{"id":32519,"date":"2022-09-10T16:12:44","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-surprising-reason-most-people-choose-a-church\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:12:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:12:44","slug":"the-surprising-reason-most-people-choose-a-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-surprising-reason-most-people-choose-a-church\/","title":{"rendered":"The Surprising Reason Most People Choose a Church"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

Often churches obsess over finding a charismatic leader, developing the right children\u2019s programs, or having the perfect music. Most church attenders, however, say sermons are the primary reason they choose a congregation.<\/p>\n

And not just any sermons, but sermons focused on the Bible.<\/p>\n

Gallup asked those who attend a place of worship at least monthly the reason for choosing that place. Three-quarters of religious-service attending Americans (76 percent) say sermons that teach more about Scripture were a major factor.<\/p>\n

Among Protestant church attenders, Scripture-focused sermons are even more important. More than 8-in-10 (83 percent) say messages that teach about the Bible are a major factor in their church decision.<\/p>\n

Sermons that help connect faith to life are a major reason for 80 percent.<\/p>\n

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Fewer Protestants credit programs for children and teenagers (68 percent), community outreach and volunteer opportunities (61 percent), or dynamic leaders (53 percent) as major factors for their church selection.<\/p>\n

Around half (49 percent) say social activities that allow you to get to know people in the community make a difference in where they attend church. Still fewer (44 percent) say music is a major factor.<\/p>\n

This may come as a surprise for pastors, more than half of whom select their sermon topic or passage a month or less in advance, according to Lifeway Research. Twenty-two percent even choose the week before.<\/p>\n

Only 20 percent have their sermon planned out at least six months prior, with 7 percent have it planned more than a year in advance.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Earls<\/h2>\n

@WardrobeDoor<\/p>\n

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Aaron is a writer for LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n