11 Reasons Church Attendance is Declining (Even for Committed Christians)

Eyes on Jesus with Drew and Tim

In episode 84, Drew and Tim discuss various reasons why church attendance is declining, such as increased affluence, youth sports, travel, and the availability of online services. They emphasize the need for community, structure, and accountability within the church body. The conversation highlights the dangers of self-directed spirituality and the trend of prioritizing personal comfort over collective worship. They also address how churches can inspire participation through meaning and joy rather than guilt and urge listeners to find value in being part of a church community. How can churches adapt to these modern challenges and ensure they remain impactful and relevant? Here is the blog post from Carey Nieuwhof that we based our episode on https://careynieuwhof.com/10-reasons-even-committed-church-attenders-attending-less-often/ Get the most comfortable shirts we've ever worn with powerful Christian messages! And support the show!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kingdomandwill.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use code: EYESONJESUS for 15% off

Get all our links in one easy place! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/eyesonjesuspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Group on Facebook- Eyes on Jesus podcast community ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/eyesonjesuspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email feedback, questions or show topic ideas to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Drew Barker: Follow Drew on ⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/pastordrewbarker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drew's church's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://yes.online/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Tim Ferrara: ⁠ ⁠ Get all his links in one place- to his social media, all 3 of his books, and more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/discerning_dad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Updates 03:07 Discussing the Article 06:02 Reason 1: Greater Affluence 09:50 Reason 2: Focus on Kids' Activities 14:28 Reason 3: Increased Travel 17:10 Reason 4: Blended and Single Parent Families 21:46 Reason 5: Online Options Decreasing Attendance 25:53 Reason 6: The Cultural Disappearance of Guilt 28:10 Reason 7: Self-Directed Spirituality 29:21 The Importance of Community in Faith 31:27 Comfort vs. Commitment in Spirituality

39:53: Reason 8: Fail to See a Direct Benefit

45:25 Reason 9: Valuing attendance over engagement

45:50 Reason 10: A Massive Cultural Shift 47:23 Reason 11: The Impact of Online Content 50:46 Encouragement for Personal and Community Growth