 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with mega church members?

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

  This is not to be a “bash fest” of the mega churches. We want to be informed about the truth of these churches.

 What makes them so popular?

   What type of dangers should we (they) be aware of?

What do these churches do well?

Are they deserving of the name “Christian.”

 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied

    Defined by the numbers: Most experts agree that the title “mega” church refers to two thousand people in attendance per Sunday, on one campus. Out of the 335,000 churches in America, a relatively small amount are considered mega. Only 1,250 are categorized as a Mega church.

Between 4 and 5 million people attend mega churches each week. 12 million people call mega churches their home.

   People who defend the mega church refer to the New Testament Christian church in Jerusalem.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number

that day (Acts 2:41).

46

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

were being saved (Acts 2:47).

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who

 How would argue against the mega churches’ reasoning behind their practice – they’re following the modal of the early Christian church?

  Large denominational  Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.

 The Masson Temple   Pentecostal church in Memphis, TN 8 million members Large nondenominational  Community churches   2/3 of mega churches are nondenominational This category of nondenominational was the focus of Pastor Bauer and therefore will be our focus as well. mega churches

   Moody Church in Chicago  Dwight Lyman Moody  Former shoe salesman, he ran his church like a business. Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, CA.

 Found be Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life.  20,000 people attend weekend services.

Lakewood Church in Houston  Founded by Joel Osteen’s father, John.

 44,750 attend weekend services.

 Willow Creek Community in South Barrington, IL.

  Founded by Bill Hybels   Started out as a youth minister Carried out a lot of “needs assessment surveys” 23,000 people attend per weekend  13,000 churches are listed as “association members”

 “No two mega churches are alike. But when you examine them closely, they have similar traits. If they belong to a denomination, they often hide that affiliation.”  “Their doctrinal statements are similar. In general, they are Reformed in doctrine, which means they deny the efficacy of the sacraments and misunderstand how a person comes to faith.”

 Pastor Bauer – “Community mega churches advertize themselves most often as nondenominational churches. They are the UNCHURCH. It seems every aspect of these churches emphasize one thing: We are NOT part of a denomination .”

 “The 20 th century church seems dead and unproductive.”  “To anybody but the already converted the average service seems grossly abnormal.”  Hybels often critiques churches with denominations as “sleepy churches.”

 How would you respond to Hybels’ critique “the Lutheran church looks dead or seems unproductive”?

    No Christian symbols – cross, baptismal font, altar, etc.

No pulpit – rather twenty-foot video screens so the congregation can see the pastor.

Typically these churches have massive walls of glass rather than stained glass windows.

Their main objective: to distinguish itself from a denominational church.

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with mega church members?

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

   Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an average Sunday.

Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega churches are not part of a denomination.  Being part of denomination is looked at as being a negative thing.

 Being nondenominational gives mega churches less “restrictions.” Look: Nondenominational or “community” mega churches do not look like typical Christian churches.

 What denomination are the churches with the word “Bible” in their name?

 Harvest Bible Chapel: Non-denominational Christian mega church.   Elgin Bible Church: No denomination listed on their website. They don’t view the sacraments the way God intends. Bible Missionary Church: Roots to Methodist denomination. The church is Wesleyan in doctrine and teaching.

 Only 15% of mega churches embrace a liturgical approach to worship complete with Old and New Testament readings, weekly communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s Prayer, etc.

 Why is it dangerous to think liturgical worship is not important? Why is it so easy to downplay this worship?

 “The mega church member has been trained to disdain anything that resembles church the way it used to be done. The problem with this approach is that the way church used to be done actually taught the Christian faith and pointed to Christ.” (pg. 23)  Augsburg Confession, Article 15: Ceremonies and other practices that are profitable for tranquility and good order in the Church ought to be observed.

 Read 1 Corinthians 14:26,33a, 39,40.

 Question 2 – According to these verses, what is key to God-pleasing worship? What are some examples of orderly procedures in our church?

 “The Christian worship service is not the place to indulge personal whims, or to satisfy egos. A Christian worship service that follows God’s orderly ways will serve the congregation as a whole and also the kingdom of God at large.” – Carleton Toppe

  Another anti denominational trait is the training of clergy.  Often they aren’t Seminary trained   Only 72% have some sort of degree Emphasis on character and performance rather than training and education.

Mega churches focus on the pastor and his personality.

