The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know

In this episode, Carey explains the shifts in culture and ministry that have happened over the last few years that have made the attractional model ineffective, what's replacing it, and what aspects of the attractional church model to keep as you try to reach your community.

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Welcome to The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, a podcast about leadership, change, and personal growth. I hope this episode helps you thrive in life and leadership.

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Intro Music:Song: Alexey Anisimov - Always Be Beautiful
Music provided by Tunetank.
Free Download: https://tunetank.com/track/4144-alway...
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🎥 Chapters
Introduction & Setting the Stage (00:00:00)
Reflects on past church model excesses and introduces the episode’s focus: why traditional church models aren’t working anymore.

Episode Overview & Sponsor Message (00:00:57)
Outlines the episode’s structure and presents a sponsor message about improving volunteer engagement in churches.

Ministry Models Through the Decades (00:03:11)
Explains how church models have evolved, from traditional to contemporary, and the rise of seeker-sensitive and attraction churches.

The Attraction Church Era (00:04:12)
Describes the characteristics and cultural context of attraction churches, including their growth and influence via social media.

Critique and Legacy of Attraction Church (00:06:10)
Discusses the excesses, effectiveness, and lasting impact of the attraction church model, and cautions against dismissing its contributions.

Cultural Shifts Post-2017 (00:08:15)
Identifies the cultural and ministry shifts starting around 2017, including the decline of the attraction model and the impact of COVID-19.

Three Major Shifts in Church Engagement (00:10:20)
Introduces three key changes: the move of the church foyer online, increased spiritual openness, and the desire for alternatives to culture.

Shift 1: The Foyer Moved Online (00:11:20)
Explains how the internet changed first impressions of church, making people arrive more informed and spiritually open.

Shift 2: Increased Spiritual Openness (00:12:20)
Highlights the rise in spiritual openness among Gen Z and millennials, contrasting with the previous era of New Atheism.

Shift 3: Desire for an Alternative to Culture (00:13:21)
Describes how younger generations now seek authentic spiritual alternatives rather than cultural echoes.

Implications for Church Ministry Models (00:14:19)
Discusses what these shifts mean for church leaders and the need to adapt ministry models to current realities.

Practical Shifts for Church Leaders (00:15:15)
Suggests actionable changes: bold prayer, deeper preaching, and designing for spiritual encounter over entertainment.

Balancing Depth and Accessibility (00:17:11)
Warns against becoming too insider-focused and emphasizes retaining valuable lessons from the attraction church era.

Onramps and Avoiding Insider Language (00:18:13)
Advises on making church accessible: assume intelligence, explain background, avoid jargon, and address real-life needs.

Conclusion & Next Episode Preview (00:21:02)
Summarizes key takeaways, encourages application, and previews upcoming podcast guests and topics.

Closing Remarks (00:22:00)
Provides information on show notes, the leadership academy, and upcoming episodes, and thanks listeners.