1. The Postmodern Call to Change Source: Doug Murren www.square1.org To insert your company logo on this slide From the Insert Menu Select “Picture” Locate your logo file Click OK To resize the logo Click anywhere inside the logo. The boxes that appear outside the logo are known as “resize handles.” Use these to resize the object. If you hold down the shift key before using the resize handles, you will maintain the proportions of the object you wish to resize.

2. Reasons This Age Demands Change 62% –The percentage of Americans today who do not go to church 52% –The percentage of the unchurched who said they would go to church if... –a friend asked them –the experience was relevant

3. Sobering Facts about U.S. We no longer hold a religious monopoly. We are considered unintelligible in most arenas of culture. 39% US churches in serious decline. –Another 40% plateau at best –… and it’s not due to lack of devotion!

4. 14 Characteristics of Our Culture 1. Relativistic –postmoderns have trouble grasping anyone speaking from a posture of final authority 2. Eastern Bent in a Secular World-View –from Beatniks to New Age –“life is cyclic and you are reincarnated”

5. Culture Characteristics 3. Hyper-Individualistic –“joining anything” doesn’t fit this world view 4. Syncretic –truth is found by taking a little bit from every faith or school of thought and making it your own, “cafeteria style”

6. Culture Characteristics 5. Highly skeptical –leaders of churches, schools, government are to be scrutinized and assumed guilty 6. Emotionally broken –depressive disorders rampant –sometimes irrational due to stress

7. Culture Characteristics 7. Multi-sensory learners –communication conveyed through music –interactive video habits shape learning style 8. Participators –churches where 2-3 people do presentational worship won’t cut it –want interactive hands-on ministry immersion

8. Culture Characteristics 9. Hyper-segmented –not just ethnically, but life-style and values –churches of future will tend to reach more narrow segments of society 10. Time-starved –they’ll give money before giving day-timer

9. Culture Characteristics 11. Addictive behaviors –12-step groups flourishing –recovery ministries key to dealing with substance and process addictions 12. Overly stimulated –pace keeps from contemplating –anesthetized against “talking-head” talk

10. Culture Characteristics 13. Commitment resistant –fear closing off options –eternal commitment to Christ flies in face 14. Guilt resistant –foil manipulative devices –respond well to a model of servanthood

11. How Should We Change? (10 places to start) 1. Small group meetings will become more strategic than large meetings.

12. How Should We Change? 2. Messages and services will need to be understood by the least initiated. –1 Corinthians 14

13. How Should We Change? 3. Replace ministry measured against the past with ministry focussed on aims.

14. How Should We Change? 4. Change the purpose of church from satisfying consumers of religious experiences to reaching and discipling lost people.

15. How Should We Change? 5. Encourage more emphasis on and creative methods of church planting.

16. How Should We Change? 6. Pastors develop more skills of leadership and vision-casting. –from Pastor/Counselor model to Pastor/Evangelist model

17. How Should We Change? 7. Deploy women and single people in significant ministry roles. over 50% of the US population over age 18 is single

18. How Should We Change? 8. Churches need to become lay- ministry driven rather than professional-ministry driven.

19. How Should We Change? 9. Invest more time in training bi- vocational ministers.

20. How Should We Change? 10. Raise the overall level of excellence in our churches. our sound systems stink, our services are not prayerfully planned, & our music is too often a distraction due to its poor quality

21. Conclusions Sociologists tell us a new culture is appearing in the U.S. every 5 years The rate of change in culture is accelerating

22. Conclusions We must aggressively change how we do business to thrive in this environment.

23. The Postmodern Call to Change Dr. John P. Chandler www.rasnet.org John.chandler@vbmb.org Copy right John Chandler, 2000 To insert your company logo on this slide From the Insert Menu Select “Picture” Locate your logo file Click OK To resize the logo Click anywhere inside the logo. The boxes that appear outside the logo are known as “resize handles.” Use these to resize the object. If you hold down the shift key before using the resize handles, you will maintain the proportions of the object you wish to resize.