Bob's Blog

I teach a seminar on Millennials and their influence on the local church. Recently, I've been focusing on church plants or 'campus-based" churches by younger Christians, which is new within the Body. Only in ten years have we started to see churches being planted by twenty-something Millennials. As I observe these churches, a few characteristics pop out for me. These churches are:

• Passionate About the Bible - They desire to understand their faith and how it relates to their world. It's not surprising to see mid-week or weekend studies that cover a book of the Bible.
• Engaging the World - Their ministries tend to be outward focused, especially within their community. Many are involved in city services such as a teen program or a helps organization.
• Highly Relational - Communities of friendships are their main source of network. It's not only a social web for them but a way that they can express the Gospel to those unfamiliar to the Church.
• Participatory in Worship - They are not passive when they worship together. Many gatherings have a space and time for prayer (stations to kneel, stand or sit), communion (the band leads in worship to allow freedom to go and partake when you are ready), Scripture reading (as a projector posts the Scripture on a screen), and other acts of worship.
• Made Up of a Community of Small Groups - Although they like small intimate groups (house churches, small group studies, etc...), they still want the ministries a "large" church can offer. That's why the Sunday morning (or Saturday evening) gathering is their celebration time (visitors, seekers, disciples, etc...), while their smaller gatherings (homes, campus, a bar, etc...) are where the main Body comes together.

Next week will continue with part two of How A Younger Christian Generation Is Shaping the Church.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 11:00 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.