Let Go of the Good Old Days

[3 Small Group Ideas for Halloween | Numbers Are Not People] 3 Small Group Ideas for Halloween | Numbers Are Not People | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [Local Church Outreach Newsletter]( Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Let Go of the Good Old Days I used to smirk when people talked about the "good old days." In a kid's eyes the present is all there is. You haven't lived enough life to know that there is any other way that it can be. Then I entered my thirties and realized that there were people younger than I who had never experienced life without the Internet. All of a sudden, I found myself getting nostalgic about my childhood and how awesome it was that I had to use my imagination, and how rich my social life was because I didn't have to depend on a smart phone or social media to connect with my friends. Yep … those were the good old days. Now I feel like a card-carrying old fogey, one step away from chasing the kids off my lawn. The truth is, we all have a tendency to idealize the past. This is no less true in the church. We look back longingly at the 1st century church and think about those lost glory days (I mean, that's pretty much what I did in [last week's newsletter]( …). We feel like if we can just cling tightly enough to the past glories, it'll guide us through the present. But that sells God's Spirit way short. The Spirit of God is not stymied by the digital age. He didn't stop working in the 1st century. He is living and active today. The Bible is the living and active Word of God. We must be willing to let God do a new thing, with his new mercies, in the new context of the 21st century. We have to be willing to adapt our practices to the new ways that God's Spirit is working. Keep reaching out, [Editor] [Jonathan Sprowl](mailto:outreach@christianitytoday.com) Editor Culture & Politics the 21st Century Church]( Pining for the days of the early church can distract us from leading faithfully today. Chris Nye Tell me if you've done this before. When facing a problem in ministry, you ask, "Well, what would the 1st century church do?" It's a common impulse for evangelicals. When we think about how to use our time, how our churches should operate through the week, or what our worship gatherings could look like, we turn to the New Testament churches to see what they did. [Click to continue]( Welcoming Visitors Pastor - Numbers Are NOT People]( Church metrics can be helpful. But only if we use them wisely. And hold them lightly. Karl Vaters Numbers matter at our church because every number is a person. No. Just … No. I don't doubt that most pastors who say that mean it. And they truly do care for people. But numbers are not people and people are not numbers. Most businesses are figuring this out, so why are huge sections of the church so far behind on it? [Click to continue]( Outreach & Evangelism Small Group Ideas for Halloween]( Don't miss the opportunity to build relationships and serve your community. Amy Jackson Halloween has become one of the biggest holidays in America. Regardless of how you feel about the origins of Halloween, it's possible to use the holiday to encourage community-building and outreach. More and more small groups are seeing the holiday as a catalyst for relationships. Here are three ideas your group could use this Halloween to grow closer together as a group and serve your community. [Click to continue]( Church Planting [Today's Devotion]( New Church Methods for New Church People]( Changing the world with the Gospel of Jesus is less likely to happen using traditional methods with every passing year. Karl Vaters There's nothing wrong with traditional methods of doing church. As long as you want to minister to traditional church members. Traditionalists (whatever your tradition may be) need places to worship, learn and be discipled. Too many of them have felt overlooked, even ridiculed, in recent years as many churches have rushed to make changes. But. The traditional church member is dying out. [Click to continue]( Justice & Compassion Word, In Deed]( Eugene Cho on the underrated need for quiet works of justice. Interview by Paul J. Pastor Eugene: One of the pushbacks that I've received from the book is, "Here's another older leader bashing on the millennial generation." This book isn't written to or for millennials which is why I don't mention the 'm' word at all in the book. It's written for anyone and everyone that's breathing, alive, and seeking to live out their convictions. [Click to continue]( Practical Training [Feeling Betrayed by God]( Learning to trust God when he allows suffering. More from CT Pastors [Manuscript vs. Notes]( The pros and cons of the three primary approaches of what to take into the pulpit. Matt Woodley [Make an Appointment with Your Heavenly Doctor]( As we lead others, we can't overlook our own need for God's healing. Deidra Fulsom [Church's Coffee Shop Fails to Qualify for Tax-Exempt Status]( Related Free eNewsletters Each weekly issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. [Sign Up Now]( Inspire life-changing community innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. [Sign Up Now]( [Local Church Outreach]( Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. [Subscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2017 [ChristianityToday.org]( Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.