The Lost “We” of Christian Worship: Is “Me and God” Prayer Forming a Shallow Church?

About this sermon

In this episode, I ask a question I can’t shake: how much of Babylon has gotten into our thinking? I’m talking about consumerism, platform-driven church culture, and the subtle ways “Christian” language can cover something that’s slowly becoming… something else. I contrast how much of evangelical prayer can become “me and God,” while historic traditions remind us of “us and God”—a communal “we” that changes the entire spiritual dynamic. We also explore why there’s a quiet, surprising growth happening in the Orthodox world—especially among people who are tired of constant trends, rotating personalities, and shallow attachments. From Ignatius of Antioch (around 107 AD) to the early church’s emphasis on bishop and Eucharist, we dig into why these weren’t just administrative ideas, but deeply theological anchors meant to protect unity, doctrine, and real spiritual fathering. And then I get personal: what do you do when you’re looking for a place of attachment—when you’re trying to figure out where you belong in the family of God? We talk about “tribes” within the universal body of Christ, how tradition can offer a sturdy home without becoming exclusive, and why the big question underneath all of this is simple—and unsettling: Is what we’re building today truly the Church… or an idiosyncratic substitute wearing the name of Jesus? Chapters: 00:10 Consumerism & “Babylon” in Christian Thinking 01:00 Why Some Evangelicals Are Flocking to Orthodoxy 01:40 Bishop + Eucharist: What Changed in Him 02:37 Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD) and the Early Church Pattern 03:39 Why Authority & Eucharist Were Meant to Protect the Church 05:02 Apostolic Succession: Structure or Living Faith? 06:46 The Problem With History (And Why We Still Need It) 07:24 When the Church Becomes an Institution 08:30 The Church as Eucharistic Community & Body of Christ 09:05 Belonging, “Tribes,” and the Big Question: Is This Really the Church? 11:02 Identity Beyond Denominations: Following Jesus First 12:55 Is This Truly the Church—or Something Else Entirely? Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertrstearns/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertrstearns/ Don't forget to PUSH THE BELL to get NOTIFICATIONS of new and upcoming videos.

Topics

• Prayer
• Suffering & Trials
• Worship
• Church & Fellowship
• The Church