Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore: And How 4 Acts of Love Will Make Your Church Irresistible

by Thom Schultz

This book will forever change the way you think about church! The statistics are clear: The American church is in decline. People are leaving in astounding numbers, with no sign of a turnaround. And despite church leaders’ best efforts to stem the tide, more than 80 percent of people are finding something better to do on Sunday mornings. Why? Is there hope for the future of the church? In this groundbreaking new book, Thom and Joani Schultz expose the church practices that are driving people away and thwarting spiritual growth. Yet they also reveal what can bring them back—the four keys to reaching the “unchurched” and the “dechurched.” The bad news? Your church is probably missing the mark when it comes to the core of Christianity. The good news? There’s hope. Lots of it. The truth may surprise you…but it can also transform your ministry into something truly irresistible.
This video-enhanced book includes full-color photography, links to additional content, and 28 videos where you'll hear real responses from people on why they aren’t going to church.

Genres: Church, Christianity, Leadership, Evangelism, Nonfiction, Religion

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Leon Bloder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Thom and Joani Schultz' new book Why Nobody Wants To Go To Church Anymore: And How 4 Acts of Love Will Make Your Church Irresistible. Seriously. I very seldom read a book about the Church and churchiness that I feel like buying in bulk and distributing to every pastor friend, elder, church leader that I know. This is one such book. What the Schultz's realized as they began working with hundreds of Lifetree Cafe programs all over the country (and around the world), is that each of the four acts of love they identify in their book seem to counter the top four deadly reasons that people are giving as to why they don't want to go to church any more. If you are a church leader, your church doesn't need a Lifetree Cafe ministry to make these four acts a reality in your congregation (although it's not a bad idea). In fact, the Schultz's offer up some incredible advice to church leaders on how to implement the four acts of love into their own ministries---advice that is well worth heeding. I highly recommend getting a copy of Why Nobody Wants To Go To Church Anymore, and if you are a church leader I recommend getting several copies for your staff and elders to read as well.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After someone from one of my churches ask if I had read this or had a copy I picked up copies for both of us and started reading. Since I am quickly becoming part of the old segment of the church I knew that I would be challenged by the material and have to look at ministry differently. I was right and so will every church leader no matter what age.

The title drew me in but the material challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting. As a pastor what I am discovering is that most are not interested in going to the church building but are still attracted to the church, the followers of Jesus, and will go wherever they can be found.

I am looking for ways to make what I learned here in my communities and looking at what I can learn that can be used both inside and outside the church building. This will challenge you to think about how you can impact your community and maybe require you to change some ways of thinking.

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book started out really well with a call to heed the changes in our culture and the necessity of the church in being aware of these changes and willing to adapt its methods.

I may or may not post some highlights from the book here. However, I agree with most of the other reviews that this book is a promo for Lifetree Cafe, Group workcamps and VBS materials. At least half the book is a promo for the material. I read the book because it is supposed to be the focus of a conference I am going to in a few weeks. Hopefully, we can weed through the promos and get to the heart of the discussion.


Here are some of the more insightful highlights:
Basic Needs of Americans 1. The need to believe life is meaningful and has a purpose. 2. The need for a sense of community and deeper relationships. 3. The need to be listened to and to be heard. 4. The need to feel one is growing in faith. 5. The need to be appreciated and respected. 6. The need for practical help in developing a mature faith. (p. 41).


The typical Sunday morning service of half lecture and half sing-along isn’t a useful way for them to connect with God. It doesn’t matter how carefully the preacher prepares or delivers the sermon or how well the musicians perform. That formula just doesn’t work for most people anymore. If today’s church wants to reach beyond the shrinking church-inclined attendees, it will need to consider new and different ways to engage people. (pp. 66-67).


...people outside the church aren’t opposed to God. They’re just suspicious and tired of the way church (as we know it) has been packaged.(p. 81).



