The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 762 | The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know
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Oct 23, 2025 Explore why the attractional church model has lost its effectiveness and discover what’s replacing it. The discussion highlights three critical shifts that have emerged, including the rise of the digital church experience and the increasing spiritual openness among younger generations. Learn how churches can adapt to these changes by creating meaningful encounters and deepening preaching. The conversation emphasizes retaining valuable aspects of the past while meeting the evolving needs of today’s churchgoers.
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Why Attractional Church Worked
- Attractional church worked for a season because it used culture-friendly forms to make evangelism accessible.
- Carey Nieuwhof argues it was faithful to its moment and produced lasting disciples despite excesses.
From Organ To Band: 1990s Church Shift
- Carey recalls replacing organ and choir with bands and casual dress in the mid-1990s.
- That shift helped disrupt 'traditional' church and launch seeker-sensitive and attractional approaches.
Mass Copying Fueled Attractional Success
- The attractional era copied style, series, and songs across churches as social media rose.
- That made faith appealing and easy to invite people to for about two decades.