Keys to Reaching the Next Generation – Top Four
CFCC’s Brad Abare and Phil Cooke were interviewed for an hour by Conversant Life.
The best part of the interview can be summarized by their Top Four Keys to Reaching the Next Generation for Jesus Christ. It’s not an exhaustive list, and they were answering questions on the fly, but like most leaders in the church they were already thinking about these things and I felt like these four things were spot on.
Keys to Reaching the Next Generation
- Vision + Culture = You must have a vision and you need to create a culture of transformation within your church. (I don’t know of another church who has done this better than Quest)
- Monologue →Dialogue: We need to move from Monologue to Dialogue in how we interact with the congregation in all of our gatherings (YouVersion)
- Lions and Tigers and BEARS…Instead of passing on our faith, the torch, responsibilities we need to carry it (bear it) with them. Mentoring will be essential.
- T r a n s p a r e n c y – In the internet age there is no hiding what you own, buy, sell, or do so don’t try to hide. Leaders must be comfortable with sharing their personal struggles. (Just ask Tiger Woods)
Skye Jethani Reflections @ Story 09
Consumerism Worldview
1. I am the center of the universe
2. I have unmet desires
3. There is a pill, person, procedure or program to help me with any problem that I have.
4. Jesus is a commodity
We have made Jesus into a means to an end instead of THE END.
We have a choice every weekend where we can educate or illuminate…to teach or preach. We can help people get through this life, or help them see another Kingdom, a Kingdom they say that they believe in, but need an imagination to see.
Fatal Flaws in “Instructional Preaching”
1. It doesn’t work in crowds. People don’t retain information.
2. It doesn’t challenge people’s perceptions of reality
There is a difference between preaching and teaching.
Kuros – preaching, announcing, gives a glimpse of another reality
Preaching requires experiential knowledge
Didakeo – teaching, conveying instruction
Teaching requires a basic set of knowledge and skills
Instructional preaching is really just teaching.
We need to PREACH on the weekends, and require people to use their imagination. We need to do our teaching elsewhere.
Skye’s book is a must read…see side bar for quick link to Amazon.
What kind of preacher are you? – Stacy Spencer @ Story 09
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Stacy referenced a contemporary of his in describing the five types of preachers.
1. The Comfort Dispenser – Gives Tylenol to cure all ills
2. The Pedantic Scholar – Waxes eloquently in order to impress
3. The Social Prophet – Sees the ills of society and cries
4. The Bible Repository – They know the book, but do they know the God of the book
5. Incorporates all four – Strive to be five
Always reflect on these things when preparing a message:
1. Why should I listen?
2. How are you introducing the text to the dilemma
3. Put people in the movie, help them become part of the text
4. Is there a common thread throughout the message? There should be no waste.
5. There MUST be redemption in your story.