 “It’s not hard to imagine why the mega church pastor is seen as larger than life. When I visit a mega church with a massive TV screen, I find myself staring at the screen. The pastor is not just perceived as larger than life, he is actually viewed on a 20 foot image.”

 “These churches, nondenominationalism, has built straw man out of traditional Christianity. This tactic comes straight out of the business world.” You characterize your competitor in a negative light, and then you offer an alternative .”

 How is the mega church unlike any true Christian church? Ultimately, why do they act the way they do?

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches? (Teachings)  Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with mega church members?

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

  It’s difficult to test/question a mega church.

 Blinded by their success.

 Refuse to accept critique from denominational churches. The website of a mega church is the best place to see what they believe.

 A lot of these churches say good things.

 Yet they often attempt restate what has already been stated by the Christian church:    Apostles’ Creed Nicene Creed Athanasian Creed

 “In general, a mega church’s statement of faith doesn’t go into too much detail. A mega church will write its confession of faith so it is not as “restrictive” as a denominational confession of faith. By keeping things short, the mega church allows for more leeway and more room for folks to come in on their own terms instead of God’s. “

 “In general, as I look at the statement of belief of this particular mega church, it is more about what the statement is missing than what it contains.”  Question 4: Why should this quote about mega churches “the problem is more about what the statement is missing than what it contains” be frightening to our ears?

 Baptism: Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Willow believes the decision to be baptized is up to the individual and that he or she must fully understand what it means to be a Christ follower.

  The baptismal towel   Stitched on the towel is the Bible passage Matthew 22:37-40 “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Willow Creek’s view of Baptism has to do with the believer’s showing love for God and one another rather than with God showing his love to us through the sacrament.

 “If you were baptized as an infant, it has no value. We have a rule here at Willow that you have to be at least 13 years old to be baptized, and the only reason to be baptized is because Jesus commands it, not because it will benefit you in any way .”

 Communion: During Jesus’ last days, He gathered the disciples in a room and asked them to consume bread and wine “in remembrance” of Him. Two thousand years later, we regularly observe the act of consuming bread and grape juice as a community for the exact same reason – to remember our Savior, who sacrificed Himself for our sins.

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with mega church members?

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

   Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an average Sunday.

Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega churches are not part of a denomination.  Being part of denomination is looked at as being a negative thing.

 Being nondenominational gives mega churches less “restrictions.” Look: Nondenominational or “community” mega churches do not look like typical Christian churches.

   Worship: Only Prayer, etc.

15% of mega churches embrace a liturgical approach to worship complete with Old and New Testament readings, weekly communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s Philosophy – Business Modal: Characterize your competitor in a negative light, and then offer a better alternative.

Sacraments: A means of doing a service for God.

  Baptismal towel.

Don’t believe in infant baptism.

 Sermons are usually focused on practical tips for Christian living. Typically it’s very light on doctrine and sin.  A lot of times the messages go for 30-40 minutes.

 “The mega church services I attended spent little to no time informing their members who Jesus is and what he has done to save them. I was listening for it. I longed to hear it, but I was disappointed. Sermons I’ve heard at mega churches often avoid talking about Jesus even when he is the central focus of a sermon text!”

 “To me, Joel Osteen seems to be more of an advice giver than a preacher of Jesus Christ. He talks about being a Christian, but rarely talks about Christ.”

  Every type of church emphasizes different areas of Scripture. Willow Creek/mega churches emphasizes Christian living. To put it another way, these churches are all about self

.

 Little emphasis on the life of Christ.

 Great emphasis on what you can give Christ by how you live.

 The worship service appeals to people’s emotions.  Don’t have to make any sort of commitment.

  The music and videos are designed to inspire and make people feel good and happy. No message of sin, no law. (It doesn’t fit with their quest to be happy).

 Why is it important for Christians to gather together in worship? Notice the God-pleasing motive for worship.

 List the different problems of emphasizing Christian living in place or ahead of Christ’s life for us?

 “Therapy” is a word that is often used for mega church worship.

 Who’s at the center of therapy, whether psychological or physical?  The patient attends therapy for the purpose of self-help.

  Let’s say a Willow Creek person comes to you and says; “the mega church and the Lutheran church are similar in teaching. What’s the big deal if we differ a bit in what we teach and emphasize.” How would you respond?

