Has the North American Church Gotten It Wrong? A Story of Awakening.

Has the North American Church Gotten It Wrong? 

A Story of Awakening.

For centuries, the North American church has largely followed a familiar pattern. Sunday services, Sunday school, midweek programs… the routine is deeply ingrained. But what if this well-worn path isn't the one we're meant to be on? What if, in our adherence to tradition, we've missed something vital?

For many, the word "church" now evokes images of stuffiness, boredom, and stale religiosity. But the New Testament church was anything but! It was a vibrant, dynamic community of believers, deeply connected and actively living out their faith. So how do we bridge the gap? How do we recapture that original spark?

I want to share a story about a church in New Jersey that's actively seeking to answer those very questions – and they're already seeing incredible results.

For the past three weeks, this church has embarked on a journey of rediscovery, using Awakening The Sleeping Giant: A Guide to Living Out the New Testament Church as their guide. They meet on Friday evenings, delving into the book, wrestling with the pre-chapter and post-chapter questions designed to challenge their preconceived notions about what church should be.

Like many traditional North American churches, their past was marked by the usual Sunday services, Sunday school, and various weekly programs. Baptisms were infrequent, and a sense of routine had settled in.

But something is shifting. Just this past week, something remarkable happened. Church members spontaneously decided to spend time together outside of any organized church event. This might seem like a small thing, but for this community, it was a significant step – something they hadn't done in a long time, perhaps ever. They shared a meal, played games, and simply enjoyed each other's company as the church.

They're beginning to grasp a profound truth: being the church isn't just about attending a weekly service and learning from the Bible. It's about cultivating a genuine community of believers who love, support, and care for one another in tangible ways.

And the results speak for themselves. In just three short weeks of embracing this new perspective:

  • People have re-committed themselves to actively participating in the church community.
  • Two individuals have expressed a desire to be baptized.
  • The barriers of religious self-righteousness are beginning to crumble.
  • Even the children are excited to be part of this revitalized church experience.

For too long, we've allowed church to become a complicated, impersonal religious act. But that's changing. It's time to awaken the sleeping giant within the North American church. It's time to rediscover the vibrant, life-changing community of faith that was the hallmark of the New Testament church. This story from New Jersey is a powerful reminder that it's possible – and it's happening now.



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