Faith Is Rising—Attendance Isn’t
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Lee Cummings’ sermon from November 23, 2025!
Something fascinating is happening in our culture. More people, especially Gen Z, are identifying as believers in Jesus. Bible sales have risen by 37 percent in recent years (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Annual Bible Sales Report, 2022). Spiritual hunger is rising.
Yet, church attendance continues to decline (Pew Research Center, “Religion and Public Life,” 2023).
We love Jesus, but we are not sure about His church.
We are not living in a post-Christian culture so much as a post-ecclesial one. The issue is not unbelief; it is participation. We want faith without community, spirituality without commitment, Jesus without His body. But that disconnect comes at a cost.
1. The Church Is Vital for Our Unity
Jesus did not merely build the Church: He is the Church (Col. 1:18). When we put our faith in Him, we become part of a global, historic body that transcends time and culture. This is the “big C” Church.
Ephesians urges believers to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3 NRSV). Not uniformity, but unity. In John’s Gospel, Jesus prays that believers “may all be one,” so that the world would know the Father sent Him (John 17:21). Unity is our witness.
Christians may disagree on open-handed issues—baptism practices, communion methods, and end-times interpretations. But closed-handed truths unite us: the deity of Christ, the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith, His resurrection, and His promised return.
2. We Die Without Community
There is a difference between being part of the Church and being part of a church.
Acts records that the early believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). The Greek term koinōnia refers to shared life, not occasional togetherness but a pattern of living.
Nearly every New Testament letter is addressed to different churches, not isolated individuals. This highlights through Scripture that faith is meant to mature in community with other believers. Yet today, many of us approach church like a product. We look for the right fit, the right pastor, the right atmosphere.
The truth remains: there is no perfect church. Jesus does not perfect us in isolation: He perfects us in community. God uses imperfect people to mature us. Community shapes us, stretches us, and strengthens us. Isolation weakens us.
3. The Church Is Where We Practice Immunity
Forgiveness is not only vertical, between God and us. It is horizontal, between us and others.
Colossians instructs believers to clothe themselves “with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” forgiving one another as the Lord has forgiven them (Col. 3:12–13). James adds that confessing sins to one another brings healing (James 5:16).
Forgiveness becomes real when it happens between real people. And we are never more like Jesus than when we forgive someone who has wounded us (Luke 23:34). Church is not a gathering of perfect people. It is where forgiven people learn to forgive.
If you could fly a drone over any congregation on a Sunday morning, you would see ordinary people—flawed, inconsistent, messy. But beneath the surface, you would see a group of people being renewed in the midst of community. The Church is beautiful because the Church is the body of Christ, and Christ is beautiful.
Will we continue to believe that we can have Jesus without the Church, disconnected and disillusioned? Or will we believe that despite the imperfections, the Church is the very place God designed for us to heal and belong?
Tap to watch Pastor Lee Cummings’ full sermon on Youtube.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: United in Christ
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Devotional: The church isn’t just an organization—it’s the living body of Christ. Our unity comes from sharing the same Lord, faith, and Spirit. We won’t agree on everything, but we’re called to fight for unity, not division. Today, ask: Am I promoting unity or focusing on differences? Unity is a powerful witness to the world.
Day 2: The Fellowship of Believers
Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Devotional: The early church didn’t just attend services—they lived in community. Church isn’t about consuming; it’s about contributing. Isolation weakens us, but community strengthens us. Ask yourself: How am I investing in the church, not just receiving from it?
Day 3: The Perfecting Church
Reading: Hebrews 10:24-25
Devotional: There is no perfect church—only a church being perfected by Jesus. God uses imperfect people and difficult moments to shape our character. Don’t run from conflict; learn through it. The church is a hospital for broken people growing together.
Day 4: The Ministry of Forgiveness
Reading: Colossians 3:12-15
Devotional: Most hurt happens in relationships, and so does most healing. Forgiveness isn’t ignoring the wrong—it’s choosing grace over retaliation. You’re most like Jesus when you forgive. Today, is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from?
Day 5: Hidden Treasure in Clay Jars
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Devotional: The church may look ordinary, but beneath the surface is priceless spiritual treasure. God’s power shines through imperfect people. When lives are restored, healed, and redeemed—you’re seeing the beauty of Jesus in His church. Look beyond flaws and see the treasure God is forming.
There’s an opportunity for you to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. At Radiant Church, we’re passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and be part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.