Reaching The Next Generation (Mark Driscoll)

Some time ago i was sent this link to an address by Mark Driscoll to the Sydney Anglicans. I've still got the mp3 and have listened to it a number of times.

He can be a bit controversial - tending to tell it like it is, rather than telling people what they want to hear. I like that style. He points out that:

Australian churches suppress young people.
(He started a church at 25. Our churches would never let that happen. At 25 you might be allowed do a bible reading - or take up the offering!)

The parish system is outdated
(after all it was invented in england before a world of cars and the internet)

Denominations are about control - young people are about influence
(perhaps being a friend/mentor/respected elder is better than the dictatorship approach)

Church leaders know their bible inside out, but are less familiar with the culture around them
(and therefore less able to communicate the message of Jesus to people of that culture)

Churches become instutions (or museums) rather than movements
(museum is a good word - remembering how good the past was, but not really doing anything constructive)

One of the major thoughts i took out of if was "What would a church do?" versus "what would a missionary do?". Essentially, a church has a building and gathers already-christians together. A missionary tries to help people by communicating the message of Jesus.

He finishes by referring to the movements of the past:

They were innovative in their day. You need to be innovative in your day. They found a way to faithfully serve God in their day. You need to find a way to faithfully serve God in your day.