YOUNGER LIVES INTO AN AGED CHURCH CONGREGATION

[cftx1]

Small congregations with the majority of members that 60+ years old abound in the US. How can one offer to help bring in younger people knowing that changing the style of songs and style of preaching would be met with conflict? I know this is a touchy subject ..so only positive..helpful posts please ..THANKS

 

[reba]

Preach the Word the straight honest Word.... Churches have tried the watered down game it does not work nor should it....

 

[cftx1]

To reach a younger crowd does the message have to be "watered down" or can it just delivered in a different way? Also I guess...could you define "watered down"? Is that about content or style? It just seems a shame to see small church building after small church building being turned into a daycare center or something else just because of fear of change.

 

[reba]

Kids are looking for truth something real ...

Jesus Christ is Lord & God's still on the throne.
There's power in the blood & I'm saved to the bone.
The devil comes against me, he's gonna feel some pain.
I can bind him, bruise him, cast him out by the power of Jesus' name!

No longer on the outside; on the inside I now stand.
I'm sold out, the whole route. Completely born again.
I believe on the third day Jesus, He rose from the grave.

The world thinks I'm crazy.
I am just radically saved!

Choose you this day, tell me who will you serve?
Now's the time to stand up. Gotta let your voice be heard.
You gotta come out from among the rest.
You gotta tell the gospel tale.
You tell 'em:
black is black & white is white;
& hell is hot & sin ain't right;
God is holy; Christ is coming & righteousness will prevail!

Tell it to you once, I'll tell it to you twice:
The only thing that's gonna change this world is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Wimpy saints won't survive in spiritual warfare.
If you know that Jesus is the only way, let me hear somebody say, "YEAH!"

On the inside we now stand.
I'm sold out, the whole route.
Anybody here born again?!

I believe that on the third day Jesus rose from the grave.
The world thinks we're crazy.
Our friends thinks we are crazy.
Our family thinks we're crazy.
But we are just what?!
We are just radically saved!

 

[cftx1]

Cool very cool...I like! I wasn't referring to kids though. The younger age I was referring to was the sub 40 year olds. That being said...many of those would still enjoy the content of your post!

 

[reba]

God was not worried about making a list of rules to life by... yet we Christians seem to be afraid to say dont do X it is sinful. We teach grace do we teach repentance? We have mistaken tolerance for the sin as loving tolerance for the sinner. ( who we all are) Lets put hard rock music in the church .. I know of an AofG church that turns adults away at the door saturday nites. .. but that is not the whole story ... the youth pastor lives with his girlfriend. .. the senior pastor has full knowledge

 

[reba]

Carman's music is great the message is very clear... We can not be like the world the kids have the world... ( talking USA) the USA caters to them like they are number 1... They need to see Christian MEN standing for God ...

 

[evenifigoalone]

There are churches that play both old and new songs. My church is one. Sometimes the youth lead worship, and when they do they tend to use more modern praise songs.
In all cases we pretty much use the same instruments--guitar, drum set, piano. There are a lot of older people in the church and they like seeing the youth lead worship.

 

[reba]

I too, like the combination of the old and new music..

The younger age I was referring to was the sub 40 year olds.

OK the hard truth holding up a standard....

 

[cftx1]

I'm almost 50 ...I know who Carman is but today's christian artists are TobyMac, Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Audio Adrenalin and the like. All of them have a strong christian message but in a different style than that of Carman, 2nd Chapter of Acts, the Imperials and 4Him.

 

[JPPT1974]

Praying for the younger generation to really lead another generation. As they really need to lean on the Lord. No matter what occurs. Maybe blend in both new and old styles of preaching and music. To relate to the old and young generations together.

 

[cftx1]

Great suggestion JPPT1974...but that is usually met with fear of change and fear of a shared pulpit.

 

[reba]

At 67 years Carman reminds me of Elvis Not talking so much about Carman's style but the message...
You gotta tell the gospel tale.
You tell 'em:
black is black & white is white;
& hell is hot & sin ain't right;
God is holy; Christ is coming & righteousness will prevail!

The last church i belonged to would not stand up to anything ( AofG) ( Different then the one i the other post) The baptist one did..

The baptist one grew slowly
The new AofG pastor busted the seams of the building for a short time then it went flat.... we need a strong spine to be able to stand..

 

[AirDancer]

Playing the new style of music (along with the old) appeals to most age brackets. Those 58 & older (to 75?) grew up on rock n roll, with heavy metal and punk eventually blending in. And as long as the music isn't played at eardrum shattering levels, praise music of new & old is a good way to keep a church congregation happy & toe-tapping. Singing praises to our Lord in a modern mode is great.

And like reba has stated, the message must feed the congregation, encourage them to seek more knowledge of our Lord. The milque-toast sermons that people don't remember when the service is over isn't going to encourage anyone.

 

[Obadiah]

Music is one thing, but I think too much is made of it on both ends of the spectrum, young and old. It's part of the issue. But I would suggest looking at leadership too. Include the younger people in the leadership rolls. And don't let the older leaders treat the younger ones like they are just "leaders in training". Give them ownership of it. Pick the ones that have a gift for leadership and let them really lead! That's going to make the older leaders nervous, yes. But maybe the older ones that can't handle that need to work on their humility a little. That's a small price to pay to keep the church open 10 years down the road. No one in their 20's or 30's (or teens for that matter) that has a heart and gifts for Christian leadership is going to stick around if they know they will have to wait until they're old and grey before anyone will trust and respect them as a leader. They will migrate to a church that will use their gifts now! I've literally seen teenagers that were excellent leaders in the church just because they were recognized for their gifts and talents and given the chance to shine. And shine they did when they were given ownership and had a stake in the outcome!

 

[for_his_glory]

1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

When teaching or preaching the word of God do it on a level of simplicity that all can understand what you are speaking. Never be as the Pharisees who were puffed up and loved their position, but yet were chastised by Christ. Did Christ not come down to our level, so same we need to meet the Spiritual needs of others on their level. There is no need to water down the word, but use antidotes to interact with the congregation as this helps hold the attention span. Interaction with the congregation is what draws their attention, especially in a smaller congregation. Have a certain balance of music that appeals to all, but yet leaves a good message. Same with teaching the word, always end with the congregation wanting more and as this makes them excited to return and learn more.

 

[for_his_glory]

At 67 years Carman reminds me of Elvis Not talking so much about Carman's style but the message...
You gotta tell the gospel tale.
You tell 'em:
black is black & white is white;
& hell is hot & sin ain't right;
God is holy; Christ is coming & righteousness will prevail!

The last church i belonged to would not stand up to anything ( AofG) ( Different then the one i the other post) The baptist one did..

The baptist one grew slowly
The new AofG pastor busted the seams of the building for a short time then it went flat.... we need a strong spine to be able to stand..

One Church we use to attend I was involved with the music ministry part of the service and we used two of Carmen's songs. One was Fire Fall and the other was Shout to the Lord. What an impact the words of those two songs had on all the congregation, especially Fire Fall as when we sang it we would almost fall out in the Spirit. Our music leader said he was going to buy doll stands for us, LOL.

 

[Andrew Mason]

To reach a younger crowd you need younger leaders, relevant music style and quality children's and youth ministries. Anybody who will tell you different, has never done it themselves. A church that doesn't attract young families has placed an expiration date on their church.
The great tension of pastoral leadership is how to balance ministering to the younger and older crowd. Have fun