There were many other quotes from the book which were restatements or quotations from other works on the subject

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Schultzes have written a book that could have been very good. But, in the end, it was an infomercial for their Lifetree Cafe product which seems to have fizzled. They have 52 videos available from the project, but they are for Bible Studies and other churchy venues. This seems to me to be a complete sell-out. There is fundamental analysis and corrective ideas for the church that could be useful, but they are subsumed in an attempt to sell a product.
Further, there is an attitude that “whatever works” is what you should do. And if it doesn’t work (according to the authors' opinion), then it should not be done. For example, a recurring theme promotes getting rid of preaching. First, there is a misunderstanding of preaching. The authors assume it is for transferring information to hearers instead of transformative purposes. Second, the Bible is clear that preaching is an avenue ordained by God, even if it is in many respects foolishness. The book's position is that the biblical mandate for preaching is irrelevant because the information in a sermon is largely not retained in people’s memories. Their appeals to provide avenues for people to converse is well taken, but that doesn’t preclude a place for preaching. There are other lapses of logic like this throughout the book. In the end, I cannot recommend the book because of its illogical premise and, more importantly, its heavy-handed sales pitch for Group Publishing products.

[Tanya Shearin]

In a sense, this book is Group Publishing autobiography about how they got started and what successes (and failures) they have encountered along the way. However, it is much more than that. Why Nobody Wants to go to Church Anymore is, indeed, is a look into why people have an aversion to church and churchgoers and how the church can respond to that aversion. It is a look at the state of the church "today". I say that because the book is somewhat dated given that the polls taken and reviewed occurred in the early to mid-2000s with the book being written in 2013. Now, 10+ years later, we are looking at some of the same reasoning behind why people say they no longer attend church. The book goes beyond identifying the problem to proposing solutions that draw people not just to the church, but more importantly to Jesus Christ himself. These solutions are tried and tested ideas that Group creators and book authors, Thom & Joani Schultz, along with their team have found to succeed in helping overcome barriers to faith. They identify attitudes and postures of church going people that have kept unbelievers or even believers from seeking faith in Christ (or seeking further growth, if a believer) and suggest doable steps the church can take to reach people of all types with the Gospel message IF we have the boldness to say "yes" to trying something that may be uncomfortable or out of the norm.

[Kimberly DuBois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Church Council spent the last year reading and discussing this book. We learned many fresh ideas to perhaps make church/worship more relevant and engaging. While the authors promote their Lifetree Cafe program, there were many practical, doable suggestions that could be implemented a little at a time. And the fact that many/most churches have lower numbers of members says that it’s time to change the traditional approach to worship. Definitely worth reading!

[Stephani Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thoughts on how we can engage our culture with love. May not be immediately feasible but can be adapted to fit other situations. Thought provoking at the very least.

[Joey Peacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outrageous ideas that have potential if adopted. Some good preaching suggestions.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book borne out of the authors time spent researching in the field and years of experience in the Christian publishing business. Much of their reasoning as to why people don't want to go to church anymore, resonated with me and my experience in the church with those who leave disenchanted. Just some of the more insightful comments in the book include:

"...the need for new questioning--of Christian institutions as well as ideas and priorities--is as real as the crisis is deep." (p. 14)

"Like the overweight, we in the church like to shift the responsibility to something or someone else: declining morality, Sunday sports, bad parenting, bad attitudes, lack of commitment, the media, technology, busy schedules, the economy, Satan, unstable global influences, the Internet..." (p. 17)

"...our laser focus on education was a distraction. That's because faith is not a subject." (p.19)

"Is anyone in the church asking people why they skip Sunday morning church?" (p. 21)

"We could fill this book with the reasons (reasons,not excuses) people say they don't go to church." (p.22) It's here that the authors suggest that readers go out and interview people on a Sunday morning and find out why they don't go to church and then discuss the findings with church leaders. Out of the authors' own research, they found four major reasons. They are:

1. "I feel judged."
2. "I don't want to be lectured."
3. "Church people are a bunch of hypocrites."
4. "Your God is irrelevant to my life. But I'd like to know there is a God and he cares about me."

