My 14 year old son used to tell me when the service or
the sermon I was responsible for was boring. We encouraged feedback in our
family which was not always easy but definitely valuable as it did help me to
think about the needs of a teenage boy. Many church congregations don’t have
teenagers at all these days, particularly boys but if the average x-box junkie
did come what would he think? Should we make our services exciting or
entertaining? Or are services to be endured out of a sense of duty? If it’s all
about pleasing God may be it doesn’t matter what we get out of it? I believe
the first church services in history were very exciting affairs when God’s Holy
Spirit was powerfully present and did amazing things through ordinary people.
When God is truly present few people will get bored. God gives a variety of
gifts to different people which when used together make for something ten times
better than most services that rely on a few, often professionals, who deliver
their pre-prepared homilies using archaic language concerning subjects which
are often irrelevant to many. Even the most modern and ‘successful’ churches in
the UK often disappoint with a high level of predictability, an over reliance
on popular worship songs and ‘expert’ presentations from the front which leaves
God in the background and the congregation as passive consumers rather than
active participants. Church services should be all about God being worshipped,
not people drawing attention to themselves. They should be about the community
of God’s people welcoming others in honesty and openness, about widespread use
of spiritual gifts rather than the select few monopolising the microphone. The
reaction of unbelievers should be “wow God is really amongst you!” How I long
for the day when this is widespread !
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (NLT)
But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t
understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin
and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret
thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God,
declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
Lord may you build your
church and may we not be satisfied with consumer ‘worship’ services.
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