Jesus's final command was the Great Commission, yet startling research reveals many in our churches don't know it. Are we truly making disciples, or is the American church facing a silent crisis? Bullet Points (Key Takeaways):
- The Great Commission Unawareness: A shocking 51% of US churchgoers have never heard the term "Great Commission," and only 17% fully understand its meaning (Barna).
- Generational Decline: Understanding of the Great Commission drops significantly with younger generations, posing a critical issue for the future of the church.
- Discipleship Disconnect: While 92% of churchgoers feel their church helps them grow, only 1% of pastors believe churches in general are doing "very well" at discipling new believers. Only 20% of Christian adults are involved in any formal discipleship.
- Evangelism Gap: 55% of regular churchgoers haven't shared how to become a Christian in the past 6 months, and over 50% of North American Christian leaders believe believers view the Great Commission as optional.
- Biblical Literacy Crisis: Many churchgoers lack basic biblical and doctrinal knowledge (e.g., 43% of evangelicals affirming Jesus was merely a great teacher, not God), hindering their ability to fulfill the Great Commission. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- Tithing vs. Mission: Awareness of tithing as a biblical command (77%) far surpasses understanding of the Great Commission (17%), suggesting a communication imbalance.
- Individual Responsibility: The episode emphasizes personal accountability for understanding the Great Commission, engaging in relational discipleship (2 Timothy 2:2), personal evangelism (1 Peter 3:15), and pursuing biblical literacy (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Actionable Steps: Seven crucial steps for every believer to address this crisis, from prioritizing personal understanding to bridging generational gaps.
- Hope and Urgency: Despite sobering statistics, the call is to awaken, repent, and refocus on the unchanging, urgent task of the Great Commission, for "the fields... are white already to harvest." (John 4:35)
Related: https://www.conradrocks.net/2024/07/from-novice-to-master-cultivating-your.html Call to Action:- Has this episode challenged or inspired you? Share it with others!
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