Is it either or both?
If you create a church where what is preached is only ever aimed at the "unchurched," then how to you equip and inspire the christians to "do the work of ministry" themselves? I heard one well known preacher say many years ago to the members of his church " your job is to bring the people here to listen to me preaching and I'll get them saved." Is all they are good for?
Can you preach in such away that it builds the body and speaks to the unchurched as well? I want to see people converted in CFC every week. But the people of God have to connect with their circle of influence at work, school etc. Yes they have to be confident that if they bring unchurched people to CFC, they won't be put off and they will hear something that will move them along in their spiritual journey.
Maybe it's other things that surround the singing and preaching bit that are off putting. Any observations?
posted by Paul Reid at 6:09 PM
8 Comments:
Jesus did weird stuff - he put mud and spit in someone's eyes, called people stinking tombs and raised folk from the dead - yet thousands flocked to hear him. Why? Because he was authentic. We can't be afraid that God is going to do stuff we don't expect - otherwise he wouldn't be God, however we have to be similarly authentic and be prepared to say whether something is real or just weird. We have to explain what is happening and not just assume folk understand what is going on. I remember my first pentecostal service - 2 hours long, tongues and strange dancing - it wasn't what was happening that was hard it was that everyone seemed to know what to do and I didn't.
9:47 PM
the church is the body - it can function different ways. church is not meant to be a monolitihic expression but a multifaceted expression of who God is through many members.
10:01 AM
I see what your saying Paul - we all want a church where the Spirit is free to work and where the preaching is Biblical and has a bit of depth. Yet we want somewhere that we are comfortable to bring our unchurched friends knowing that we won't freak them out with our wierd stuff. I think as long as the communication is good and the teaching is relevant we don't have to worry. Humour also brings down barriers. And humanness - being able to laugh at yourself as you preach and show that you've the same struggles as the guy in the pew who hasn't been at church in 40 years.
The other thing is - how welcome do we make people feel when they come in. As cheesy as it can be its good to get people to turn round and say hi to someone they don't know. It gives at least one positive (hopefully!!) contact.
Keep doing wheat you're doing Paul.
9:47 AM
How come we've got stuck in this singing and preaching mode only? How about breaking out of the box and moving beyond some pop songs and a long sermon?
How relevant is this to people today anyway?
any thoughts?
3:53 PM
I agree with the last blogger. We need to think outside the box and not get stuck in a culturally dictated format. I loved Pricilla's drama as Elizabeth on Sunday - what an illustration of the reality and humanity of Christ. She brought the story to life for me - I felt like I was there. Visual and creative approaches like this stick in our heads long after the event and speak to us in a way that words alone can't do.
11:56 AM
Thank you fellow "out of the box"er I thought it was just me out there! For a lot of people the preaching technique of teaching isnt effective. This method is aimed at our brains only and there is only so much they can take in before overload occurs! When you think of all the various ways people are communicating nowadays I think a re-think is needed in how we encourage people to connect with God. Preaching is passive and dare I say it easy but unfortunately it is easily forgettable too.
Its a shame these postings arent appearing on the website!
2:20 PM
Perhaps a mixture of both is the answer so that everyone will have a chance to connect with God. People who normally don't come to church and are unused to sitting for 40 mins listening to a sermon may get something out of a drama, dance or a testimony. On the other hand perhaps the most important thing is making a place where the Spirit of God is welcome - after all isn't that the main point?
3:38 PM
A lot of people could sit for 40 minutes and listen to Billy Connoly or other comedians, I am not saying that I do. But the high level of communication skills that they display holds and entertains an audience. I know preaching is more than entertaining, it's about communicating truth, I do think a good preacher can teach christian and challenge pre-christians all in the same talk. The problem is that there are not that many preachers who constantly work on their style and try to get better and better. If you havn't got a good preacher try a different approach. Paul your a good preacher you can challenge both.
9:08 AM
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