It isn't often that I really am contiplating my sermon a day after, but somehow this week I am.

Here is a quick update on it: I talked about Matthew 10 and Jesus sending out the disciples. Where it got more meaningfull was when I brough up stats on mainline churches (Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc.) In the Presbyterian church alone we have lost 380,000 members since 1993. In 2003 we lost 46,000 members the highest loss since the merger on two Presbyterian denominations in 1983. WE were once a denomination of 4.3 million in '83 and now we are around 2.6 million. At this rate most PCUSA churches will be closed by 2050. WOW!!!

Sean playing with numbers part 2: By 2050, 60 percent of churches will be closed. The highest number of those are mainline churches. The most likely cause or condition that we can tell now is by the average age of you congregation. If you church's average age is over fifty there will be a problem and most likely not be here in 2050. A side note: the average age of a person in the U.S. is mid thirties. 

The question is what we can do about it. Often we find ways to blame others due to things (i.e. support, financial backing, etc.). The best way to bring YOUNG people and families into our church is not by a Tes Pearson, Fern Fay, Jim Bickel, Ray Palmer, or Bev Ragan. Rather it takes someone making a relationship with another that brings them in. That means only we can bring those people in. It starts with us.

Think about it.