1. Part 1 - UNDERSTANDING OUR NEW POST-CHURCH CULTURE

2. What do you mean by “Post-Church Culture”? “Plenty of people love Jesus and support the Church, but their influence in society has subsided as numbers of secularized people have grown. There are two cultures, churched and unchurched, that exist side-by-side, each protecting their boundaries and each insisting on divergent values that cause polarization in most aspects of their world.” - Transforming Churches Network

3. Post-Church Culture o Churched Culture said: “The church is essential to the community.” o Post-Churched Culture: A divide between “There is no absolute truth” and “We Christians have the Absolute Truth.” - Transforming Churches Network

4. What is so different about today’s culture? o Understanding: Millennials o Understanding: Digital World o Understanding: Why does the Church struggle with adapting to Culture?

5. UNDERSTANDING MILLENNIALS def. a person reaching young adulthood around the year 2000

6. Wiki-pedia def. Millennials: (a.k.a. the Millennial Generation or Generation Y) There are no precise dates when the generation starts and ends. Researchers and commentators use birth years ranging from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Comprise 52 million people in the U.S. population. Most unchurched generation.

7. Characteristics o High-performance/Multi-taskers + Can juggle many responsibilities - Can be easily distracted by social media; bored easily o Upbeat and Confident o Open to Change : Need variety in their daily activities o Tech-savvy and reliant

8. Most Diverse Generation o Focused on authentic diversity o Most Ethnically & Racially-Diverse American Generation o 57% self-id as “white” vs. 72% of the general pop. o 1 in 5 Millennials are Hispanic o Self-identified as “Uniquely Tolerant” o Sensitive to comments on sexuality from older generations and Christians

9. Dislike Institutions Highest Disaffiliation in History 29% say they are not affiliated with any religion Most unchurched generation in History 50% describe themselves as political independents Exhibit a lack of fear for authority – Pew Research, 3/2014

10. Inspired by Social Conscience Want to help others Give to fight hunger; to end sex trafficking Sensitive to animal welfare Have great interest in the local-food movement Show a preference to everything “natural” and shopping local

11. What They Want o Recognition : Must feel and hear that what they’re doing is important o Work-Play Balance o “Work hard – play hard”; Not all business o Collaboration : Extremely team-oriented; Want to build relationship o Transparency o Want an open, honest & existing relationship w/ their pastor

12. Q & A

13. UNDERSTANDING the DIGITAL WORLD

15. Social and Digital Media are everything. It’s the new public square. o It’s how they connect. o It’s how they socialize. o It’s how they work. It’s not the whole relationship; but it is starting or continuing point.

17. If your ministry or you – as a witness – is not employing social media effectively, you are irrelevant to Millennials. It’s like you don’t exist.

18. To Reach Out… Keep your social media outlets active at all times. – Ask a Millennial to lead your media platforms. Talk about topics that relate to a real relationship with Jesus and what this life looks like in 2014. Marketing your church as an institution should be separate and secondary.

19. Social Media Platforms Ex. Bacon Twitter Facebook Linkedin Foursquare YouTube Instagram Pinterest Google Plus Last.FM

21. Small Group Discussion What can your ministry or you do to engage the unsaved further for Jesus Christ?

22. UNDERSTANDING WHY THE CHURCH STRUGGLES WITH ADAPTING TO CULTURE

23. What Hinders the Church from Reaching our Culture?

24. It’s deeper than circumstances: It’s Spiritual Warfare. o Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10 o “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

25. Everyday Obstacles Busyness: Moving too fast to pick up the subtle cues Tunnel-vision: Unaware of the “outside” world and views; Surrounded mainly by Christians Sentimentality: Remembering & Attempting to Preserve “Better” Days Comfort: Not wanting the church you know and are comfortable with to change Self-centeredness: Overly concerned for your own life versus others’ eternities

26. FEAR of Trying something new, i.e. Social Media Those Different from us, including generations Having nothing to say Saying the wrong thing Offending someone Rejection Sharing Everyday Obstacles

27. We Must Consider: WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF STAYING THE SAME? WHAT IS THE COST OF STAYING THE SAME?

28. Large Group Discussion How could we as a church body better adjust and adapt to reach this generation for Christ? Time of Prayer

29. Let’s stay connected Sign Up for Outreach Coaching Here: http://www.lhm.org/sent Find more Outreach Tools Here: http://www.lhm.org/sent