Rainer on Leadership The Burge Report: How Church Attendance Makes You a Better American
Social capital refers to the unseen connections that unite individuals within a local community. It inspires people to support the local school system even if they don’t have children or to volunteer for a city park cleanup even if they rarely visit it. It’s the cohesive force that strengthens society and sustains a thriving democracy. Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss the connection between social capital and church attendance and how being active in church makes you a better person for your community and nation.
-
- In the early 2000s, houses of worship were considered one of the last remaining engines of social capital in the United States. What happened?
- Trust is at an all-time low. In the most recent data collected in 2022, the share of Americans who said other people could be trusted reached an all-time low of just 26%.
- Why are evangelicals a skeptical group? And does church attendance help or hurt this skepticism?
- What does the future hold for social capital and the church?
Resources:
- “Bowling Alone” by Robert Putnam (affiliate link)
Episode Sponsors:
- We are excited to be partnering with Upward Sports in 2025. Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, partnering with local churches to use sports as a powerful outreach tool to engage the community.
- To remind our listeners, Upward offers a variety of league options, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball… and now running for adults.
- Partnering with Upward Sports helps your church reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel in a meaningful way.
- At Upward, they will customize your sports outreach strategy to fit your church’s budget, and community needs because we know one size doesn’t fit all.
- Kick off 2025 with purpose—use sports to fuel your outreach ministry!
- Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Whether you have a gym, field space, or access to a facility, Upward Sports can help. We’re here to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, and intentional outreach ministry that tells families, “You are welcome here!”
- Whether you’re building on an existing sports ministry or starting fresh, check out Upward Sports.
- Schedule your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers
Dive into a deeper, more enriching Bible study experience with the Filament Bible app. Seamlessly connect every page of your Filament-enabled Bible to a treasure trove of resources.
-
- Unlock 25,000 study notes, 350 videos, 40 interactive maps and infographics, 400 profiles and articles, 1,500 devotionals, various audio Bible options, reading plans, worship music, and so much more—right at your fingertips!
- Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection.
- Learn more at FilamentBibles.com.
The post The Burge Report: How Church Attendance Makes You a Better American appeared first on Church Answers.