Shawn Gierling

Catching Up

2011-05-08T02:11:00.001-04:00

So I haven't posted anything in quite a while. Mainly because there has been little to report and I'm not sure anyone is reading this anyway.

Be that as it may here are a few things going right and wrong lately.

Wrong: I went about 6 weeks with little to no work painting. I don't care who you are, that alone will impact a man's sense of strength, usefulness, and ability to provide for his family.

Right: God provides. I started a new job last week with a reputable painting company in Columbus doing the kind of work that I really enjoy. I worked in Grandview last week and Bexley this week.

I've also been working with a local Christian artist on the prospect of playing guitar with his band to promote an upcoming album. I'm truly excited. This is not a done deal so I won't mention any names here, but the recording project is very good. He's set to release a single soon that will be available on CDBaby and Amazon I think. Stay tuned for more on this.

I've also had more opportunities recently to play lead at Harvest Bible Chapel in Columbus. I've been blessed to work with Samuel Forshtay our worship pastor and a good friend. Seeing him transition into a full-time roll will be awesome.

As much fun as I am having playing lead guitar and supporting a great young worship leader, I miss leading worship. We still don't believe God is calling us to leave this area, but I'm getting anxious. I'm praying and seeking opportunities in the Columbus area to lead worship in a church plant, one that has started in the last year or will be launching in 2011.

Family is doing well. We are driving a great deal with Penny and I both working in Columbus, but we are managing at least for now. I'm not sure how long we'll be able to swing the fuel expense, but God does and I'm ready for whatever He has in store.

In Christ Alone,
Shawn

Our $29,000 God. | Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

2010-11-27T21:28:00.000-05:00

If you haven't read Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff, you should. It's a book and a blog. It's supposed to be satirical, but like most satire it's loaded with nuggets of truth and often challenges my faith more than most sermons and books. The following link is to a recent post from his blog about underestimating God.

Our $29,000 God. | Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

Lately...

2010-11-15T18:32:00.000-05:00

Here's what's up.

Worship

We've been attending Harvest Bible Chapel in Columbus and have decided to jump in. Opportunities to serve on the worship team and lead/co-lead occasionally are forthcoming.

We are a plant of Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, IL (James MacDonald of Walk in the Word). Luke & Jensine Ahrens moved to Columbus in April and the church launched on October 10th. Luke is passionate and skilled in his message delivery. His leadership has brought together a core group of about 70 adults and have run around 200 in worship so far. God has used him already to minister to me & my family.

Small Group

We attended our first small group meeting last week and were AMAZED! What a great group of believers. So looking forward to growing in fellowship with these folks. Using the book "Why Small Groups" edited by C. J. Mahaney to get us started. This 8 week study is highly recommended.

Family

Penny has been such a blessing to me in the last few months. She knows my love language and has gone out of her way to speak it to me in a number of ways.

Kids are still struggling with the prospect of a possible move in our future but are adjusting well to our new church.

Work

I have been painting on some small jobs and volunteering to paint at Heartbeats of Licking County has led to some other opportunities for a few weeks.

In short, God has been very good to us. I'm amazed that He chooses to bless me in spite of my pride and all around stubbornness.

"...once Your enemy, now seated at Your table, Jesus, thank You!!"

Evangelism Is...

2010-09-01T19:38:00.001-04:00

Count Your Blessings

2010-08-29T12:07:00.003-04:00

About two years ago I wrote a new setting for the old gospel song "Count Your Blessings." The lyrics are highly appropriate for this season in my life and many others. Click the link below to listen.

Count Your Many Blessings.mp3

Count Your Blessings

Verse 1
When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord hath done

Verse 2
Are you ever burdened
With a load of care
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear
Count your many blessings
Ev'ry doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by

Chorus 1
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done

Verse 3
When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you
His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high

Chorus 1
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done

Verse 4
So amid the conflict
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged
God is over all
Count your many blessings
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end

Chorus 1
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done

Lyrics - Johnson Oatman Jr.
Music - Shawn Gierling

Safeguarding My Marriage

2010-08-13T01:07:00.004-04:00

In the last few months I have observed marriages of people I know either greatly threatened or completely destroyed. I'm reminded that as a husband, I MUST nurture my wife and my children both spiritually and emotionally. I admit, I often fall short.