The authors then flesh out each of these reasons, rather than using the usual knee-jerk response I'm so accustomed to hearing from some Christians.

From there they discuss what they refer to as the 4 Acts of Love that will transform people's experience with the Church. Those four acts are: Radical Hospitality, Fearless Conversations, Genuine Humility and Divine Anticipation. The authors outline very practical ways to enact each of these acts of love.

They really do make sense and have the potential to draw or draw back people into the Church. And the authors aren't just betting on it; they have experience in their own business and ministry that bears out the results.

[Al Gritten · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot in this short book and it will take some time to digest it all. Some of the information is very good and can be utilized, not just by pastors but by other leaders as well, to begin to make some changes that could take the church forward into a new century and a new era. I think they make some excellent points about the need for us to remodel - not the building, but the way we actually do church. Church has not always been what it is today and the notion that there is something sacred about the method of doing church is misguided. Some of the things they suggest are a bit drastic and some would be easier to do in a new church start rather than try to overlay in an established church. In fact, my thought as I was reading was that in an established church, it might be easier to create a second worship based around their model than to try and bring that model into existing structures. I have seen this model before within my own denomination (Christian - Disciples) where it is called World Cafe. The group model is Lifetree Cafe. I like the model, but for those who are, say over 50 or so and used to traditional worship, this model would be a major departure for them, and would meet with serious resistance. Now, the draw back to the book is that while it is a great look at a new model for church and at some of the reasons for using a new model, it is also a long advertisement for their program (Lifetree Cafe) and that detracts from the book. I am not sure how you would create this without that though as that is the example that they work from. The book is very readable with lots of examples of ways to do what they suggest and the four acts of love are an excellent approach to being church, so it is well worth a look. And even if your church is not a place to implement this model as they offer it, there are ways to implement aspects of it and of the 4 acts of love without fully embracing the model.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concepts presented in the book and found myself nodding in agreement several times. It is a message every church needs to hear. The reason I only gave it 3 stars is due to the blatant self-promotion for Lifetree Cafe and Group stuff. At times, I felt like I was reading an infomercial. Also, I found the constant typeface changes and sidebars to be a distraction that slowed me down from reading the book.

[Jeff Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This issue is becoming more and more popular in forums, books, and blogs, and as such, I often find conjecture to be at the core of every premise and hypothesis.

After reading the title and subtitle, I feared this might be another anecdotal approach to addressing these serious problems.

However, what I found after reading this book, was a well-researched assessment on what is [and has been] taking place in the church (both, the institution and the body).

The book is replete with research and statistics, strung together with unique insights that will get you to think about things in a different way.

Regarding the Four Acts of Love, there is more than meets the eye. My caution to readers is to not do as I initially did, and assume that I knew what each 'act,' meant because the terms were familiar. There is so much more to it, and with great intentionality in each of these four areas, my church body too can become irresistible!

For those serious about changing the trajectory of their church, this is a MUST READ!

[Rachel Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sobering, yet inspiring read about (young) people leaving the church in massive numbers. And it's not because they don't believe in God anymore, it's because they don't believe in the church anymore. Thom and Joani Schultz (he's the founder of Group Publishing) offer a sharp, yet loving analysis of where the church went wrong, but they also offer insights into what the church can do to make it right. Many of their examples come from their 'baby', the Lifetree Cafe and that's one of the few downsides of this book. While I agree completely with the analysis of what went wrong and what the church needs to change, somehow the suggestion is that a form like the Lifetree Cafe is the answer to all problems. I think it's a brilliant idea, but not the only way to meet the four 'acts of love' the authors describe. Certainly there is more than one method, approach, or idea that will attract people to the church, while incorporating those four acts of love. Other than that, I loved the book, It's well written and has many inspiring and touching stories.

