Do the New – Have a Revolutionary Church Service! – #GTH Blog
There was one thing that bothered me about our family prayer – it was too monotonous. It had two songs to sing, a psalm to read, and everyone prayed. Mamma prayed the longest while my sister and I picked at each other.
It was alright once and twice but then it became more of a ritual. And if we missed any part of it, there was nothing short of judgement that we felt on us. (Important to ponder on how to keep your family prayers fresh – oh my, I am a parent already!)
I wonder if our church services have become rituals too. The only thing that changes everything about a service is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Apart from that it is simply a ritual and a tradition passed down the years.
Ask Questions!
Good to ask, why do we do what we do? If we don’t have a solid answer other than it was something that has always been done, it is time to change.
One thing, I did not understand in our culture was that almost after 45 minutes of worship three people would pray extremely long prayers for the blessing of the meeting. And I would wonder, so what was the last 45 minutes about? Or didn’t that need God’s blessing?
How about some churches that still have testimonies that have no head or tail, no beginning or end, for somebody’s joy at the expense of everyone’s time. Testimonies in the church must be highly monitored as you are in an assembly.
One of the infamous testimonies is about a lady who got to testify about her dying goat and she wept and wept. And she cried more because her pastor’s beard resembled that of the goat. Now I don’t know if that is a true story but quite a popular one.
Questions you need to ask while deciding to include in your service timings the testimonies or even entertaining guests are:
Does this glorify God?
Is this going to a blessing?
Is this something the pastor has to summarise?
Is this worth everybody’s time?
A young church planter recently asked me, what can I do different in my church service? I simply said, “Don’t do the done, seek God for the new”.
Read More at:
Do the New – Have a Revolutionary Church Service! – #GTH Blog.
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Russian
Spanish
“One of the infamous testimonies is about a lady who got to testify about her dying goat and she wept and wept. And she cried more because her pastor’s beard resembled that of the goat.” I’m done. This is hilarious…Sherline you have finished me. This post is serious but somehow I can’t get past this sentences without cracking up! Lol good one.
My Nigerian church had several long prayers too. Forget it, African churches are 5+ hours long so I can totally relate to this. lol
September 12, 2012 at 11:34 pm
lol I hear ya on this one sis. I hear ya! I laughed so hard that I understand you feelings
The Church needs to learn to get away from exalting the flesh and move more by the Spirit….but at the same time…people tend to over spiritualize the flesh confusing that to be of the Spirit…when it’s just the flesh talking. May people become more sound in judgement and discerning when applying discipline where it is needed. Sometimes we allow a lot of nonsense because we have not disciplined the flesh to submit to the Spirit of things.
Sherline
September 13, 2012 at 12:06 am
Gosh! Lol @ over spiritualize the flesh. Good Lord, lol
September 13, 2012 at 12:26 am
LOL I knew this one would get you Margaret
Sherline
September 13, 2012 at 8:37 am