Men, don't let your marriages slip away. We are called to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. Christ gave himself up for the Church. He demonstrated His love by dying in our place even though he knew we didn't deserve it.

Sometimes I think we want our wives to earn our love, or we expect them to know without any kind of demonstration of it.

Here are 5 ways I will demonstrate my love for Penny and the kids in the remaining months of 2010.

1. Pray together more. Families, as well as churches, must pray together. In prayer, we demonstrate our trust in the God we pray to.

2. Worship. We don't often get to worship (in song) together often because we are separated by the distance from the platform to the place where she sits and I join her for the message. I need to discover and implement creative ways to sing together as a family more than occasionally.

3. LOVE HIS WORD. I need to find creative, effective ways to demonstrate my love for God's word in ways that encourage and teach my family.

4. Just Do It. I want my family to have a deep desire to serve others. What better way to demonstrate this than by serving them. My kids should see me serving Penny. I should involve them in service projects in the community.

5. Communication. The words "I love you" have always come easy between Penny and I, even through the rough spots. (if you know Penny you understand) But she deserves more than words. I need to talk to her frequently. Ask her opinion and value it. Call her during the day. Turn off the TV. Put down the laptop. Leave the light on a little longer. Go for walks. Tell her what I'm thinking.

I'm sure there are many other things that will help, but this is a start.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me how important my family is and how I can paint a picture of Your love for the Church in the ways I love my family.

How to Watch the Super Bowl for the Glory of God

2010-02-05T18:36:00.006-05:00

As many are pondering the prospect of being snowed in over the weekend, others are trying to decide whether or not its worth getting out in this mess to pick up the last minute goodies for Super Bowl XLIV.

I have to admit, I'm not much of a pro-football fan. College football? Yes. Men using their athletic ability to put themselves through college shows resourcefulness and can help them develop important discipline. However, hundreds of men waste the prime productive years of their lives reaching for a prize that few attain, the coveted Championship Ring. Those who do are often immensely disappointed, many turning to gambling, drugs, and other escapes that spin them down a spiral staircase, chin first, wondering what in the world happened to their dreams.

Don't get me wrong. There are guys who have long, successful careers and are able transition into other careers, but this is the exception, not the rule. Some athletes are able to use their fame and influence to shape the lives of others for the glory of Christ, but again, this is not common.

Nevertheless, I, like so many others, will likely watch the game to see if the under appreciated N.O. Saints can measure up against Peyton and the Colts, although Peyton is UT Vol grad. With that in mind, let me point you to what C. J. Mahaney has to say on the subject. You can read the full post here.

Tips for watching the Super Bowl

I'll give you a Super Bowl game prediction later but for now some things to keep in mind while watching the Super Bowl (or any televised sporting event). If you chose to watch the Super Bowl, here are four tips for watching the game for the glory of God.

1. Strategically assign the remote.

Some prefer to turn off all the commercials; other prefer to just keep an eye on it and turn off the offensive ones. Either way, be proactive about what shows up on your TV screen.

2. Watch proactively.

I encourage fathers to watch actively and discerningly, never passively and superficially. There is no doubt that throughout the game you will hear one superlative after another attributed to the skill of the athletes. The accent throughout the game will be on skill, not character.

3. Foster fellowship.

We need to make sure a room full of people are not simply passively watching the Super Bowl. Commercial time can be time redeemed with the right leadership and by a simply changing of the channel to C-SPAN...

...No matter who we invite to our homes on Sunday, let’s not just stare at the TV, paying little attention to our families and our guests. Watching the game should involve building relationships.

4. Draw attention to the eternal.

Sometime after the game—that same evening or the next day—it’s helpful for a father to draw his child’s attention to the game in light of eternity. It’s also helpful for us as fathers to be reminded of an eternal perspective.

