Sunday Message: What did we learn from the 1990's church...Jesus must increase.

The Neighborhood Church, Bentonville, AR

In this Mother's Day message, Pastor Joe explores the landscape of 1990s church culture. The message provides a look at how the church evolved, discussing church sizes from house churches to giga-churches, and the rise of multi-site church models. Pastor Joe shares some personal memories of growing up in the 90s church and serving every Sunday morning as an acolyte!

Drawing from John the Baptist's biblical example, Pastor Joe breaks down the text: "Jesus must increase, and we must decrease." The sermon challenges listeners to move beyond passive church attendance to active discipleship, encouraging them to ask two pivotal questions: "What is my next step in my relationship with God?" and "Who am I discipling?"

The message was also on Mother's Day, and Pastor Joe acknowledged the complex and varied experiences of motherhood. Pastor Joe called for empathy and understanding, recognizing that this day means different things to different people.

Key Takeaways:
1. Church growth should be relational, not just numerical
2. Discipleship is about actively seeking your next spiritual step
3. Churches should support each other's kingdom goals, not compete
4. Personal faith is defined by your relationship with Jesus
5. Every Christian is called to disciple others, not just attend church

This message serves as a call to relational, kingdom-focused Christianity that prioritizes spiritual growth and community over institutional boundaries.

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Chapters

1. Introduction and Mother's Day Reflection (00:00:00)

2. 90s Church Culture and Personal Memories (00:07:02)

3. 1990's Church Size and Multi-Site Models (00:16:15)

4. Reading from John chapter 3 Exploring John the Baptist's relationship with Jesus (00:22:08)

5. Discipleship and Personal Growth (00:24:15)

6. "What is your next step?" and "Who are you discipling?" (00:26:08)