Dear Black Church,
Aren't you tired of people joining your memberships and then disappearing? Whenever people gathered for Jesus's teaching/preaching moments, they received both, a transformative lesson and expected corresponding practices. For example, in the "Sermon on the Mount," (Matthew chs. 5-7), the first 14 verses provide theoretical information to shape mindsets; then the following scriptures (15-28) and chapters 6-7 offer corresponding/ expected practices. He never gave lessons without either performing a practice or expecting corresponding practices from attendees. Jesus followed this lesson-to- practice method throughout his Kingdom of God crusade, throughout his crucifixion experience, throughout his resurrection, and throughout the empowering of the disciples to become Apostles that carried out Christ's same lesson/sermon-to-practice opportunities for which today's church has inherited. 
Aren't you tired of people joining your memberships and then disappearing? Whenever people gathered for Jesus's teaching/preaching moments, they received both, a transformative lesson and expected corresponding practices. For example, in the "Sermon on the Mount," (Matthew chs. 5-7), the first 14 verses provide theoretical information to shape mindsets; then the following scriptures (15-28) and chapters 6-7 offer corresponding/ expected practices. He never gave lessons without either performing a practice or expecting corresponding practices from attendees. Jesus followed this lesson-to- practice method throughout his Kingdom of God crusade, throughout his crucifixion experience, throughout his resurrection, and throughout the empowering of the disciples to become Apostles that carried out Christ's same lesson/sermon-to-practice opportunities for which today's church has inherited.
Black Church historians depict Postbellum African churches inherently following lesson-to-practice methods. Their practices resulted in the development of schools/colleges, employment, and public services, which, arguably, led to their reception of citizenship, voting rights, and Civil Rights. Today, in Black churches, without this immediate inclusion, people often loose purpose, then are religiously loss, then absent from the ranks of attendees. We Christian Leaders should "renew" this lesson-to-practice inherent paradigm, rather than giving endless sermons and Bible Study with very few practice expectations beyond attendance. I offer this sermon-to- practice opportunity to this lesson: In next Sunday's sermon responses, rather than solely praying for and taking responders' information, as a sermon-to- practice expectation, join the person(s) to a designated/ required "entrance ministry" (choir or ushering). Does it really matter whether a few new people can sing or offer perfect usher signaling? Are not the development their of faith, faithfulness, and relationships, the characteristics for developing people into strong Christians and/or faithful church members?
Dr. Troy L. Denson,
(Ph.D.), DMin, M.Div, M.Ed-Admin, MTS, BS
Executive Director of National Collaborative Institute of Leadership
www.ncileadership.org
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