- Is becoming closer to God a good reason to go to church?
- Are these the reasons we actually want people to go to church?
The hosts read and critique a CNN article by the network's religion editor summarizing a Pew Research Center survey of 4,729 Americans on why they attend religious services. They work through the first four reasons: becoming closer to God (81 percent), giving children a moral foundation (69 percent), becoming a better person, and comfort in times of trouble or sorrow (66 percent). A running thread asks whether these are reasons the hosts would actually want people attending for: they land on wanting people in the room to meet Jesus, treating the rest as ancillary benefits that must not drive the ship.
More on Church
-
Church, emotions, and the self-focus of affluence
- How do you help people in an affluent, self-focused culture see that they need Jesus?
Ben revives a question from two or three shows back: are church services and worship tunes postured toward certain personality types — predominantly emotions and dealing with emotions?
From No. 603 · Found Out
-
Leadership training for church leaders: get a business manager
- Do people who lead churches need leadership training?
Mike's real question: to what extent do people need leadership training to lead churches? Ben gives two distinct answers.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
-
The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
-
Confetti and lasers: what should God's people be known for?
- Do we want to be known as the confetti and lasers people?
- What should God's people be known for?
Ben redirects to the docket's denomination question: when someone hears Silas's church described as 'the confetti and lasers people,' should that sting?
From No. 598 · Emphasis | Accountability, Worship and Praying with Strangers