I ran across this quote today, and it really nailed me. For the last few weeks, I have really starting noticing that my students aren’t really feeling connected with each other as well as with me. How can I teach principles of God’s Word if i don’t even know them? I sat here writing sermons and teaching materials and really didn’t even know what my students needed. God is really helping me to unlearn some things and relearn others in this ministry.

I have been in discussions with a friend about church and the mission that Christ left us with. It all boils down to relationships. Being Jesus in the place that we are in. Big outreaches, high-tech services, amazing musicians, and great preaching are no longer going to cut it anymore. In fact, I don’t think they have been cutting it at all.

Over the years, I have been involved in two larger youth ministries (larger numerically). Each of them were very structured and had everything in it’s place. There was obvious growth. But I look back, and there was addition, but not multiplication. People were added regularly, but ministry wasn’t multiplied. We inevitably ended up causing other people to become just like us. We did outreach after outreach, “winning” people to Christ. Or was that adding them to our attendance? Sometimes we get the two confused (ok, not sometimes. All the time). I am starting to see that events that draw crowds and even programs intended on keeping them are effective, but I wonder if they are efficient.

The emerging generation has heard and seen it all. They are aware at some level of many systems of belief. They know there are varying views of faith. They will carefully weigh what they perceive as the core of that faith. They will listen to what they see and hear on TV and other media about that faith group. They are very open to Jesus and Who He is. But they are not open to us. they are fascinated with Jesus and His message. They are not interested in His bride. Part of the reason is that we are quick to tell them our “only way to heaven” message without even entering their world. We treat them like some kind of trophy or award to be achieved rather than a person with feelings and thoughts.

Much of what I have been reading has a common theme. Community. What the Body of Christ is lacking is a sense of community. Not a Christian sub-community or a “bubble of Christian sub-culture” as Dan Kimball calls it. But a real community letting in real people. An environment where people’s lives are engaged and thoughts are laid out.

I noticed in Acts 2, after the first baptism of the Holy Spirit on Day of Pentecost, a picture of what the early church looked like.

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

This passage describes community more than it describes a building, an outreach, an event, a service, and a message. And it closes with, “each day the Lord added to their fellowship.” They weren’t added to the program. They weren’t issued membership applications. They didn’t get an impersonal letter thanking them for their attendance. But they joined the fellowship. I wonder if many came to the various gatherings because of relationships long before they believed.

“They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I don’t even know where I first heard that or who said it first. But it’s so true. This last week for our youth service, I completely dropped the entire agenda and took all of our students to Starbucks just to hang out. I am realizing more and more that ministry is about relationships. People need to feel like they belong before they will believe our message. So why then do we structure ministry around what we know rather than structuring ministry around how much we care?

P.S. This is part 2 of They Like Jesus But Not The Church.