[Andy Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book! The authors discuss why modern church services don't resonate with most people today. While 30% of those who go to church like modern services, the rest (including those who have never been to church) are looking for something more. People want a relationship. They want to know that their concerns and questions have a place, and that they are accepted flaws and all.

In this book, you'll discover a new format for service and new ideas to try at your church. These are fundamental changes. Are you more concerned with keeping your building clean, or building a relationship with someone who's never known Jesus? Would you rather increase your numbers, or introduce the "unchurched" to Jesus?

I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with God in our world today.

[Shaun Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book's exciting layout with the many diagrams and eye-catching design was novel at first, but after 150 it became kind of kiddy. Not too appropriate for a book address a serious topic. The hard selling of the lifetree cafe eventually turned me off, and I could not read past 120 pages, after which i just sped read through the headlines of each section. If the authors mentioned the lifetree cafe concept only a couple of times in the book, it could have gotten maybe a few more stars. But it way way overkill. Perhaps if they were more honest in their ambush marketing (by perhaps having more information on the subtitle), to warn us readers of what it is to come, we would not feel like we had been taken for a ride. But then, the book probably wont have too many buyers picking it up. =D

I cannot recommend this book.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of books out there that bash the church. It's an easy target, and it's not too hard to understand why fewer and fewer people are involved in church these days. This book, however, digs into the honest reasons most people avoid church, as well as some really practical things churches can do to engage people again. Most of the book (10 of the 13 chapters) focuses on the solution, which involves loving people through "radical hospitality, fearless conversation, genuine humility, and divine anticipation." I was left with the strong impression that if churches actually tried these new practices, they might actually work. It's a must-read for anyone who has an interest in church ministry.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some readers will be offended by analyses, by the author, of current church practice. And, sometimes the book feels like a print infomercial for the LifeTree Cafe program. Yet, the author offers solid suggestions and a solid-looking plan (LifeTree Cafe) to address the fact that the church is in decline.

I was in essential agreement with the book, and certainly appreciate the spirit of tha author, Thom Schultz. He brings years of experience and the LifeTree Cafes are bearing marvelous fruit around the country. I like the emphasis on simplicity, relational connection, uncomplicating the gospel, and bringing the love of Jesus to people who are scarcely likely to ever enter a church building.

[Rebecca Morris hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will take you through a journey that will mimic many same church experiences we have all encountered in the last two decades. You will laugh about fog machines, shake your fists at references to front row "pastor parking" and start to take in some very practical "a-ha" moments of what the core of the issue really is.

And then you won't stop there. If you care about the church, you work for a church, volunteer for a church or regularly attend a church you will want everyone from your leaders to your regular attendees to read and discuss this book.

The fact of the matter is that church in America has become broken, but we can work together and find a way to fix it.

[J Rife · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors had some excellent ideas on how to connect to people and communities around matters of faith. There did seem to be an element of worship missing from their events as described in the book. In addition, I found some of the travelogue to be unnecessary in relation to the subject matter. Overall an accessible book and a good way to start people thinking about how different their church could be.

[Teresa Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful look into the declining trend of most churches. I did feel that a good bit of the book is about promoting Lifetree Cafe and Group VBS and other materials. I would still recommend the book to anyone who is concerned about the dimishing church involvement.

[Andy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but brief analysis of the underlying problems. Majority of the book is the author's proposed solution.

[Valerie Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

the premise of the book is agreeable. It's written like a 'how to' or 'guide to fix your church'. I just don't like when a book is one long commercial for a new product.

[Dave Zuchelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, interesting take on different strategies for evangelism and church growth.

[Nancy Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occasionally feels like it's pitching its own product, but overall a very helpful guide with findings that make sense. Well worth the read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about Lifetree Cafe, a place where Christians and unchurched people can come together to discuss various topics and God-sightings.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent research and great solutions to a big problem.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from a very particular perspective on how to engage folks