Go here to read the full post. My selective quotes may not due it justice.

Mahaney is the founding pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD and has transitioned into leading Sovereign Grace Ministries, providing leadership and resources to pastors and other ministries worldwide. He has authored, among others, two books that have had tremendous influence on me and my ministry. I would recommend them to anyone.

"Living the Cross Centered Life"
"Humility: True Greatness"

Google Helps Get Things Done

2009-11-14T11:16:00.003-05:00

For over a year now I have been using Google Reader to help me subscribe to, organize, and constantly update the blogs I read from friends, church members, and Christian leaders. It is an amazing tool that allows me to get all the content I enjoy in one place. No more bookmarking, no more email updates, no more checking for updates. A real time saver. At a glance I can see what has been updated and make a decision about what I would like to read or star it to read later. Mark all as read and skip it.

I have also been using Google Calendar and Remember the Milk to organize appointments and to do lists. Until recently I have used Outlook to keep up with email. All of these have been excellent tools for keeping my ministry and personal life in order.

Enter smartphone and Gmail. A few weeks ago I decided to finally get a smartphone. I have had an iPod for a long time and hoped to get the iPhone so that i could combine my music, podcasts, and audio books with my phone and organizing apps. However, my current provider is Verizon. I decided to go with the Motorola Droid instead, which is based on Google's Android 2.0 platform and automatically links to your Google account. Before I got the phone I changed my email over from Outlook to Gmail in order to make the transition to the Droid smoother. When I picked up my phone last Friday, I logged into my Google account and all my email and contacts were right there. But that's not the best part.

While using Gmail has changed the way I handle email from any computer and my phone, that's small in comparison to the fact that now, using the integrated Integrated Gmail add-on, my Google Calendar, Reader and Remember the Milk are available in one place with one login on my PC or any other computer. You can do this in the browser on your phone also.

Even without a smartphone, if you want to streamline your communication, time management and news reading, then switch to Gmail. No doubt, Google has changed the way I think about a lot of things and it's all FREE.

Sorry Microsoft. I'm still a fan, couldn't live with out some of your applications, but for the things that keep me moving and on task, Google is my new solution for just about everything.

Next time, Google Maps, Navigation, and Latitude. Stay tuned.

New Website/Podcast

2009-09-17T22:57:00.004-04:00

In my last post (June 22) I gave details about issues some were having with our sermon podcast. Well, once again, we have a new website with new podcast information.

Our previous website had many issues that caused us to seek a better provider. We launched our new site (old name) on August 31st. Here's a link.

www.firstbaptistheath.com

Here's a link to our podcast page.

www.firstbaptistheath.com/podcast

We are still rebuilding the archive for previous sermons, but all sermons are up-to-date from August 09 to present.

Hope you enjoy the new look and feel of our site. I'll post here again when the archive is up. The goal is to have a browse-able archive that will automatically import the new feed.

First Baptist Heath Podcast

2009-06-22T13:11:00.002-04:00

A few people have mentioned they are having trouble with our sermon podcast in iTunes. I checked iTunes and the podcast is up-to-date, so here are a couple things you might try.

We did change website providers about 18 months ago and the new provider updates the iTunes podcast directly from our website. This created a new podcast and is not linked to the original, so if you aren't getting up-to-date sermons this is probably the reason. To get started you will need to unsubscribe from your current First Baptist Heath podcast.

To subscribe to the correct podcast (all sermons since September '07) you will need to do one of the following.

Option 1:

Open iTunes. Click the "Advanced" tab on your iTunes menu.
Click Subscribe to Podcast
Copy and Paste the following URL into the window: http://www.firstbaptistheath.com/podcast
Click the "OK" button.
This will automatically begin downloading sermons. Depending on your settings you may need to click the "Get" button to download specific messages.

Option 2:

Open iTunes
Go to the iTunes Store
Search the phrase "First Baptist Heath"
The "First Baptist Church of Heath" podcast will appear.
Click the "Subscribe" button.

