{"id":32783,"date":"2022-09-10T16:23:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/churchgoers-build-relationships-but-often-without-discipleship\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:23:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:23:02","slug":"churchgoers-build-relationships-but-often-without-discipleship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/churchgoers-build-relationships-but-often-without-discipleship\/","title":{"rendered":"Churchgoers Build Relationships, But Often Without Discipleship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

Building relationships with other believers seems to come naturally to Protestant churchgoers, however, for many, those relationships are built apart from Bible study and spiritual growth.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 78% of Protestant churchgoers say they have developed significant relationships with people at their church, including 43% who strongly agree. Fewer than 1 in 10 disagree (8%), while 14% neither agree nor disagree.<\/p>\n

The survey of Protestant churchgoers identifies building relationships as one of eight signposts that consistently show up in the lives of growing Christians. The survey is part of the 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment, a larger study identifying traits of Christian discipleship.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn an American culture in which significant relationships are hard to form, most churchgoers have had at least some success at making friends at church,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. \u201cBut the majority aren\u2019t as confident as they could be about the significance of those relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there is no evidence of a gender divide on developing significant relationships at church, age does play a role in the likelihood someone has strong friendships at church. More than 4 in 10 churchgoers 65 and older (46%) strongly agree they have significant relationships within the congregation compared to 38% of 18-34-year-olds.<\/p>\n

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Unsurprisingly, those who attend worship services more frequently\u2014four times a month or more\u2014are more likely to confirm strongly they have developed such relationships than those who attend less frequently (47% to 33%).<\/p>\n

Relationships, not discipleship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fewer churchgoers, however, are intentionally leveraging their relationships with other believers to help them grow in their faith. Fewer than half of churchgoers (48%) agree with the statement, \u201cI intentionally spend time with other believers to help them grow in their faith.\u201d This includes 19% who strongly agree. The same number (19%) disagree.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a different element to relationships at church that the majority of churchgoers haven\u2019t prioritized,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cOne of the ways a believer shows they have love for God is by investing in other believers. The relationship isn\u2019t just about mutual interests; it is about proactively being interested in the faith of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

While older churchgoers (65 and older) are more likely to say they have significant relationships, they are less likely to strongly agree they intentionally spend time with other believers to help them grow (13%). Young adults (18 to 34) are the most likely to strongly agree they are intentional about investing time in the spiritual growth of others (26%).<\/p>\n

Hispanics (32%) are more likely to strongly agree than African Americans (22%), whites (17%) or churchgoers of other ethnicities (17%).<\/p>\n

Black Protestants (24%) and evangelicals (21%) are significantly more likely than mainline Protestants (12%) to agree strongly they are intentional about spending time to help others grow spiritually.<\/p>\n

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See also  Pastors Identify 7 Spiritual Needs for Their Life, Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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While many churchgoers aren\u2019t seeking to spend time with others to help them grow, they aren\u2019t spending time with a small group that could benefit their own personal discipleship either.<\/p>\n

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According to the survey, 35% of churchgoers attend a class or small group four or more times in a typical month. Fourteen percent attend two to three times a month. Almost 4 in 10 (38%) Protestant churchgoers do not attend a class or small group in a typical month, while 13% attend once a month.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor much of church history, small groups or classes have been one of the most effective ways churches offer for attendees to connect with others, study the Bible and serve together,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cThis avenue of seeking God together is both relational and devotional.\u201d<\/p>\n

White churchgoers (41%) are more likely to say they never attend a small group of some kind than African Americans (35%) and Hispanics (26%).<\/p>\n

Mainline Protestants (48%) are more likely to never attend a small group than black Protestants (36%) and evangelicals (35%).<\/p>\n

Blessed are the peacemakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), one group of people Jesus described as \u201cblessed\u201d are the peacemakers. Half of churchgoers (49%) say they intentionally try to make peace at church, including 24% who strongly agree.<\/p>\n

Almost 4 in 10 are noncommittal (38%), while 13% say they aren\u2019t trying to be peacemakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Jesus prayed about His future followers, His priority was their unity,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cIt takes work to keep the peace among a group of people. Stepping in to make that happen benefits everyone in the church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Younger churchgoers (28%) are most likely to strongly agree they intentionally try to be a peacemaker.<\/p>\n

Hispanic (34%) and African American churchgoers (32%) are more likely than white churchgoers (19%) to strongly agree they try to bring peace at church.<\/p>\n

Black Protestants (32%) are most likely to strongly agree they try to be peacemakers followed by evangelicals (24%) and mainline Protestants (16%).<\/p>\n

Building relationships is one of eight signposts measured in the Discipleship Pathway Assessment and addressed in Lifeway\u2019s Bible Studies for Life<\/em> curriculum. For more information, visit DiscipleshipPathwayAssessment.com.<\/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