2 days ago
Monday, February 11, 2008
My very cool church
The western church has always bothered me a bit. I bothers me how everybody gathers in a building, listens to someone talk for an hour & then leaves, w/very little connection or interaction. It just doesn't seem like the community or unity that the Bible talks about. Well, Our church recently changed the way it does things. Instead of just the traditional service in the morning, they've added a 2nd service in the evening (same topic for the sermon, just a different format). so instead of the usual: arriving at church, sitting in your seat to listen to a sermon, & then leaving; we have dinner together. So we all sit down at round tables & begin the evening w/some praise/worship. Then the pastor puts some discussion questions on a screen & we all have dinner & discuss the topic. afterward, he'll give a shortened version of the morning's sermon. It's very cool, because there are people in our church that we see every sunday, but hardly say two words to. Now, we actually talk and get to know each other, and share our needs & pray. in my humble opinion, this is what church *should* be like! I've so enjoyed getting to know and connect w/people who i've seen in church for years, but hardly spoken to. I love it!
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7 comments:
Amen! We were just talking about the end of Acts 2 in our small group last night! I do long for that kind of church...how Christ intended it to be. Our conclusion was to focus on relationships and be very involved w/ your small group. I do intend to pursue it further, brainstorming on how to work towards that kind of community...
Good for your church, Kari. I am so disappointed in churches these days. Glad to hear some of them "get" it!
That sounds like a great idea and fun. Our church has "small groups" too and I think that helps a lot, but you still only get to know a handful of people.
That sounds fantastic! I would love that. Except as I'm typing that I would love that, I can also see myself on some Sunday's just "not being in the mood" so to speak. But, the reason for not being in the mood would be because I would see it as yet another arena for people to have to be fake. I'd rather not discuss if it wasn't going to be real and authentic. Most people are so afraid of being transparent that those settings don't work because they give "church" answers. I do pray that this new set-up at your church works in helping the body to grow. Keep it real and hopefully others will follow your lead! Blessing on you today!
yah, Glenna - that's what I like about this. It's more than just small groups, b/c you sit w/different people each time. :)
Interesting thoughts, Rachel. From what I've seen, people have been pretty genuine. The questions are such, that you can be as deep or as shallow as you want. - but the thing i've noticed is that the people who attend that service are the ones who apreciate the ability to connect and go deeper. i often learn just as much (if not more) from what the people at my table share, as I do from the sermon. so fun! :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I like you. ;~)
We have been doing that format for 5 years now at Aqueous and I love it... I could never go back to the old way of church, I absolutely love it!!
i know, Kristin! i just loved what you guys do at aqueous when i came to visit. .. can't understand why more churches don't do that.
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