Dear Church Family,
This past Wednesday’s events were tragic and heartbreaking. I was saddened because I love this nation and what we saw was not the best part of us. However, I was even more disheartened as a follower of Jesus. The thought that some people would carry out this insurrection under the claim of “Christian” duty is beyond the pale. There was nothing Christian about five individuals dying, vandalism, or the fear created in the hearts of every person who had family amongst that rabble—including my own neighbor whose husband is a Capitol Police Officer.
That said, our sermon today is not about the events of this week. I recorded it before any of these events took place and did not feel the need to record a new message or preach a new message on Sabbath in person at our drive-in service. Why? Because today’s sermon is about our culture and the culture of our churches. It’s about continuing to create a culture that helps us more appropriately reflect the character of Jesus; a culture that will help us end the ever-increasing disenchantment of our youth and young adults and replace it with a culture of warmth.
I pray you are blessed as we worship together.
—Pastor Chad
Spencerville Church is a body of people that invests in the livelihood and wellbeing of our young people. Our two largest financial line items in our annual budget reflect this. However, as we continue to invest in our young people monetarily and educationally, it is possible that we’re unintentionally pushing them at the same time? Are we pushing them away with our culture, our words, our stance (or lack thereof) on important theological and social issues?
However, lest you think this sermon is about young people, it isn’t. The issues we’re seeing with church engagement among our young people are simply examples of how a cultural shift is needed across the board. The numbers that Pastor Chad will share may be shocking to you, but the reality is that nothing less than a paradigm shift will change what is and has been happening for the past several decades. Join us on Saturday, January 9, at 11:15 A.M., as Pastor Chad shares a stand-alone sermon message titled, “Taking an Alternate Route.”
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