The Summer Slump is a phrase pastors and church leaders use to describe the decline in attendance and giving that typically happens in churches during the summer months. As soon as school gets out for the summer, families start leaving town for family vacations, trips to grandparents' houses, summer camps, and trips to the lake. And most of the time, attendance at worship on Sundays is the victim along with regular giving.
While most families are not gone the entire summer, each week there are regularly at least a couple of families out each week. As a result, many church activities often take a hiatus during the summer. Activities for kids and students may take a break for the entire summer or at least a few weeks. Men's and women's bible studies and other small group Bible studies often pause for a season. Church budgets often have to be adjusted for the end of the year based on giving trajectories because of the Summer Slump.
All of these issues are concerning realities that pastors and church leaders have to contend with. But there is another Summer Slump that I want to encourage you to get out of. That is the Spiritual Summer Slump.
When the dog days of summer hit, we get lethargic about a lot of things in life. We don't want to go outside to do work on our house or in the yard. We stop going to the gym or going for a walk or taking a bike ride. We spend more time in the air conditioning. We may sleep in a little later. And, if we are not careful, that same lethargy can extend to our spiritual exercises. We get lazy about having our quiet time, going to church and worshiping and fellowshipping with other believers, spending time in faithful prayer.
So, let me give you three simple ways to maintain your spiritual health and avoid the Summer Slump: 1. Stay hydrated. Jesus said that he is the water of life, so when the heat of summer comes, don't spend less time drinking the water that is Jesus. Spend more time with him, time in the word, and time in prayer. 2. Eat healthy meals that won't weigh you down. Summer may not be the best time to do an intensive study on a deep theological issue, but that doesn't mean you quit studying the Bible altogether. Do a short Bible study on your own. Find a book that is encouraging and light-hearted. Read through some short books of the Bible. Pick out a short video series on Right Now Media to watch. Pick back up with the Gospels in 30 Bible reading plan on Youversion. 3. Get in regular but scaled-down exercise. When you are on a family trip, you may not have the same rhythms of Bible study, family devotions, or worship as you normally do, but you can still get in some meaningful times of worship. While you are on the road trip, let the kids introduce you to some of their favorite worship music and rock it with them. Listen to a Christian classic on audio like C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Find a Christian concert to take the family to. Take a weekend to binge watch "The Chosen" or The Lord of the Rings. Have a family discussion about plans for growing together spiritually once the summer is over.
Stay hydrated, eat healthy and light meals, and get regular but scaled-down exercise and avoid the Spiritual Summer Slump.
