Life Group Central

Kent Shaffer (ChurchRelevance) recently reported some statistics from Gabe Lyons, author of unChristian. Non-Christians aged 16-29 years old were asked, “What is your current perception of Christianity?”

91% said antihomosexual
87% said judgmental
85% said hypocritical
78% said old-fashioned
75% said too involved in politics
72% said out of touch with reality
70% said insensitive to others
68% said boring
64% said not accepting of other faiths
61% said confusing

As a member of Shoreline Church and a Life Group Leader, would the way you speak and act be perceived this way by non-Christians? Or are we acting in love? Both the Transparent Church and the Here Comes the Judge series go along perfectly with this particular survey. If you missed them or want to hear them again, you can download the messages off our web site.

What would happen if believers from all over the globe came together to impact the world like never before? Well, we’re about to find out. Over 1,300 churches, representing over 750,000 people, are participating in this worldwide event.

Today kicked off a four-week series for ONE PRAYER, started by Pastor Craig Groeschel. If you missed it, you may either download the message off Shoreline’s web site or attend the Tuesday night service at McGuire’s.

The first message in this series was “Lord, Make Us One.” This is from John 17:20-23: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Pastor Eric gave three “ONEs” that unify the church: one enemy, one heart, and one purpose.

Again, if you missed it, be sure to catch up before the June 15th message.

Great post by Pastor Craig Groeschel:
http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2008/05/07/if-i-were-the-devil/

Outreach Magazine has come out with its 2008 list of America’s 25 most innovative churches:

1.  lifechurch.tv (edmond, ok) - craig groeschel
2.  mars hill church (seattle, wa) - mark driscoll
3.  granger community church (granger, in) - mark beeson
4.  flamingo road church (cooper city, fl) - tony gramling
5.  seacoast church (mt. pleasant, sc) - greg surratt
6.  saddleback church (lake forest, ca) - rick warren
7.  mosaic church (los angeles, ca) - erwin mcmanus
8.  fellowship church (grapevine, tx) - ed young, jr
9.  northpoint community church (alpharetta, ga) - andy stanley
10 willow creek community church (south barrington, il) - bill hybels
11.  national community church (washington, dc) - mark batterson
12.  newspring church (anderson, sc) - perry noble
13.  community christian church (naperville, il) - dave ferguson
14.  elevation church (charlotte, sc) - steve furtick
15.  healing place church (baton rouge, la) - dino rizzo
16.  north coast church (vista, ca) - larry osborn
17.  northwood church (keller, tx) - bob roberts
18.  newsong church (irvine, ca) - dave gibbons
19.  new hope christian fellowship (honolulu, hi) - wayne cordeiro
20.  redeemer presbyterian church (new york, ny) - tim keller
21.  crossover church (tampa bay, fl) - tommy kyllonen
22.  perimeter church (duluth, ga) - randy pope
23.  mars hill bible church (grandville, mi) - rob bell
24.  orchard valley community church (aurora, il) - scott hodge
25.  the sanctuary covenant church (minneapolis, mn) - efrem smith

You may recall seeing some of these churches on the lists of fastest growing and largest of 2007.  If you missed that post, here it is:

http://www.lifegroupcentral.com/2007/10/10/the-results-are-in/

Do some of these churches sound familiar? They should! You’ve probably heard Pastor Eric mention them, as some are Shoreline’s sister churches and he’s friends with a few of the pastors.

Swerve had a good article this morning.  I liked Stefan’s illustration about trying to prove the Bible to an unbeliever by using the Bible.  Good point!

http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2007/11/07/guest-blog-stefan-reed/

Here are two lists you may be interested in reviewing:

2007 Top 100 Largest Churches and 2007 Top 100 Fastest Growing Churches 

I’d like to point out a few things for you… 

Forty-seven of the top 100 largest churches are non-denominational.  

Celebration Church - 95th largest and 29th fastest growing.  This is a lead ARC (Association of Related Churches) church in Jacksonville.  This is where several Shoreline ladies went for the Shine conference in May of this year.   If you’re ever in Jacksonville, I suggest visiting Celebration.  Not only is it an amazing church, it will really give you a vision of where Shoreline is going in the future.

The Potter’s House - I’m sure you’ve all heard of T. D. Jakes, the pastor of this huge church.  Not only are they the 10th largest church, they’re also the 16th fastest growing.  Do you remember when Chris Hill spoke at Shoreline this year?  This is his home church.

Grace Family Church - 36th fastest growing.  Pastor Eric and Darlene are like BFF with the senior pastor.  This is also where James Dodzweit is the youth pastor to 1,000+ middle school students.  Do you remember James?  He’s given a message at Shoreline a couple times and he was the guest speaker at the 2006 Blessing of the Youth.  Oh, and he was interviewed by this little TV network called CNN. 

Seacoast Church - 55th fastest growing.  This is a lead ARC church.  Pastor Eric and Darlene are friends with the senior pastor, who likes to vacation in Destin (who doesn’t?).

New Life Church - 4th fastest growing.  Another lead ARC church.  If you ever go visit the Vess family while they’re stationed in Little Rock, you should totally check it out.

Church of the Highlands - 51st fastest growing.  Another lead ARC church.  Some Shoreliners came from this church!  Guess who?  No, seriously - guess.  Okay, I’ll give you some hints.  It’s two married couples.  One wife does hospitality and the other wife is a current life group leader.

LifeChurch.tv - 5th largest and 40th fastest growing.  Remember when I suggested reading Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel?  He’s the lead pastor at this church.  Who’s read the book?