Why people today need church more than ever
 

Here are 7 reasons…

Meaning
There is something of a “meaning crisis” in our society because people are told that this is all there is, and life is all about them. It’s what 1 Peter 1 calls “the empty way of life handed down to us by our forefathers.” Young people are feeling the effects of this.  They need something bigger, greater, more substantial and spiritual to live for. 

Company
The UK recently appointed a minister for loneliness such is the problem across our nation. Sadly it’s teenagers and early 20s who are particularly lonely. In church people are noticed, welcomed, greeted, listened to, invited round for lunch.  We don’t do it perfectly but this is a wonderful thing in a lonely world. 
 
Unity
Society is fragmented in many ways, but church brings together people of different ages, backgrounds, and nationalities.  It’s miraculous (I often pinch myself) and it’s only possible because of Jesus.  The cross shows we’re equally sinners deserving hell and equally saved and heading to heaven.  God makes us a family.

Health
The average young person spends six hours on their phone each day!  It’s easy entertainment, and feels safer than reality, but it’s totally dehumanising and unhealthy.  Church is face to face, we sing, talk, we spend time in each other's company.  These are the normal things of human existence that are sadly now so rare – and we need them not least for our mental health.  Even the process of leaving the house every week to come out to a service is good for our health.  

Peace
Church is where we can bring all our worries to God because he cares for us. Prayer really is a remarkable privilege, and we often forget that.  Anxiety is everywhere but our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Inviting people to church gives them the chance to find God’s help themselves. 
 
Thankfulness
We live in negative and grumbling times (yes I am grumbling about that!). Praise is a great antidote for that. Taking time to sing, remember God’s goodness, and thank him is good for us, as well as honouring to God. 

Hope
We are all ageing and dying. No one else has an answer to that but we can face it with a risen Saviour. 
  
Behind all these lies the Lord.  We’re just ordinary people, gathering in a (sometimes) cold building.  But God is with us.  

So can you have some confidence to say to someone this month: “Would you like to come to church with me?”  Sometimes we can ask that like we’re inviting people to the dentist!  Or like they would be doing us the most enormous favour.  But actually it’s what they need. And so although I love outreach events and courses and socials, why not think of inviting straight to a Sunday morning. We try to make every Sunday accessible and we’re finding people coming in and saying that they are enjoying it!