This morning in worship I outlined six challenges that we face at EPC. They are common to most churches like us. They are challenges we must address if we are to move from being a good church to being a great church.
1. We live in a pagan culture. Despite the prevalence of professed belief in God, our culture is pagan. This is not a criticism. It is a recognition that many religious voices clamor to be heard, and that Christianity has no monopoly in this country.
2. Our affluence can be an obstacle to faith. In comparison to the rest of the world, Elmhurst is a fabulously wealthy place. Our material abundance places great responsibility on us. To whom much is given, much is required.
3. Our town is homogenous. We are overwhelmingly white, well educated, professional. This is not a bad thing, but it does not reflect the great diversity all around us. God is active elsewhere, too.
4. Our demographics have holes in them. There are age groups missing in our church. We have few people in their twenties, and are underrepresented by people in their thirties. Are they not listening, or are we failing to speak to their needs?
5. Our financial strength is vulnerable. Many of our larger givers are older people. They come from a time when the church taught us how to give. We have stopped doing that, and as a result we are failing in a key spiritual responsibility.
6. We are biblically and theologically untrained. Too many of our people are unfamiliar with the contents of the Bible, and of our theological traditions. In reference to challenge #1, how can we have anything to say to a pagan culture when we are not sure what we believe?
I believe we can address all of these challenges. In the next few weeks we will be discussing all of them.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
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