You can also copy the URL above into any RSS reader such as Google Reader.

If anyone is still struggling with the podcast, please post your comments.

Pastor Shawn

All I Once Held Dear

2009-04-17T22:09:00.004-04:00

...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death... -- Philippians 3:10 NKJ

This is the key text for our main worship services this weekend. Pastor Noel is very excited about this message, and so am I. Here are the words to the third verse to a song we will be singing in worship Sunday.

Oh to know the pow'r of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death my Lord
So with You to live and never die

I'm not sure if I will ever fully "know" the power of the resurrection in this life, but I'm looking forward to the journey. One thing is certain. There is nothing more important than knowing Jesus.

Click the play button below to hear the song. Scroll down to view all the lyrics.

Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)
words and music by Graham Kendrick

Verse 1
All I once held dear built my life upon
All this world reveres and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now compared to this

Chorus
Knowing You Jesus knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all You're the best
You're my joy my righteousness
And I love You Lord

Verse 2
Now my heart's desire is to know You more
To be found by You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

Verse 3
Oh to know the pow'r of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death my Lord
So with You to live and never die

Easter Weekend Opportunities

2009-04-08T13:24:00.009-04:00

Just about everyone in your neighborhood feels compelled in some way to go to church on Easter Sunday. Why not invite them to join you and your family for one of three worship services at First Baptist Heath?

Pastor Noel will be preaching a message in all three services entitled "Who Killed Jesus."

The 8:00 am & 10:45 services will feature the Choir and Special Music, while the 6:30 pm will be in Harman Hall with coffee and other beverages available in a more casual environment.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity.

Also

Invite your friends, neighbors and family to this special multimedia dramatic presentation of The Crucifixion and Death of a Man Called Jesus. This presentation will open your eyes to what really happened to Jesus on the day He was crucified. How was He hung on the cross? What really caused His early death. We can't know until eternity exactly what is not explained in scripture, but Dr. David Ball has done all the research and has some very
compelling answers he hopes to share with you and yours.

So, pack your vehicles with friends and family. Don't miss this fascinating event.

Confessions and "Why Theology Matters..."

2009-04-06T20:53:00.003-04:00

I have a confession to make. My name is Shawn Gierling and I am a "blog addict." I am one of those people who subscribes to several blogs in a "reader" like Google Reader. I read most of them daily. You can tell by the column at left of this blog. These are the recent updates to blogs I read regularly.

Sometimes I am pressed for time and merely scan the titles and initial content in the "reader." If a title catches my attention but I don't have time to read it thoroughly I will star it for later review. I do this with magazine articles and emails also. I will tear the article out of the magazine and file it as "Read and Review" and move emails to a folder in Outlook called "Read and Review."

Tonight was a light night for blogging; not a lot of posts, so after I finished that I went through my "starred" items and came across this post from Bob Kauflin at Worship Matters. It was originally posted in November of last year. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

Here is a portion of the post.

From "Why Theology Matters to Christian Musicians" at Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin:

You’re already a theologian.

Every Christian, musical or otherwise, is already a theologian. The question is, are you a good theologian or a bad one? We’re good theologians if what we say and think about God lines up with what Scripture says and affirms. We’re bad theologians if our view of God is vague, or if we think God doesn’t really mind sin, or if we see Jesus as a good example and not a Savior, or if we think our god is too small to overcome evil or too big to care about us.

Click here to read the rest of the post. Whether you are a musician or not, this applies to all followers of Jesus Christ. "Theology is literally the study of God." The "study" of anything requires more than a cursory look at the subject matter or a once weekly lecture.

We should all desire and enjoy a deeper understanding of the one who created, loved, and redeemed us.

Band on the Run

2009-03-10T12:20:00.002-04:00

If you are part of a worship band at your church, you need to see this video. It's about an hour and 15 minutes but well worth it if you want to be an effective musician on your team.

