Have you begun to notice that among young adults there are the beginnings of a disconnect with church. There isn’t a mass exodus in the works or anything so dramatic, but there is the sense of a desire for something more. In a recent survey completed by the Barna Group, only 33% of teenagers regularly attend church. We know that young adults probably have a slightly higher percentage, maybe in the 40% range, but still there are a great many who don't attend regularly. This is evidenced based on the increasingly popular practice of "church hopping" where a young adult will visit numerous churches throughout the month, getting that "church fix" but never really connecting in any meaningful way.

According to a recent article in TIME magazine, several youth pastors have discovered that young people want simple scriptural lessons and Bible study groups as opposed to something "flashy" or "trendy" as has happened in the past. The "mass market church" model just isn't working with today's young adults. It seems that we have a craving for close, personal connections, both with each other and with God. In a very real sense, there is an earnest desire for the type of church community outlined by Luke in the book of Acts.

Based on Acts 2:42, there are four key components to the entire service (outlined in scriptural order, but equally important):

1) Studying Together: How can we hope to learn anything without a little bit of study? We aren’t born knowing how to do Algebra, but with study and practice we can perform the calculations (sometimes not long after the test is over, but still). An obvious parallel from Acts is a small group class or Bible study, where there is feedback and ideas from all participants on each point in the study. It makes everyone feel as if they have a say and that their opinion matters, whether they're teaching or not. And it's a good way to get personal questions answered when it comes to scriptural concepts applied in real life.

2) Fellowship: This is something that, for most people, doesn't happen enough in the modern church (regardless of denomination). It is purposeful interaction with other people, be they the people in your Bible study group, the person sitting next to you in your pew, or your surrounding community. That last part is a key one, and one that is often overlooked. It’s not enough that we get to know just those "in the bubble” but to have fellowship with the surrounding community. Something as simple as doing yard work for an elderly person will both show the love of God to that person and help the bonds of fellowship grow deeper in the church community. If Jesus is our role model, and Jesus made service to others a key portion of His ministry, shouldn’t we? St. Francis said it best: "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

3) Breaking Bread Together: Beyond just the ceremonial Communion, sharing a meal together is vitally important in developing interpersonal relationships. It doesn't have to just be something like a large potluck, but maybe a few people getting together for a bite at Taco Bell randomly in the week It can’t be a coincidence that the majority of first (and second and third) dates involve grabbing some sort of food item, be it a meal or just coffee. There is just a certain kind of bonding that goes on over a meal shared together, be it at the Olive Garden or in someone's home. A couple of years ago a few people at Deeper service tried a new concept where they had people sign up to be a host home and others sign up to be participants in a most unusual style of potluck. After people had signed up to be either a host or a participant, the leaders divided the participants up randomly. The idea was to allow people to meet people they didn't know before, and the response to such a small thing as that was overwhelming, and people genuinely were excited and wanted to do it again! Something so simple as a shared meal.

4) Praying Together: No spiritual group who wants to grow with each other and with God can do so without talking to God. Personal prayer is always important, but there is something to be said for praying unselfishly for others. Imagine a small group that prayed together regularly, for God to heal Phil's sick grandmother, that He help Jenny find a job, to thank Him for John and Sarah's new baby. It takes prayer to another level by making it intentional. Jesus prayed fervently for His disciples (John 15) and He encourages us to pray with and for each other. Additionally, praying together will help build another important part of a vibrant community, that of trust. When we start trusting each other with things that trouble us, there is a cathartic weight that is lifted. Something that seemed insurmountable alone no longer seems quite so impossible in the company of friends.

Does any of this sound interesting to you? Do you find yourself wishing that you could be a part of a group like that? Now there is: 242

Visit us each Saturday morning at 9:50 in the FLA Classroom Building, Room #101, or e-mail us at 242@deeperfaith.org for more information!