“A Christian’s love for his or her Savior will make them zealous about all of Christ’s teachings, including his teachings on the sacraments and how a Christian comes to faith.”  John 15:16

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: Talking with your mega church friends.

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

   Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an average Sunday.

Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega churches are not part of a denomination.  Being part of denomination is looked at as being a negative thing.

 Being nondenominational gives mega churches less “restrictions.” Look: Nondenominational or “community” mega churches do not look like typical Christian churches.

   Worship: Only Prayer, etc.

15% of mega churches embrace a liturgical approach to worship complete with Old and New Testament readings, weekly communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s Philosophy – Business Modal: Characterize your competitor in a negative light, and then offer a better alternative.

Sacraments: A means of doing a service for God.

  Baptismal towel.

Don’t believe in infant baptism.

 “Dressed-up and softened Arminianism”  People are not completely spiritually blind or dead, nor are they actually enemies of God.   Each person has the ability to make a choice or decision for God.

Jacob Arminius downplayed the Sacraments and naturally so do the followers of his doctrine.

 “In the mega church, Jesus is assumed and the topic of me and getting my life straightened out hogs the agenda in preaching and teaching. And since I am wildly popular with me, my nature wants to hear that kind of message. No wonder mega churchism is on the increase in America.”



Made Alive in Christ

2

”As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 2 4 in which you used to live But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been 3 All saved.”

 What picture does Paul paint when he says that we were “dead in [our] transgressions and sins”?

 18 20 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

” 19 For

 God loved us, but it was not because he saw anything lovable in us. Why did God love us and shower his grace on us?

  A “worship service” specifically intended for the unchurched.  Does away with anything traditional.

 Efforts to be entertainment rather than worship. The seeker service is consistent with Arminian theology – sinful people have the ability to choose or seek God.

  Media  Good use of video and music in worship.

  PowerPoint slides usually accompany sermons.

Willow Creek media staff: 350 producers, audio engineers, and more. Plus 1200 volunteers take part in producing the Sunday services. Nursery  Kids can receive God’s Word in a more clear and compelling way.

 Parents have a better opportunity to focus on the worship service.

  Groups  These churches seem to have groups for everything (senior groups, teen groups, expectant mothers’ groups, small groups for Bible study, etc).

 Good way to get newer people comfortable with their church and members (“small groups make big churches feel small”). Choices  These churches are unique because of the number of choices they offer their members.

  Choices and options appeal to Americans.

Worship times, worship types, different activities and services, etc.

 Church as a business  Mega churches hire and fire staff. How can they hire or fire someone who has been called by God?

  They act like giant corporations, mass producing goods and services to be consumed.

Lynne Hybels describes her husband as the “businessman” of the organization.

  Hybels’ background was in business.

Christmas of 2005…

 Proselytizing: “Stealing” or “wooing” a person away from another church.

 “Mega church people in a way act like salespeople, not on behalf of the Christian faith but selling their better brand of church with a care if the person are selling to has a church home or not.” pg. 50  This mentality of proselytizing comes from a lack of understanding the holy Christian church.

 “Unfortunately, I’ve seen many lifelong, well informed Lutherans get swept off their feet by this “new and better way.” Suddenly, what their own church teaches doesn’t matter anymore because the mega church is so successful and entertaining.” pg. 55

   Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an average Sunday.

Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega churches are not part of a denomination.  Being part of denomination is looked at as being a negative thing.

 Being nondenominational gives mega churches less “restrictions.” Look: Nondenominational or “community” mega churches do not look like typical Christian churches.

 “Dressed-up and softened Arminianism”  People are not completely spiritually blind or dead, nor are they actually enemies of God.   Each person has the ability to make a choice or decision for God.

Jacob Arminius downplayed the Sacraments and naturally so do the followers of his doctrine.

  Media  Good use of video and music in worship.

  PowerPoint slides usually accompany sermons.

Willow Creek media staff: 350 producers, audio engineers, and more. Plus 1200 volunteers take part in producing the Sunday services. Nursery  Kids can receive God’s Word in a more clear and compelling way.

 Parents have a better opportunity to focus on the worship service.

  Groups  These churches seem to have groups for everything (senior groups, teen groups, expectant mothers’ groups, small groups for Bible study, etc).

 Good way to get newer people comfortable with their church and members (“small groups make big churches feel small”). Choices  These churches are unique because of the number of choices they offer their members.

  Choices and options appeal to Americans.