Band on the Run from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

Free Copy of Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll

2009-03-04T15:11:00.000-05:00

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

Sunday Extra Worship, etc.

2009-02-20T23:01:00.008-05:00

In a couple weeks at First Baptist Heath we are starting a new service on Sunday nights at 6:30 pm. All other 6:00 activities will move to 5:00 starting March 1st. This is a great opportunity for at least 2 reasons.

1. Our 10:45 service is frequently almost full. By adding an alternative time, with the same message and worship music (though instrumentation will vary), we are maximizing the use of our facility while increasing our potential for reaching new families with the gospel.

2. There are people in our community (even members of our church) who are simply unable to attend Sunday morning worship. This will provide an opportunity to receive the same Bible message at a time that fits their schedule.

We are having a special pre-launch service on March 1st, but the actual launch is March 8th.

Come join us.

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2 more Sundays in the Marriage Puzzle series. If you missed the first two pieces, Diligence and Foundation, you can listen to them by clicking here.

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John Piper - Be Couragous, President Barack Obama

2009-01-29T20:22:00.001-05:00

Here is an excellent response to President Obama's abortion agenda.

This Sunday

2008-12-10T14:49:00.005-05:00

tonight, heaven touches earth
A Musical Drama for Christmas

Each year our choir presents a Christmas musical that we pray will reach the hearts of the lost and change the hearts of all believers as we're reminded of why God chose to send His only Son to be born of a virgin in the humblest of circumstances. This year is no exception. Invite your friends, neighbors, and coworkers to join us this Sunday night as our Celebration Choir presents:

tonight, heaven touches earth
Date: December 14th
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Family Life Center of First Baptist Heath

Below is the forward written by the lyricist, Randy Vader.

The silence since the astounding proclamations of the prophets centuries before has been deafening. The Children of God have relied more on the ritual of the Law than the reality of the Lord. The Messiah seems more like a myth than a coming Conqueror. The Glory of God has been hidden from mankind since the Fall. Even Moses could not look upon the Glory of God and live. He was placed in the cleft of a rock and could only observe the Almighty from the back as He passed by. The world is waiting in a solemn stillness - but Heaven is as distant as ancient promises.
All of that is about to change...

Tonight - God will fulfill His promise in ways beyond imagination. Tonight - the eternal and the temporal will intertwine in a way that can never be unwoven. Tonight - God will show His love in the most miraculous way - through the gift of His Son. Tonight will be the birth of Jesus, the Christ. Tonight - we will once again be allowed to see God's glory. Tonight - Heavenly music and earthly rejoicing will be in concert. Tonight - all creation sings! Tonight - Heaven Touches Earth!

Family Update

2008-11-17T23:59:00.002-05:00

So, what's been going on in the Gierling household lately? Well, lots. Zac & Brianna are both doing great in school. Brianna was recommended and accepted to the PAT program, an advanced learning group. She enjoys it and seems to be keeping up with the extra work. I'm amazed at how bright she is. Definitely gets it from her mother. She turned nine last Friday and had a 10 girl sleepover. What fun!?! I think I slept about 2 hours Friday night and got about an 1 1/2 hour nap Saturday afternoon. She finished up her soccer season the weekend before. Her team (U10) was undefeated for both the season and the tournament. Go Mariners (or Marinara Sauce as the girls cheered before each game)! Not sure what that means, but there a lot of things about 9 year old girls that fall into that category.

Zac made the Merit Roll this term in 6th grade. He had one B. Good job Zac. He has to write these stories. He is always so creative and funny. He's growing up fast and learning to be more helpful and respectful to his sister. He's maturing spiritually too. I love it when he comes home from church ready to discuss Pastor Troy's message.

Both are taking piano lessons and doing very well. Both are playing Upward Basketball this winter too.

Penny is as beautiful as ever. She has been such a blessing to me recently. I'm thankful for a loving, godly wife. Penny's a L&D nurse at a Columbus hospital. Pray for her as she has a long drive three days a week and weather is starting to get dicey.

