I just had a conversation in the hallway with a guy who’s been trying to help a church change from a traditional Sunday School model. Their elders had approached him about trying to help them get more “North Point-like”, but at the end of the day, they really couldn’t commit to small groups and small groups only - it would anger too many of their Sunday School folks.
Again, you probably know from the tone of this blog, I’m not condemning traditional methods (I grew up and was saved in a Southern Baptist church), but I wonder how grieved, or maybe even peeved, God must be by how many of His people run church:
- Like it’s theirs. Little clue: it’s not. It’s His.
- Out of fear, i.e. “What if we lose people?”
Traditional does not equal bad. I’d argue just be excellent about whatever model you run. I just hate hearing it over and over again about church leaders who know their churches need to change, but on the brink of those needed changes, they shrink back at the last minute for fear of instituting too much change. North Point is not THE way, but it definitely is A way of reaching the demographic that has left and is leaving the Church the fastest, 18-34 yr olds. Our median age at North Point is 33. At our Buckhead campus it’s 31.
When we just hang on to our way of doing church because it’s the one we grew up in or the way the elder, financial heavy hitters want it to stay, we miss out on REACHING that key demographic. And guess what, we’re all going to die off and where is the Church going to be?
I’m just imploring all of you at whatever level of influence God has given you in the Church to remember how God pursued you. Our churches have to reflect that heart and so reaching people has to be more than an evangelistic series or high-attendance Sunday.
Be courageous! If you’re afraid the people with resources will leave your church, remember whose it is to begin with - God’s and boy, can He provide! And, you were not given a spirit of fear, remember! Now, go out and push the envelope. Have a nice day! 
Hi, I'm Scott and this is my bio attempt. God has a sense of humor... I work at a church. That's not the path I figured coming out of grad school, but when He called, thankfully I didn't try to win a battle of merits between my plan and His. So, how'd that play out? Well, in 2001 I left commercial real estate and went on staff at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. This place captured my heart the first time I walked in the doors. God, thanks for letting me do this for as long as you let me do it!
Amen and Amen!!!!!! I have always been one to hate the “because we’ve always done it this way” kind of answer. God calls us to something much greater than what most are living in right now. I have always loved Reggie’s way of sharing the parable of the lost sheep. . . .it’s not the 99 we have to worry about. And are we willing to do whatever it takes to reach the next generation?