Encore: Do We Really Still Need Churches? [Deconstructing Faith Series]

Out of necessity during the global COVID pandemic, most churches in countries with mandated restrictions needed to learn how to “do church” online. But even after COVID, this widespread experience of online church has caused many to ask if doing church online presents Christians with a viable alternative to in-person gathering. Could it be that technology presents us with a new way of doing church in which we gather as the church online?

In our final episode of our Dechurching Series, Scott and Shawn see if Scripture can shed some light on an answer, and what that answer might be.

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• “What Is a Local Church?”, by Jonathan Leeman on 9Marks
• “Is ‘Online Church’ Really Church? The Church as God’s Temple” by Ronald L. Giese on Themelios

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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In this episode, Scott and Shawn dive into the question of whether or not Christians need to belong to a local church. 

People feel the need to leave church for many reasons. Most often it is because the church, as they’ve experienced it, has not measured up to what they expect it to be. Sometimes this is due to churches not being what the church should be, and sometimes this is due to churches not being what we feel they should be. In either case, this is due to the church not measuring up to an ideal. But maybe part of the problem isn’t the church failing to meet the ideal, but our own vision of what that ideal is. 

In an era where Christian teaching, worship music, and resources are available to us through so many channels, Scott and Shawn look to the Bible to see if living a Christian life without belonging to an actual church is biblical—or possible! 

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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The data over the past several years confirms a steady decline in church attendance and participation, even among committed Christians.

 In this episode in our Dechurching series, Scott and Shawn raise awareness about some of the cultural assumptions that may be skewing our perspective about church. For those wondering if being part of a church is necessary, rather than giving reasons for or against, Scott and Shawn take a dive into Scripture to answer a necessary first question: “What is the church?” 

If you’re thinking of leaving church behind, tune into this episode to learn about the nature of the church and what it really means. This may help you think more clearly about the role church has, and your place in it. 

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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Is the church in Canada disappearing? Data collected by StatsCan  over the past thirty years shows a steady decline in church attendance among Canadians. And the years over COVID accelerated that trend even further. But what is driving this trend? Who are the people foregoing church? And what does this indicate for the future of Christianity in Canada?

In this episode, Scott and Shawn begin looking at this de-churching phenomenon that is transforming the religious landscape of the west. They look at who are de-churching, and what reasons are being given by those who used to regularly attend and participate in church life, but no longer do.

This is the first episode in our series on “De-Churching”. Our goal is to help you understand what is happening in the church, how Christians should respond, and what we should expect to see happen for this trend to be reversed.

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Religiosity of Canadians”, Stats Canada
• The Great DeChurching, by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, With Ryan P. Burge
• “Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults”, LifeWay Research
• “10 Reasons Church Attendance Is Declining (Even for Committed Christians”, by Carey Nieuwhof
• “New American Bible Society Study: Gen Z Exhibits Significant Openness to Scripture”, American Bible Society
• “Study: Gen Z Wants to Know More About Jesus”, Christianity Today

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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For decades now, church attendance has been in decline. And after COVID, many people are not returning to church.

But let’s face it. Most churches now do a great job of delivering Sunday service online. And through the internet we have easy access to a super-abundance of worship, teaching, and discipleship resources that we used to only get from church.

There is also the reality for many who, for one reason or another, have had negative or even hurtful church experiences. For these, church has become a very negative thing.

This raises the question: Do we really even need churches to be a Christian?

In this encore episode, Scott and Shawn tackle this very relevant question by discussing:

• The distinction between our experience of church and what the church is.
• Understanding the relationship between Christians “doing” church and “being” the church.
• The New Testament vision of the church as a “family”.
• How Jesus relates to his church, and the implications this has for us.

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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In 2015, The Pew Research Center reported that for every individual who becomes a Christian four leave (source).

More recently a chain of very public and prominent Christians has emerged, declaring that they too have decided to leave Christianity. 

What are we to make of such phenomena, and how should we react to them?

In this encore episode pulled from our podcast archives, Scott and Shawn discuss the seemingly growing trend of “deconversion” stories, asking some pointed and important questions:

• What are the causes behind decisions to deconvert from Christianity?
• What sorts of things contribute toward the likelihood that someone might deconvert?
• Are deconversion stories necessarily all bad? Are there some positive lessons that we can take away?
• And, how should we react? Are deconversions final, or is there still hope?