I'm busy with the Christmas musical and Upward Basketball and Cheerleading preparations.

If you are interested in coaching one or more teams, call me at 740-258-4602. If I don't answer please leave a message. I don't get the best cell signal out here in the sticks, but I do receive voice and text messages. You may also send an email to shawn@fbcho.com. There are 2 coaches training sessions this week at Northside Baptist. Thursday, Nov 20 from 6:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, Nov 22 from 9:00 - 11:00 am. This is a great opportunity to share Jesus and some life skills with some great kids. Never coached before, don't worry. We'll provide all the tools you'll need.

We also need referees. There will be a referee training session to be announced at a later date. If nothing else, pray that Christ would be shared, received, and glorified in this Upward season. Practices start in Dec and games start in January.

God Bless

Pastor Shawn

A Little Perspective

2008-11-07T11:47:00.003-05:00

I received the following email from my mother today. The source is unknown, but the message should be known to all of us.

For months now our email Inboxes has been besieged by nearly hysterical warnings about what will happen if Barack Obama becomes President. We have been encouraged to be worried, afraid, concerned, prepared for disaster, and a
whole host of other maladies if this happens. I do not deny the importance of this election, but it seems to me that we need a dose of perspective. So now, after the election, let's start an email concerning this election. It's a "True/False" test. I'd like for all of us to take it. Feel free to email it on to whomever:

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won,"Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The days after the election, regardless of who won, we will still know that God is in control!

It's All About Who You Know

2008-10-27T10:55:00.002-04:00

Our current message series "It's All About Who You Know" focuses on Hebrews 4-10, Jesus as our High Priest. Outlines and audio are now available on our website by clicking here.

Psalm 145

2008-10-03T14:28:00.001-04:00

This passage was recited at the worship conference Penny and I attended this summer. This is completely from memory, and the piano played under it is completely spontaneous.

Amazing.

Michael W. Smith - Ancient words

2008-09-30T10:14:00.002-04:00

We will be learning this song this Sunday at First Baptist Heath. Worship Team members should listen to and learn the words. We will learn it in choir tomorrow night.

I haven't come across a better song to honor the Word our Lord has handed down to us.

Why Are They Leaving? Part 2

2008-09-20T18:14:00.005-04:00

I know in my last post I said I would comment on the reasons Worship Leader magazine article claims teens are leaving the church after high school. It has taken a few days to get there but here goes.

The article mentions an ex-gang member who is saved and baptized. After attending church for several months, he slips through the cracks. When a youth worker runs into him later his statement is revealing. "I had the wrong idea about what going to church would be like... You see, in the gang we weren't just nice to each other once a week. We were a family."

This isn't just convicting to youth ministries but churches in general, regardless of age. We tend to entertain each other with music, preaching and the occassional "fellowship." Is that what a family looks like? I don't want my family to look like that or my church.

That's definitely not what the New Testament church looked like.

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

Act 2:42-47 NLT

That's a long way from 4 songs, a prayer, and a sermon.

Why Are They Leaving?

2008-09-16T11:12:00.004-04:00

I regularly read a magazine called Worship Leader. Its full of album and book reviews, articles about the latest trends in worship, both modern and traditional, insights into leading others to encounter Christ in worship, etc.

The September issue is entitled, "Why Are They Leaving?" The article by the same name caught my attention. It's about the mass Exodus of teenagers from Evangelical churches. A Southern Baptist Convention report says that 88% of youth will leave the church after leaving home.

We've heard similar statistics in recent years, and there's no question, youth leave the church after graduation, even those who attend local colleges and live at home during their college years.

In fact, I just met a young man in our community who attends the local branch of OSU. He attended our church all through Middle and High School. His exact words were, "After graduation there was nothing for us."

This trend is taking place around the country, but why? What can we do to keep them engaged? What are they looking for? What does the youth ministry provide that the "church" does not?

The article I mentioned seeks to answer some of those questions. I will comment on those answers tomorrow. But first, what do you think? Post your comments.