Worship times, worship types, different activities and services, etc.

 Proselytizing: “Stealing” or “wooing” a person away from another church.

 “Mega church people in a way act like salespeople, not on behalf of the Christian faith but selling their better brand of church with a care if the person are selling to has a church home or not.” pg. 50  This mentality of proselytizing comes from a lack of understanding the holy Christian church.

 “ 17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. people.” (Romans 16:17, 18) 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive

 The apostle Paul tells us to do two things in regard to false teaching. What does Paul mean by “watch out”? What does he mean by “keep away from”? (Romans 16:17, 18)

 Paul’s description of those who teach false doctrine is rather strong. Some have been tempted to think Paul’s words in verse 17 apply only to those who teach serious heresies. React to that thought (verse 18).

  Why bother fighting people on small points of the Bible?

14” 16 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a)

 What answer must be given to each of the five questions Paul raised?

  “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Philetus, of some.” 17 18 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith God tells us to keep ourselves separate from false teaching because it can destroy the faith.

 “The auditoriums are impressive. You cannot help but walk away in awe of the professional caliber of the music and the polished oratory of the pastor.”  “Did I learn anything about Jesus today?”  “I believer that mega churches are successful largely because of the emotional appeal of the services.”

 “Despite the massive crowds and the professional presentation, the one thing needed was often the one thing missing.”  Read Luke 10:38-42

  

At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 40 39 She had a sister called But Martha was distracted by all the 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed .Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

 Was it wrong for Mary to serve? Where did her fault lie? Make the connection between Mary and the mega churches?

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: Talking with your mega church friends.

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

  Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This includes our mega church neighbors who “attend” a mega church.

 We say “attend” because people can stop by a mega church frequently without becoming a member.

 Good way to start: “Are you an official member?”  The attitude of the mega church member will likely be different from that of a visitor. “The best suggestion for you is to keep your neighbor’s eyes on Christ. You are not trying to convince him that your brand of church is better than his. You want first and foremost for your neighbor to be a Christian” pg. 80

    “We need to realize that to many mega church members, you and I are a part of what they are trying to free themselves from.” “Medieval” “Out of date” or “Not with it” “Sleepy church”  “The mega church member will likely either pity you or view you with some disdain.”

 We you hear a mega church neighbor characterize Lutherans in an unflattering way, you need to be “comfortable in your own skin.”   It will be hard to talk with a mega church person unless we are comfortable being a Lutheran. Turn the attention/direction back on them: or is it about Christ?” “When you sit in the auditorium and listen – really listen – do you learn about Christ? Is the message about you  Those piercing questions may cut through all the awe they experience from the size and cool presentation.

  Mega churches will rave about their churches, campuses, presenters, and bands. Unfortunately their focus is off base. Asking Biblical questions can revert the attention of where it should be:  What happened on Good Friday?

  Can you tell me what happened on Easter?

Who is Jesus Christ? What are his two natures?

 “From my experiences, the criticism that the mega church message is an inch deep and two miles wide is not too far off the mark. When you ask someone if they know the Lord’s Prayer, and they ask, ‘Does it go like this, ‘Now I lay me down to sleep?’ you know that the mega church isn’t doing much in the way of teaching the Christian faith.” (pg. 79)

 In order to have a meaningful discussion with your mega church neighbor, be ready to discuss the basic truths of Christianity.

 Week One: What is a mega church?

 Week Two: What makes a mega church unique from other churches?

 Week Three: Talking with your mega church friends.

 Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church unique? What can we gain from the mega churches?

 Should the Lutheran church adopt mega church methods?  If mega churches are wildly successful, shouldn’t Lutheran churches act like them?

 What would that mean:   Get rid of the organ/piano and get a band.

Get rid of the altar, cross, and baptismal font.  I’ll get rid of the robe and exchange it for a Hawaiian shit.

 What are some of the positives or negatives of adopting the mega church methods?

 “The ready adaptation to culture, the adoption of business models designed to get more members, and the focus on what people want out of worship that fosters a “me-centered” environment.” pg. 85

   We preach law and gospel, sin and grace, and we practice the sacraments in baptism and communion.

We use our form of liturgy not because we’re stuck in it, but because the liturgy for thousands of years has been the best tool for proclaiming Jesus.

“If you are going to stand in contrast to what is wildly popular, you better be comfortable with your identity and the way you worship.”

 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as

Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’

sake.”