Forest Hills Baptist Church

Bringing glory to God by contending for His truth, multiplying servants of Jesus Christ, and caring for one another.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • New Here?
  • Connect
    • Hub Groups
    • Kids
    • Students
    • 1829
    • Wednesday Family Nights
    • Men
    • Women
    • Mission
    • ESL Conversation Class
    • Olivia’s Gift
    • Christianity Explored
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Beliefs
    • Service Times
    • Location
  • Resources
    • Live Stream
    • Sermons
    • Blog
    • Documents and Forms
    • RightNow Media
  • Give
  • The Path
  • Contact Us

Looking in the Mirror

October 23, 2016 Leave a Comment

Millenials leaving the church

Lifeway research has suggested that nearly 70% of those who attended church for at least one year in high school will walk away from the church during their college years.* The issues are complex. But it is a statistic that ought to concern us deeply. It would be easy for us to point the finger. We might lament the lack of commitment among today’s millennials. We might describe them as a coddled generation. We might characterize them as increasingly individualistic and concerned simply for themselves. And there might be a measure of truth in this assessment. But I believe that we also need to take a look in the mirror. We need to acknowledge that perhaps we have pushed them away.

  • Millennials value authenticity. They are not interested in going through the motions. And they have little toleration for those who speak about Jesus on Sunday but don’t live for him the other six days of the week.
  • Millennials are looking for a cause to devote themselves to. They do not want a shallow Christianity. The problem sometimes is not that we ask too much of them but that we ask too little. We have allowed Christianity to be a leisure time activity. And they are not interested in a country club.
  • Millennials don’t want to play it safe. Established churches tend to maintain the status quo and avoid risks. And the result is that the church is losing its most creative people to other arenas.

What is it about our own lives (or about our churches), that might turn a millennial believer away? What needs to change in our lives if the faith of the next generation is going to flourish?

Pastor Jeff

 

*Ed Stetzer, “Dropouts and Disciples: How many students are really leaving the church?” Christianity Today (5/14/2014).

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2248069430

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Pastor Jeff's Weekly Tagged With: Church, Millenials, Youth

What to expect when you visit FHBC

FHBC Worship Team
We welcome you to join us for either of our services, and to come as you are!
Learn more about the atmosphere and worship service style at FHBC »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Watch / Listen Online

Podcast and Live Video Stream

Latest updates

  • Pandemics, Panic, and Providence
  • Be of Some Good
  • Revisiting Our Mission
  • Choosing to Forgive
  • Navigating Political Minefields

The Path

The Path – Forest Hills Baptist Church

An online community where church members can connect with other church members, groups, events, and calendars.

Log on to The Path »

About FHBC

  • New Here?
  • Service Times
  • Our Faith
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Mission

Members

  • The Path
  • Online Giving
  • Photo Directory

COVID Guidelines

As of July 18, 2021, we are lifting all COVID guidelines.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Forest Hills Baptist Church is a church in Grand Rapids, MI that focuses on gospel-centered teaching, worship, spiritual growth in the context of community, and reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Forest Hills Baptist Church · 3900 E Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Copyright © 2022 · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.