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Matt from Truth Snack talks about his doubt journey

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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We invite you to our annual Christmas Wrap-up. Meet our team and listen in as we talk about the highlights of 2023, share our favourite parts of the Christmas story, and challenge each other with some Christmas Story Trivia.

As Christmas approaches, we remember that Jesus is the hope of the world. Forgiveness of sin and peace with God is for everyone who puts their trust in him. This is why we do what we do to help Christians stand firm in their faith and witness for Jesus!

From our PTA family to yours, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and cherished memories!

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• “Encountering God” series, by Truth Snack
• Truth Snack YouTube Channel
• “So Much More Than Sex” series, coming soon by Prepared to Answer
• Youth Pastor Theologian’s website

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

🔔 Follow for more Prepared to Answer, or subscribe on YouTube and hit that notification bell to get notified whenever we post new content

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Why does the Bible give us so many warnings about sexual immorality? Does God truly care? Scott welcomes Dr. Kirk Durston to delve into this critical topic. Dr. Kirk's expertise in biophysics, education, and Christian ministry provides profound insights into the biblical discussion surrounding sexuality.

This captivating discussion explores the intertwined relationship between the body and the soul. Dr. Kirk unveils how lust and passion have the power to turn the body against the soul, leading to spiritual warfare within ourselves.

Dr. Kirk suggests that what we witness in our culture today may be the prolonged scream of humanity losing its soul. This eye-opening revelation highlights the urgency of understanding why God warns us so clearly and frequently against sexual immorality.

Join us in this transformative conversation about sexual immorality, spiritual warfare, and the battle for the soul. Gain a deeper understanding of the battle against sexual sin and the importance of nurturing a strong Christian identity.

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📖 Recommended Resources:

• Kirk’s website 
• “Sex and the War Against the Human Soul” by Kirk Durston
• “Quest for a Beautiful Mind” video by Kirk Durston
• Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, by Christopher Yuan 
• Love Thy Body, by Nancy Pearcey
• The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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How can we place our sexual attractions into a biblical context?

Listen in as Scott and Shawn challenge the modern trend to use sexual orientation as the framework that defines us. They tackle the problem that our modern, secular notion of sexual orientation is a virtual catch-all for who and what we are.

They go on to encourage Christians to stop using aspects of our fallen nature for describing our identity in Christ. Rather, to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)

Sexual orientation does not define us. Join Scott and Shawn as they focus on claiming our identity in Christ.

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📖 Recommended Resources: 

• Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, by Christopher Yuan 
• The Holy Sexuality Project

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

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What's the Deal with Sexual Orientation? Is there really such a thing as a heterosexual, homosexual, or even a bisexual person?

Have you ever questioned the seemingly obvious answers?

In this episode, we delve into the perplexing world of sexual orientation. Scott and Shawn challenge us to stop and ask: Why does it feel so natural to label people as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual? When and how did sexual orientation become such a clear and fixed category in our minds such that the question itself just makes sense to us? Is sexual orientation really a core, fixed, and essential aspect of human nature?

Join Scott and Shawn as they dive into these really important questions, you might find some unexpected conclusions. Listen now! 

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📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• The Invention of Heterosexuality, by Jonathan Ned Katz 
• The History of Sexuality: An Introduction, by Michel Foucault 
• “Sexual Matters: On Conceptualizing Sexuality in History,” by Robert A. Padgug 
• The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, by Carl R. Trueman 
• Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, by Christopher Yuan 
• “What Is the Opposite of Homosexuality? Why Marriage Is Not My Mission”, by Christopher Yuan
• Openness Unhindered, by Rosaria Butterfield 
• “A Safe Place for Sexual Sinners”, by Phillip Holmes, featuring Rosaria Butterfield
• “Against Heterosexuality”, by Michael W. Hannon

⭐  Get access to “So Much More Than Sex” — a video-based Bible Study Series for young adults that is focused on rediscovering God’s eternal purpose for human sexuality.

🔔 Follow for more Prepared to Answer, or subscribe on YouTube and hit that notification bell to get notified whenever we post new content

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