How To ACTUALLY Keep Millennials In Your Church

Millennials in your church? Question How do YOU keep Millennials in your church? I don’t want to assume that you/your church are not already intentionally pursuing actions and activities to keep Millennials engaged in your church, so I’d like to hear from you before getting things started

Where We Are Today (Video)

3 Aspects Millennials Need In A Church Millennials need to feel loved Millennials need to feel that you can grow Millennials need to feel compelled to get involved These three aspects apply to everyone in my opinion, but for the sake of this workshop, I want to convey these pillars as an umbrella for what we will discuss today.

Need #1 TEACHING We must grow…or else we die. Growth is important in every area of life, and it is no different when examining how to get Millennials to “stick” in your church. You cannot grow unless you are in place that addresses the situations faced, provides reliable instruction on what can be done to change those situations, and challenges the listener to apply those instructions toward changing their lives – thus we begin with teaching.

TEACHING “GO” “ARM” Gospel-Oriented Address Relevant Material to honor God for today’s culture The two sided coin for the teaching component is (1) a Gospel-oriented message and (2) a relevant message addressing some current topic of the day. To keep things short, I’d like to use “GO” for Gospel-Oriented messaging and “ARM” for Addressing Relevant Material

“GO” The Gospel is still the only way people are saved…but they must know why they need it! Teaching people about God and His way has no power without the presence of the Gospel! Millennials are hungry for substance. They are not primarily looking for a sermon that has three points identified by shared alliteration or is highlighted by “hooping and hollering” (especially when the person delivering the sermon hasn’t said much of anything prior to hooping and hollering), but rather one with practical takeaways or specific challenges.

“ARM” People hear what they are interested in, but they listen to what they understand! People are transformed when they understand how God’s teaching changes their lives now! Jesus spoke to people in agricultural terms because most everyone was either a farmer or was familiar with farming because that’s what society was based upon during His life here on earth in Israel. Jesus always dealt with people where they were – in their stress, struggle, sin, or their need to sacrifice – and Millennials need the same kind of outreach. You can’t talk to someone where they are if you do not know where they are! Our churches and leaders must live in a way that shows Millennials that they are watching what they are doing, care enough to address what they see taking place, and that they want to provide some form of guidance in helping us move forward; remember, you’ve been where we have been (although at a much different period in time) while we have not been where you have been. It is difficult to buy into God’s word when it has not been shown to have the answers to the issues that you are dealing with in your life now. It is wonderful to teach and talk about the three Hebrew boys whom God saved in Daniel 3, but it would be more wonderful for Millennials to hear how God still saves in the context of Black Lives Matter. The Bible speaks on how the people of God are to treat the alien and foreigner, but are Millennials in your church hearing about that as our government deals with those known as the “Dreamers” in our nation? Do we even address our current president in a manner that could actually change what is taking place, or do we simply grumble about what is being done? A tough pill for Millennials to swallow is to hear churches talk about the Civil Rights movement and what was done then because we are then forced to ask “So why is the church silent now???” You will light a fire in the souls of Millennials when challenging [and then equipping] them with how they can change culture through applying Biblical teaching to their lives and provide answers to the tough questions they wrestle with.

Need #2 COMMUNITY Millennials & Church

COMMUNITY “LOVE” “TRUTH” Patient in Relationships Authentic Relationships

Millennials want [and need!] to be discipled by you/your church! “LOVE” Millennials need to know they are loved by real people in proximity to them! Millennials want [and need!] to be discipled by you/your church!

“TRUTH” Millennials need to know it is “ok” to not be happy all the time in your church! Create a safe environment where Millennials know life issues can be discussed without condemnation!

Need #3 SERVICE

SERVICE “OTHERS” “INTENTIONAL” Impacts those outside Excellence in Service, the church walls not excess in service

People won’t care about Jesus until you show them He cares about them! “OTHERS” Meet the needs within the walls first, but make your focus impacting those not in your church! People won’t care about Jesus until you show them He cares about them!

Serve in areas that your community tells you they need help in! “INTENTIONAL” Serve in areas that address a need within the strength(s) of your church! Serve in areas that your community tells you they need help in!

RESOURCES E-Church (echurch.com) Solid online resource to help your church integrate relevant technology into your worship experience Pro Church Tools (https://prochurchtools.com/) Solid online resource for churches needing answers as they build from the ground up “Pro Church Tools with Brady Shearer” on Facebook (@prochurchtools) All of Brady Shearer’s videos on Millennial-related topics and others can be found here Initiative Network – Grant Skeldon (http://www.initiativenetwork.org/) Example of what God can do with a Millennial who’s heart is on fire for him

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