Adapting Preaching and Worship to Today's Changing Contexts

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Understanding the impact of youth culture, social media, and digital trends on preaching, worship, and communication in Christian contexts. Embracing collaborative learning, image-driven storytelling, and engaging with the younger generation to transform experiences of faith.

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THE CHANGING CONTEXTS OF PREACHING AND WORSHIP 3 12/8/2024 1

WHY STUDY OUR CONTEXTS? Third, we misunderstand the potency of youth culture's gravitational pull. We don't influence youth culture as much as it influences us. Much of the Christian community, as Bergler adroitly points out, has been juvenilized. That is, in an attempt to keep up and stay relevant, churches have increasingly accommo- dated the passions and preferences of teenagers and young adults. 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 2

WHY STUDY OUR CONTEXTS? Our fixation on all things young is changing the way we do Christianity. It's also shaping the workplace, advertising and marketing, fashion, and media, to name a few spheres of society. Kinnaman, The Rise of Urban Digital Tribes, CTO 13 June 12 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 3

COMMUNICATING TODAY The Facebook/Twitter generation 140 characters Multi-tasking, non-linear learning Short attention spans- homiletic and worship structure? Collaborative learning &distance ed Image driven Story and personal witness 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 4

COMMUNICATING Images! Use metaphors Use partners, peers, mentors (3/4 pos) Exceed their expectations Pace of change and call for change Less is MORE High performance AND maintenance Challenge the listeners Elmore, Generation iY, 184-86 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 5

COMMUNICATING Belonging before Believing Experience before Explanation Cause before a Course Guide on the Side, not Sage on Stage Play before they Pay Use . . . but not be used Transformation, not just touch Elmore, Generation iY, 49-51 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 6

COMMUNICATING The best learning is in a social context However, psychologist Philip Zimbardo warns this is an isolation generation By age 21, 10,000 hours gaming (2/3 alone/solo) Average young man, 50 porn clips per week Boys brains are being digitally rewired in a totally new way, for change, novelty, excitement, and constant arousal They find it difficult to learn through traditional methods and lack social skills, especially with women. Reed, The Isolation Generation, CT, 7 Nov 11 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 7

MINISTRY TO MILLENNIALS Story Social Networking Authenticity Speaking the truth in love Humility New Forms Relationship, Relationship, Relationship 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 8

MINISTRY TO MILLENNIALS A generation without absolutes needs them- even if they don t know it! The things that really matter are still the things that really matter. The way you minister will change with the culture. The importance of solid teaching and real application will never change. Relationship is ALWAYS foundational. 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 9

WORSHIP AND PREACHING- in an R-RATED WORLD 12/8/2024 10

12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 11

POLARIZATIONS Reformed or Relevant? Didache or Kerygma? Word or Image? Word or Sacrament Traditional or Contemporary? 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 12

PREACHINGIN THE NEW NORMAL 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 13

PREACHINGIN THE NEW NORMAL The importance of authenticity Preaching as conversation grown large Preaching as Dialog, as Inductive Use of imagery and narrative (cf. film) Connection between doctrine and life Meaning in a world of ambiguities 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 14

THE LARGER CATECHISM Question 159: How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto? Answer: They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation. 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 15

THE LARGER CATECHISM They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are to preach sound doctrine, . . . applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers . . . 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 16

WORSHIP IN THE NEW NORMAL Repetition Renovation Revolution Restoration The Right Answer? 12/8/2024 17

REPETITION Video is unavailable 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 18

REPETITION Keep doing what you ve been doing Just harder, faster, better Stay with it: they will come to their senses and come home to the church It was good enough for Paul and Silas We re the church, not the world! KJV, Old Trinity! Truly Reformed 12/8/2024 19

RENOVATION Video is unavailable 12/8/2024 20

RENOVATION Stay the course, adjust the trim Remodeling Working the fringes Keep the car, get a new paint job! The old stuff is basically good- just a little musty! NIV, ESV! New Trinity Modern English Westminster Confession of Faith 12/8/2024 21

REVOLUTION Video is unavailable 12/8/2024 CHANGING CONTEXTS 3 22

REVOLUTION Out with the Old, in with the New This is a digital, POMO, post-Christian world Evangelical rationalism doesn t cut it in place of office, mall appearance a worship place: lighting, visuals, worship stations Whole-person vs. appeal to intellect Ancient-Future aspects of Emerging Worship 12/8/2024 23

RESTORATION Video is unavailable 12/8/2024 24

RESTORATION Pick your Golden Age ( Pristine Period ) Get back there as fast as you can ( Repristinate ) WWJD! What Would John (Calvin/Knox/Murray- pick one) Do? It was good enough for the Reformers/ Westminster Divines/Old Princeton/Thornwell and Dabney KJV! or even better, the original Geneva Bible Old Trinity? Never! Psalters only- and the older and more difficult to sing the better! Really, Truly Reformed! Yes, we are small, but we are REALLY pure! 12/8/2024 25