relationship with Christ. This requires openness to new ways of sharing the gospel and a willingness to step out in faith. [16:00]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's empowerment to be bold and creative in sharing your faith?
Day 5: Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue
To effectively reach younger generations, it is crucial to create environments where they feel safe to explore their spiritual questions. This involves listening to their stories, understanding their perspectives, and sharing the gospel in a way that resonates with their experiences. By fostering genuine relationships and being open to dialogue, we can guide them toward a transformative relationship with Christ. Creating safe spaces for dialogue allows individuals to process their spiritual questions without pressure, leading to a more authentic and meaningful faith journey. [17:46]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a safe space for someone in your life to explore their spiritual questions, and what steps can you take to foster open and honest dialogue?
Quotes
"We lived in a time in which the world literally shut down. We didn't even think that was possible, did we? Not only in America, but around the world, things shifted dramatically. And one of the things that shifted dramatically was the religious landscape. The religious landscape in America shifted dramatically. But the truth is church attendance was already in decline before the pandemic." [00:30:28]
"But as we prepare to go over there, I think it's very important that we prepare ourselves for more than a geographical shift of location, but that we have a real shift in our hearts about the opportunities that are before us. If you're taking notes, here's a real simple outline for today. Number one, I want to talk about what's real." [00:29:16]
"Biological growth is an option, transfer growth is an option, and obviously conversion growth is an option. Winning people to Christ, sharing the gospel. Southern Baptist churches, all of my life up until recent years, was really a pillar of evangelistic fervor." [00:36:30]
"Recently, in a research survey, 43 % of Southern Baptist churches in America reported zero experiences of conversions or water baptism in a calendar year. 43 % had no one come to Christ and no water baptism. 34 % reported one to five conversions or water baptisms. In a calendar year." [00:38:45]
"Since the pandemic more Americans are thinking about spiritual matters because they're wondering is there something more. While there were a lot of negatives that came out of the pandemic it did cause people to begin to think probably with all of the death that was occurring probably with all of the economic uncertainty that was occurring people in America began to think there has to be something else than all of this." [00:45:50]
"Jesus said the harvest truly is great but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. It's almost like Jesus said that to us today and in many ways he did. He was telling his disciples look the evangelism is happening and so should we. harvest, people are spiritually open," [00:47:18]
"Most of them aren't going to encounter Christ by coming to church because they're not going to go to church. Well, our doors are open. They ought to come. They're not. They're not going to come, which means why? Because they're not going to come. They're not going to come. What? Well, maybe we just have to do what Jesus said. Go." [00:49:01]
"Until we get to Jesus. Until we love people, we will not reach them for Christ until our hearts are crushed with the reality that there is a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, a Gen Z, a Gen X that is dying in their sins and will die in their sins and go to hell until that crushes us. We will sit piously in our building and go home. Self-satisfied that we have honored God." [00:56:12]
"We don't share our faith as a tactic to grow our church. We share Christ for them to have forgiveness. It's about loving the other person. It's not about what I get out of it. Well, I'm going to share Jesus so I can build my church. I'm going to have evangelistic training in my church because I want 100 people going out in the community to get people to church so that I can grow my church so that I look like somebody." [01:05:26]
"If we're not careful, we treat evangelism like a sales game. We're just going to share a five. Five points and a poem, and you're going to pray and receive Christ. Come and get water baptized. This generation isn't interested in that. They are going to wrestle with the process. They weren't raised in church. They don't know the Bible story." [01:07:47]
"Can we create an environment on a Tuesday night where that generation, you get five or six of them together and you sit down and you find out what are their stories? And what is their spiritual openness about? And be okay that they're talking about crystals. And just let them talk. And develop a relationship. Develop a relationship with them so that when they begin to open up and ask you about your spiritual openness, you can begin to share Christ with them." [01:17:29]
"Because if we set our sails to harness the wind of the Holy Spirit, he will enable us to be bold. I think a lot of you would love to do what I'm talking about. You would love to develop a relationship or have a relationship, maybe with a family member, maybe with a co-worker. Maybe with a coach that your child has. Maybe it's people you don't yet know. You want to do that, but you're not bold enough." [01:15:38]
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