Why Don’t People Go to Church? Colossians 3:12-15 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go to Church? 40% of Americans claim to be regularly involved in a local church. Research shows that only about 17% of Americans attend actually church regularly. REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE IS DEFINED AS ATTENDANCE AT LEAST THREE OUT OF EIGHT SUNDAYS.

Why Don’t People Go to Church? Reason number 3: Going to church isn’t necessary. 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go to Church? Reason number 2: Other activities are more important.

Why Don’t People Go to Church? Reason number 1: Church people are hypocritical and judgmental.

Why Don’t People Go to Church? “I don’t want to be judged.” “I don’t want to be lectured.” “Christians are a bunch of hypocrites.” “Your God is irrelevant in my life.” 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go to Church? INSERT VIDEO NUMBER TWO HERE!

Why Don’t People Go to Church? “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy…” Ephesians 5:25-26a

Why Don’t People Go to Church? As Christians, our CHARACTER will have a direct impact on how the non-churched will view us. 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go to Church? …clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Why Don’t People go to church

Why Don’t People Go To church

Why Don’t People Go TO church? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self- control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Compassionate – NOT – Uncaring 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Compassionate – NOT – Uncaring Kind – NOT - Harsh

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Compassionate – NOT – Uncaring Kind – NOT – Harsh Humble – NOT - Arrogant

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Compassionate – NOT – Uncaring Kind – NOT – Harsh Humble – NOT – Arrogant Gentle – NOT – Abrasive 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Compassionate – NOT – Uncaring Kind – NOT – Harsh Humble – NOT – Arrogant Gentle – NOT – Abrasive Patient – NOT - Intolerant

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Our Christians character will have a direct impact on how we TREAT each other.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? We have a responsibility to forgive each other’s mistakes and shortcomings.

Why don’t people go to church? Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:15 404-545-0011

Why don’t people go to church? And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? We have a responsibility to be unified in love.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-20

Why don’t people go to church? Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? We have the responsibility to be peacemakers. 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2

Why Don’t People Go TO church? “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” Mathew 5:9 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18

Why Don’t People Go TO church? We have a responsibility to be thankful. 404-545-0011

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Making your way in the world today Takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries, It sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away?

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, And they're always glad you came. You want to be where you can see The troubles are all the same. You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Why Don’t People Go TO church? Can we be more compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient?