You know, some points here are well taken, some are not. I was raised in the church and went the first twenty one years of my life. Bless my mother for taking us kids all those years. Then I quit going for ten years and did the bar scene and such. A local rock station I used to listen to had this preacher that used to have short commercials on with very thought provoking comments that applied to everyday life. I listened. Then I started to pray about it more and more and then the next thing I know it was like a ton of bricks hit me that said you need to go back to church. I am very tired of hearing how christians hate homosexuals when this could'nt be further from the truth! We hate the sin not the people! God hates sin, not the people. Jesus lived a simple life and came to heal the spiritually sick. Loving your neighbor is the absolute greatest evangelism there is. If anyone is in God's will they will be out in the community letting their light shine for others to see which can attract some to church.
OT: Asking sixpack
- Thread starter preacher_dawg
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I'm a lifetime 3rd generation member of a traditional SBC. I probably go 35x per year. The methodology is painful for me quite often. I would have moved churches if not for the ties that one has to my past. Traditional music that is in no way enjoyable to me. This goes on for the first 30 minutes. During this time, I often find myself on my iPhone. Then, it's a hard transition for me to refocus on the message when the actual sermon begins and I'm in the middle of arguing about something on the internet. I'm distracted and probably a distraction to others during that first 30 minutes. I've started considering myself a smaller distraction to just show up late. The only way to give money/tithe to the church is cash/check. I don't remember the last check I actually wrote. And cash in an offering plate is always questionable/doesn't work so well for tax purposes. At which point the option is to put it in a church envelope, which you have to fill out, and essentially might as well write a check.
Here's what I would do to fit my own personal desires/needs, understanding that this is not the same for everybody:
Modern music. Doesn't have to be all modern -- but it doesn't have to be 100% piano and organ with a choir out of the book either.
Payment kiosks/paypal/Apple or Google pay payment options. Make it easy for the people who never knew "writing checks" as a real payment option, of which I'm right on the border of.
Modern message and structure.
Podcasting the sermons into the various app stores as concisely as you can to drive the message home and offer quick review from people that actually got something from it. These need to be 30 minutes or so.
Before we even get to the spiritual aspect of it, which is a whole different can of worms.
Here's what I would do to fit my own personal desires/needs, understanding that this is not the same for everybody:
Modern music. Doesn't have to be all modern -- but it doesn't have to be 100% piano and organ with a choir out of the book either.
Payment kiosks/paypal/Apple or Google pay payment options. Make it easy for the people who never knew "writing checks" as a real payment option, of which I'm right on the border of.
Modern message and structure.
Podcasting the sermons into the various app stores as concisely as you can to drive the message home and offer quick review from people that actually got something from it. These need to be 30 minutes or so.
Before we even get to the spiritual aspect of it, which is a whole different can of worms.
I agree with some what some have said about sound doctrine being the way to go. Too many people think they should choose a church based on their comfort zone or whether or not they have a big youth group and have lots of activities for the youth. If someone uses that as a basis for what church that they attend then they are severely misguided. Church is not a social club even though that is what it seems to have become in these days.
Thanks for all the great comments. A couple of thoughts to clear things up. I know some people wonder why plant a church when there are churches on every church corner? For starters, I was a pastor for five years in a church that was over 180 years old, and nobody else in the community wanted to be part of. It didn't matter how much they got to know me, like me, or liked my sermons, there was no way many people in the community would come to our church due to the people in it. Quite frankly, I wouldn't either. For some reason, God seems to use church plants to evangelize more than regular churches. In our case, I was able to see why.
As for the reason we came to this town, I am in the Calvnist/reformed tradition, and there are no other churches in town like this. There was a semblence of a church when I came here, but it hasn't grown, mainly due to there not being a local pastor.
Another thing, and that is my core group is five people, but their median age is about 70-75, mostly widows. Now, I love this group. They are polar opposites of what my old church was, but it makes it difficult to reach younger families. That's why I might have to do things like going door to door, putting flyers up around town, radio slots, etc. to just get our name out there.
What else? I choose to preach expository meaning I preach through books of the Bible. If it's done well, it really stands out. This is what will be advertised, mainly because it is unique in this day and time.
The biggest thing we need now is musicians. We currently have to sing to a track, and sometimes we don't have that. Fortunately, my wife can sing incredibly good. We are looking for her to sing solos like this one (and eventually put music in the service like this):
And this:
Again, thanks for all your advice and encouragement!!
As for the reason we came to this town, I am in the Calvnist/reformed tradition, and there are no other churches in town like this. There was a semblence of a church when I came here, but it hasn't grown, mainly due to there not being a local pastor.
Another thing, and that is my core group is five people, but their median age is about 70-75, mostly widows. Now, I love this group. They are polar opposites of what my old church was, but it makes it difficult to reach younger families. That's why I might have to do things like going door to door, putting flyers up around town, radio slots, etc. to just get our name out there.
What else? I choose to preach expository meaning I preach through books of the Bible. If it's done well, it really stands out. This is what will be advertised, mainly because it is unique in this day and time.
The biggest thing we need now is musicians. We currently have to sing to a track, and sometimes we don't have that. Fortunately, my wife can sing incredibly good. We are looking for her to sing solos like this one (and eventually put music in the service like this):
And this:
Again, thanks for all your advice and encouragement!!
Again, one more thing, the church may only be able to fund me through October, even though we will be looking for some outside funding, but that makes it difficult when I am to provide for my wife and three small children.
Just saying the act of being gay is a sin is extremely offensive and condesending to gays. My advice on church would be ditch the ******** social aspect and focus on serving and volunteering in the community you live. I'm talking about feeding/clothing the homeless, volunteering at the nursing homes/hospitals, have groups that take care of the single moms or elderly in the town like mowing their yard or going to buy groceries. Instead of lame youth groups actually get young people in the church doing these things on wednesday night instead forcing them to sing bad christian music and having uncomfortable sex talks that dont work anyways. As an atheist i would totally consider joining this church to help make me and my family better people. Also have a monday or friday night church option. Waking up and doing anything early on a sunday is the worst
Honestly, you make some good points. You also, obviously didn't read the whole thread or all of the OP's posts before responding. Of the things you mentioned in regards to the community, the "Church" does more of that voluntarily than any other group or government program. Always has, always will. You're also denigrating & discounting fellowship as a worthless endeavor.
Eta: Took out some that I have no firm footing to stand upon as an infrequent attendee on Sundays.
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The Gospel is offensive. The offensiveness can't and shouldn't be removed. I can respect your right to denounce or disbelieve, but to throw away the Bible in the context of establishing a Christian church is irresponsible and disingenuous. Some are doing just that however...
Hey Wizard, I wish, closer to family and could see some State games, but then again, I would have more problems with my idol of sports.
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