Connecting People With Church

     “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18

     A church’s purpose is to bring people to God so they can know Him and be saved. It teaches the Bible so our lives can be guided by it. So, why is it that church feels so outdated to our generation? As a younger Christian, I see many people my age struggling to connect with the wisdom of the Holy Book. The traditions are too old, life lessons don’t seem to apply to our modern lives, and the ways of Jesus are just too different from those of our world today. Sometimes the fear of eternal suffering is not enough for people to see why they need God, they need to be shown why the love of Jesus can fix everything wrong in our lives.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” – Hebrews 12:28

     Recently, there has been a disconnect between the people and the church. Before COVID, “approximately 3500 people left the religious congregations every day,” (Matt Churchtrac, 2024). When speaking to a small church pastor, I learned that this decrease has been happening since the early 2000’s, mostly younger generations. In reality, the people who are going to church now are mostly just the people who already believe and want to be there- not many newcomers. Millennial Outreach says that 72% of non-Christian members of Gen Z doubt God’s existence and 73.6% are looking for a church that addresses mental health. As a member of Gen Z, I know our lives and values are very different from those older than us. We want more support for mental health and identity, we want social justice and the environment addressed.

     The Apostle Paul once said, “When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 9:21. God called Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles because he ministered to those who didn’t know Him in a unique way: Paul empathized with the gentiles and their lives when he spoke to them. He made himself like them because this is the best way to connect with someone. Now remember, Paul still followed the law of Christ even when he ignored the law of the Jews. 

     A church can build this connection stronger by relating the events of the Bible to our modern lives. Keep Christ’s law prevalent and His values the same, but change how we tell His word to the people. Christian speakers like Ryan Leak, Ted Cunningham, Megan Fate Marshman, Jon Weece, and Jennie Allen have changed their approach to fit more modern audiences. They take the events in the Bible and relate them to our dysfunctional lives.

     “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” – 1 Corinthians 9:22-23.

     A church must appeal to them with relevance if it wants to reach a new generation. Most of us aren’t farmers and shepherds anymore, but we fight the same spiritual battles.

     Something that I’ve seen push people away from God is a few verses from the Bible. The Bible is Holy and the word of God, and human men wrote it. When someone comes across an utterly sexist or brutal verse, they may have doubts, and a church needs to show us the context of these verses. If a church can explain how men and women are equal and male headship in marriage, its audience will better understand God’s purpose behind it. I remember my Mama and my first time reading The First Testament; A lot of questions and doubts. Someone new to Christianity is probably going to be put off by passages about animal sacrifice and harsh laws, and a church needs to explain the purpose behind these laws and assure them that we needn’t worry about them now because Jesus has fulfilled them.

     A church needs to be relevant and address today's concerns. Most people appreciate it when they feel seen; their struggles and the heavy weight of the world. When we live in a life of war, changing climate, and heated politics, the church needs to communicate God’s view on this in a nonpolitical and unbiased way. Some big topics right now are abortion and LGBT rights, but many churches are afraid to touch these or cave into whatever their main audience stands with.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

     A church must stand strong against the current, and you needn’t worry about what to say, the Bible has already shown us all we need to know. It can be scary to talk about hot topics, but it’s important for a church to connect with its people by addressing their dilemmas. And when you do this, remember to be kind; be empathetic of those who don’t yet understand and try seeing from their view, just as Paul did with the gentiles. The Bible tells us plenty we don’t want to hear, but we can always teach with kindness. Have a team ready to discuss these topics at your church so your attendees feel comfortable asking questions.

     Finally, churches can connect by creating a community. As a whole, every attendee and staff can work to build relationships with each other. Represent small groups at sermons and show the importance of having good neighbors, and being one. The more we can make church and Jesus a part of everyone’s lives, the better their lives can be.

     For more resources, check these articles out:

- Seven Ways To Attract New Members, Darby Jones.

- 3 Steps To Help People At Your Church Become Connected And Known, Jennifer Winge.

- Connecting People to Your Church, Carli Ragains, 2018.

- Ten Ways to Get Members Connected To Your Church, Arkansas Baptists, 2021.

- The State of Church Attendance, Matt Churchtrac, 2024.