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Understanding your unchurched friends (Part 3)

We’re wrapping up our exploration of how our unchurched and/or non-Christian friends think. In Part One of this series we explored the first five of Lee Strobel’s fifteen observations. In Part Two we explored observations 6-10. And now… the rest of the observations (said in my best Paul Harvey voice) Observation #11 – Your unchurched…

We’re wrapping up our exploration of how our unchurched and/or non-Christian friends think.

In Part One of this series we explored the first five of Lee Strobel’s fifteen observations.

In Part Two we explored observations 6-10.

And now… the rest of the observations (said in my best Paul Harvey voice)

  • Observation #11 – Your unchurched friend isn’t much of a joiner, but he/she is hungry for a cause he/she can connect with. Strobel says, “A significant number of [unchurched people] would return to church if they thought it would be an institution through which meaningful social change could be accomplished. In fact, when unchurched people were asked what would attract them, the second most common answer (after better preaching) was for the church to become more involved in its community.” He then points to a Gallup survey that found that “nearly one out of five unchurched people said they would come to a church that was ‘serious about working for a better society.’”
  • Observation #12 – Even if your unchurched friend is not spiritually sensitive he/she wants his/her children to get quality moral training. This speaks to the incredible urgency of making sure we are offering ministry to our children that is unparalleled!
  • I’m going to get off track for a minute here, but it’s worth it… Strobel writes, “Only one out of three church-going adults rate their own church’s ministry for children as being excellent. If churched people aren’t sold on their own program, then chances are their unchurched friends won’t be either!”
  • Observation #13 – Your unchurched friends are confused about sex roles, but they don’t know that the Bible can clarify for them what it means to be a man and a woman.
  • Observation #14 – Your unchurched friend is proud that he/she is tolerant of different faiths, but he/she thinks Christians are narrow-minded.
  • Observation #15 – There’s a good chance your unchurched friend would try church if someone invited him/her – but this may actually do him/her more harm than good.
  • Studies show that one out of four unchurched people would attend church if invited. The question is, “What would they find?” Remember this… a LOT of unchurched people used to attend church and quit attending because of what they were or were not experiencing!

Man, there is so much to dissect here!

I really want to understand how people who do not go to church and/or are not Christians think! Is this stuff on?

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Responses to “Understanding your unchurched friends (Part 3)”

  1. MirroredGrace

    Pastor Paul,

    These Observations are spot on when I look back on my unchurched days – I think I experienced almost all of these situations.

    I know that you will use this new-found knowledge to reach out to the unchurched in Cincy. Do you know of anyone with the same fire in their belly that could come to PA? We so desperately need this vision here, too. Every part of the world does, if I’m going to be honest.

    Thank you for sharing your insights, your struggles, & your victories. It is imperative for Christians and non-Christians alike to see that we all have issues, but if we give them over to the LORD, we will never be left in the dust. It is such a joy & a blessing to watch this life victorious that you & Sherri & The Ladies are living. It is something to work for.

    I love you guys! Precious LORD, thank You for Your hand of blessing upon this family and this ministry. As the Petersons become more & more like Jesus, the potential for more & more names to be added to The Lamb’s Book of Life increases exponentially, and Father, I know that is Your one true desire. Please continue to reveal Yourself to Paul & Sherri, continue to bless them. May they be one of the unstoppable forces for the Kingdom, for the Glory of The Name of Jesus! AMEN!

    Reply
  2. memrob

    Paul, I wrote briefly about observation #11 here:
    http://nakedchurch.wordpress.com/2007/06/19/is-your-church-like-going-on-a-cruise-whats-the-point/
    I think that underneath the observation is this: our churches have too often become spectator events, where a congregant or visitor shows up for the show on Sunday morning, has a nice, pleasant illusion of experience watching the professional worshipers do their thing. Then they go home, and church leaders hope they’re back next week with a fat check to make sure the professional worshippers are supported.
    I think there are two conclusions that come from this:
    1. Church is about more than just the worship service. In no way do I denigrate worshipping God in community. But we can worship in more ways that just going through a liturgy (and even non-liturgical traditions have liturgy even if they don’t call it that). Incarnational worship answers the desire observation #11 refers to — getting out and doing something meaningful as a community of faith, working in and for the community where we live.
    2. Even the worship service itself should be more engaging. The church has a reason for existing and it goes beyond worship. Again, worship is important, but mission is not just an activity the church engages in; it’s part of the church’s identity and nature. To paraphrase Chris Wright’s thesis in _The Mission of God_, it’s not so much that God has a mission for the church, but that God has created a church to accomplish his mission. The church is not an end in itself, but a means to a greater end, namely the pageant of redemption, moving toward consummation. This teleological orientation transforms worship from a Sunday morning show to something more like a military pre-deployment mission brief.
    Does any of this make sense, or have I been smoking something?
    Kindest regards,
    Rob in Memphis

    Reply
  3. paulpeterson

    Rob,

    I don’t know if you’ve been smoking anything or not, but it seems to me that you’re right on!

    The church is a mission driven, Spirit led organization and our mission is to reconnect people to God through a relationship with Jesus.

    Good stuff on your blog too!

    Paul

    Reply
  4. joni

    #15: that is so messed up.

    Reply
  5. Sharlyn

    I love this book–one of the only books that I have the audio AND written forms! I have recommended and loaned it over and over. I like the point about needing to be someone’s friend NOT their project. It is sooo true.
    Thanks for the refresher.

    Reply
  6. phill

    part 1-3 has been great reading….right on brother!!!

    Reply

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