Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church? E-Book

Jeremy Linneman

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: TGC Hard Questions
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Replacing Loneliness with a Biblical Vision of Belonging A local church should be a place of true community and connection—where people belong to God and one another. But in our individualistic culture, many Christians end up struggling with social isolation and loneliness. Lacking a sense of authentic belonging within the church, some eventually stop attending or question their faith altogether. How can believers overcome these negative cultural effects and restore the biblical vision of belonging in their churches today? In this concise booklet, author and pastor Jeremy Linneman encourages readers to pursue a life of fellowship through 5 practices: taking initiative in hospitality, being patient in building friendships, maintaining relational stability, persisting through conflict, and praying together. By understanding the human need for belonging and reflecting on Jesus's lifestyle of mission, ministry, and care, readers will be better equipped to build fruitful communities that bear witness to Christ's glory and purposes alone.  - Offers a Biblical Vision of Belonging: Shows how true belonging is only found in a local Christian community  - Useful for Church Leaders: Encourages church leaders to build needed spiritual communities that bear witness to Christ's glory alone - Short, Accessible Format: A concise biblical exploration of belonging and community - TGC Hard Questions Series: Equips readers with answers to difficult questions facing the modern church 

Leseprobe

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“There is no denying the perennial problems of loneliness, isolation, and lack of meaningful community in the local church. Jeremy Linneman has identified these problems and digs deeply into the root causes and, better still, a cure. If you are among the many who have been wounded by the church or have abandoned it altogether because you never felt genuinely connected, this short book is for you. It may well prove to be your first step back into the spiritual life of the body of Christ, the only place where meaningful community can be found.”

Sam Storms, Founder and President, Enjoying God Ministries

“This is like a heartfelt devotional with a call to respond. Jeremy Linneman gives us researched help for understanding why we’re often so lonely. Then he suggests practical steps for the hard but rewarding work of community building. Embedded with rich theology and the sure promises of God, these pages challenge us to practice and experience how we belong to God and to each other.”

Tasha Chapman, Professor of Educational Ministries, Covenant Theological Seminary; coauthor, The Politics of Ministry and Resilient Ministry

“From the first paragraph, Jeremy Linneman had me engaged in this important but overlooked topic. Reading on, I was encouraged by his insightful proposals to address the loneliness that is all too pervasive in the church. You will want not only to read this thoughtful work but also to employ its practical suggestions to develop and experience true belonging in your life and church.”

Nora Allison, former women’s ministry director; Retreat Speaker, Seminary Wives Institute

Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?

TGC Hard Questions

Jared Kennedy, Series Editor

Does God Care about Gender Identity?, Samuel D. Ferguson

Is Christianity Good for the World?, Sharon James

Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?, Jeremy Linneman

Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?

Jeremy Linneman

Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?

Copyright © 2023 by Jeremy Linneman

Published by Crossway1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Portions of this booklet build on the author’s online article “How Your Church Can Respond to the Loneliness Epidemic,” TGC, August 14, 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/.

Cover design: Ben Stafford

Cover images: Unsplash

First printing 2023

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated into any other language.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-9169-3 ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-9171-6 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-9170-9

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023939546

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2023-09-13 12:02:33 PM

Contents

Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?

Notes

Recommended Resources

Scripture Index

Not long ago,I sat with a friend as she described why she struggles with trusting the church anymore. She’s not leaving, but she feels hurt and is increasingly disconnected. A few months earlier, I talked with a couple who have attended our church sporadically for a few years. They liked it, they said, but they have so many issues with “the church” that they just need a break from it. Another friend still considers herself a believer but hasn’t attended church in several years and doesn’t plan to return anytime soon. I can think of countless other stories, and I’m guessing you can too.

The church in North America has been in decline for decades. Many researchers and organizations give two reasons. First, Christian beliefs have become increasingly unpopular in our secular culture. So, many churchgoers have dropped certain convictions or stopped attending altogether in order to maintain relationships outside the church. Second, the church’s moral reputation has been brought into question, as key leaders and political figures have claimed Christianity yet lived opposite to its teachings.

Although I’m sure these two reasons are important factors, I think there’s a different reason why many people are “deconstructing,” “deconverting,” or just simply leaving the church.

I believe the problem is a lack of belonging.

People don’t feel connected, known, or loved. So they leave.

My observations as a pastor drawing on my experience are, at best, anecdotal. But I have spoken with many pastors and believers who agree that belonging is the leading issue in the church. People reject Christianity not primarily because of our doctrine but because of our lack of intentionality in relationships. They’re leaving the church not mainly because of the failures of public figures but because their Christian neighbors aren’t loving. And while we should be concerned if people are leaving for any reason, we should be crushed that people are leaving for this one. I’m convinced that what the church most needs right now is deep, loving, Christ-shaped community.

Throughout this book, when I talk about church, I’m referring to the local church: a group of believers under the shepherding of its pastors and leaders, gathering for worship and (most likely) in smaller groups. When I talk about community