1. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Factoids From

2. Ministry Tidbits A T G S 98% of Americans profess to be “believers” in God, but only _____ worship in church on an average Sunday. a. 25%c. 40% b. 35%d. 50%

3. Ministry Tidbits A T G S 98% of Americans profess to be “believers” in God, but only _____ worship in church on an average Sunday. answer: 40%

4. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The speed at which we live our daily lives can and will directly affect the depth at which we live our devoted lives. Leonard Sweet Aqua Church, p. 162

5. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. Henri Nouwen In the Name of Jesus, p. 17

6. Ministry Tidbits A T G S 62% of Americans believe that it does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons about life. George Barna Absolute Confusion, p. 207

7. Ministry Tidbits A T G S When spirituality becomes “spiritualization,” life in the body becomes carnal. Henri Nouwen In the Name of Jesus, p. 48

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9. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The best test [of servant- leadership] is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? Robert K. Greenleaf The Servant as Leader, p. 1

10. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The two most computer- savvy segments of our society are children and ______________? a. Teenagers (ages 13-20) c. Grandparents (age 55+) b. Parents (ages 32-45)

11. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The two most computer- savvy segments of our society are children and ______________? answer: grandparents

12. Ministry Tidbits A T G S When we carefully consider how Jesus lived while among us in the flesh, we learn how we are to live—truly live— empowered by him who is with us always even to the end of the age. Richard Foster Streams of Living Water, p. 3

13. Ministry Tidbits A T G S 71% of Gen Xers claim they are Christians, but only 52% see themselves as religious, and only 25% say they are “born again.” George Barna Invisible Generation, p. 30

14. Ministry Tidbits A T G S A critical intellectual capacity for 21 st century leadership success will be the ability to build knowledge together with other colleagues. Reggie McNeal A Work of Heart, p. 131

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16. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The goal of communion [with God] is the becoming one of two hearts—yours and God’s. Reggie McNeal A Work of Heart, p. 152

17. Ministry Tidbits A T G S If we view our communion with God as something functional and mechanical, we will be consumed with figuring out how to pray, how to study the Bible, how to…whatever. Reggie McNeal A Work of Heart, p. 152

18. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Gen Xers are influenced by television even more than their boomer parents. Theirs is a postliterary culture for which sound and image have largely replaced the printed Word. Eddie Gibbs ChurchNext, p. 127

19. Ministry Tidbits A T G S ______ of Americans say religion is losing its influence in American life. a. 48%c. 65% b. 56%d. 72%

20. Ministry Tidbits A T G S ______ of Americans say religion is losing its influence in American life. answer: 65%

21. Ministry Tidbits A T G S God calls His leaders to live by design, carefully following the vision He has created for them. George Barna Power of Vision, p. 172

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23. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Our best research techniques suggest that every day thousands of people in America leave this planet for a known and permanently agonizing eternity, which we commonly refer to as hell. George Barna Evangelism That Works, p. 11

24. Ministry Tidbits A T G S _____ of Americans say “spirituality” has been increasing its influence in their lives. a. 46%c. 62% b. 54%d. 71%

25. Ministry Tidbits A T G S _____ of Americans say “spirituality” has been increasing its influence in their lives. answer: 62%

26. Ministry Tidbits A T G S How are churches getting larger and smaller at the same time? Smaller through house churches and cell groups, larger through megachurches. Sweet, Aquachurch p. 138

27. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Only 1% [of Gen Xers] view the worldwide absence of faith as a significant issue. George Barna Invisible Generation, p. 56

28. Ministry Tidbits A T G S 38% [of Gen Xers] say being a part of a local church is a desirable life condition. George Barna Invisible Generation, p. 62

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30. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Spiritual formation is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely. John Ortberg The Life You’ve Always Wanted, p. 47

31. Ministry Tidbits A T G S In 1970 there were ten churches in America that reported an attendance of 2000. By 1990 there were over 300 such churches, 43 of which reported 5000 or more in attendance on a weekly basis. By 1997, another church went “mega” every __________? a. 1 week b. 3 weeks c. 1 month d. 3 months

32. Ministry Tidbits A T G S In 1970 there were ten churches in America that reported an attendance of 2000. By 1990 there were over 300 such churches, 43 of which reported 5000 or more in attendance on a weekly basis. By 1997, another church went “mega” every __________? answer: 3 weeks

33. Ministry Tidbits A T G S The goal of spiritual formation is transformation… If we cannot be transformed, we will settle for being informed or conformed. John Ortberg The Life You’ve Always Wanted, p. 34

34. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Church members who have caught the apostolic vision for people, who experience celebrative indigenous worship, who are involved in pastoral conversation, and in a small group, and in a gift based ministry, and are involved in ministry with pre- Christian people are themselves far more blessed and “ministered unto” than if they had their own hired chaplain in a small traditional church. George Hunter Church for the Unchurched, p. 33

35. Ministry Tidbits A T G S In many places, effective religious leadership has been replaced by management of the status quo. Managing to get by does not seem to be a bad alternative to the heavy demands placed on a pastor who chooses to lead in the spirit and pattern of Jesus. Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser Leading the Congregation, p. 20

36. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Decentralized networks Unpredictable world requiring a rapid response of “plan-do” Uncertainty in dealing with the present, and pessimism and paranoia in considering the future Change initiated at the periphery Eddie Gibbs, ChurchNext, p. 25 ModernsPostmoderns Centralized hierarchies Predictable world and long range strategic planning and goal setting Confidence regarding human ability to manage the present and face the future Change initiated at the center

37. Ministry Tidbits A T G S Are the majority of church members today in small or large churches? Large membership churches. Sweet, Aquachurch p. 138