On the other side, a church unchurched people love to attend will attract both the churched and unchurched in the community and, in doing so, create a healthy dynamic with a wealth of opportunities for each group to engage and grow together.
3. Small groups and community.
Sure, a church of any kind can create a semblance of community, but a community creating spiritual growth will be difficult for a church intended only for the unchurched.
In my opinion, a healthy spiritual community is homogenous in purpose (direction) but varied in perspective and growth. For this to occur, a community must contain a variety of people at varying spiritual depths.
4. Serving.
Is it even possible for a church for unchurched people to operate and expand? Who will take on teaching roles? Pastoral roles? Who models servant leadership?
Without church people, a church will find it difficult to fill key lay-leadership roles. And without these roles, a church is not scalable.
5. Giving.
Unchurched people do not give. Generosity is a spiritual issue, not a financial issue.
In a church, all attendees must be funded, but unchurched people typically do not even fund their own attendance, much less contribute to the financial vision for others.
This might be the biggest obstacle for churches intended only for the unchurched.
6. Biblical.
Biblically, the church was created to both reach and grow people in their relationship with Jesus. When we create a church unchurched people love to attend, we can do that successfully with everyone in the community. When the church is created only with unchurched people, we abdicate part of the church’s mission.
So, what kind of church are you creating?
Remember—there’s a big difference between a “church for the the unchurched” and a “church unchurched people love to attend.” Finding the balance can be tough, but it’s worth the effort, because the church is fulfilled best in the context of both reaching and growing all the people in our communities.