There seems to be something missing from church nowadays (most at least).  What is missing?  We have our worship, then our announcements, then offering, then preaching, then at some churches, alter calls and then out to put on the feed somewhere.  Sounds like it is all there on that schedule as God has ordained, right?  Where is that in the Bible again?

This kind of service does not appear in the Bible.  There is nothing really like it mentioned throughout its pages.  So why do we have this kind of service all the time?

The only thing I can come up with is that this is how it has been so we continue to follow the same path.  Just because it has been this way for ages, that does not mean it is supposed to be this way.  When you read the Bible such as in the book of Acts, it seems much more alive and flowing than what we have today.  Now, in many church services, much of the people have no participation and rely on the minister for everything.  This is not only bad on the people but also on the minister as he has such a large load.

Some people (like I do) enjoy worship and you get moving along with the Spirit flowing in the music then it is time to take offering, make announcements or it is time for preaching.  It can be like cold water being thrown on you, but things have a time slot and you have a little flex time between points of a service, but you still have a time line that has to be met.  Why? 

We need to let the Spirit move and all of us be subject to Him not schedules.  What would it hurt if an offering was missed or perhaps a sermon was not preached so that we could spend time loving on God and Him on us?  Just maybe the Gifts of the Spirit would flow and God would give a direct message or even messages..  The Gifts are not just for altar call.

When was the last time you heard a sermon in church and had the Holy Sprit move you with further revelation on the topic or perhaps the message had no application to you and thus your entire time was watching the clock to leave?

Many years ago, when we would have Bible Studies, they were more of Bible Discussion meetings.  People were encouraged to come with a Scripture to share or a question they where looking for answers about.  We would talk about the Bible and any anyone could share their views.  It was wonderful!  We had all kinds of crazy things come out, yep, that is for sure! But people got to participate allowing the Holy Spirit to work through them without them knowing it.

I know this all sounds wild and to some kind of scary, but it can get much more wild if you are game.  Imagine allowing God to have the entire service…

The Open Church

I had my eyes opened when I read a book over a decade ago called “The Open Church”.  It suggested an exciting change to the “church as normal” we are use to in today’s world.

The book described a different type of service where the focus is not a single message from a lead or visiting minister, but rather a Body ministry, where people in the meeting minster to each other.

Note: You might read this other post about Body ministry:

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The first change was the layout of the church meeting area.  Instead of having all the pews facing pulpit at the front of the area, they were arranged in a circle or square so that people would face each other.  It is those in the pews that minister by allowing the Holy Spirit to share through them in the meeting.  They may have a song, short teaching, or Scripture they feel led to share.  As the Spirit would flow though, there would be an obvious thread.

This could go on for hours with the pastors being more of a guide to make sure things do not get out of line.  You are dealing with people who live in a flesh body so things are not always by the Spirit and need to be watched over.  And some time restrictions need to be in place for more long winded people who are not completely flowing with the Spirit.

Through this method of Body ministry, the Holy Spirit is able to flow through many vessels instead of just one in a meeting.  It is mighty hard to have a message that serves all the people in a meeting every time.  That is where the Body comes in, there might be someone that is quite new the Holy Spirit has shown something to, which more seasoned believers might not be noticing and of course, the more seasoned believers have the ability to flow with the Spirit and minster to the younger.

It was not long ago, I found that this is how the Azusa Street revival worked.  They had the square layout of pews with the pulpit in the center and their pastor lived above the church.  The meetings went on day and night.  When he would hear someone getting flesh, he would correct the situation and bring it back into the Spirit.

Conclusion

While not everyone can handle an Open Church type service every meeting, perhaps they could be considered such as once a month, or even on a given day other the Sunday, if the church is set in their ways.  The main point is that the Body needs a method of ministering and it does not have to be based on a tight schedule.  Let God move and see what happens!

Today, I had a few thoughts about a common error that seems to be throughout the church world.  Over the years, I have heard people say things like “I will not go where I am not fed” or perhaps, “I just do not feel like I am being fed in this church”.  People being discontent or even at times, which is much worse for most, that they are content and being fed.  Huh?  I will explain..

Being fed is an interesting topic!  Where does this come from, the concept of being fed by ministers?  I think the idea is mostly taken from the view of a Shepherd and a Flock which is often brought to mind in the passage:

Joh 21:15-17  ~ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

You clearly see the picture of a shepherd and his flock and him taking care of them.  He is there to guide and nurture them all the days of their lives.  To keep them from harm and watch over them since they are too stupid to live without him.  They completely rely on the shepherd to for their existence.

Is this the meaning from the passage we are to carry away, that everyone are sheep and we need a minister (shepherd) to fed us and take care of us?

Nope!  We only require them while we are sheep, but we are to become something much more than that:

Eph 4:11-16  ~ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We are to grow, to be built up as a part of the Body, able to stand on our own.  We are not to be hand fed for the rest of our life, learning to depend on ministers for all our help, we are to learn how to dig out our own food from God’s Word and through the Spirit that He has put within us.  Oh, yes, we can share food with one another, but we should not DEPEND on anyone to fed us after we have learned how to feed ourselves. 

Let’s look at this in the example of a baby. When the child is born, it requires the parents to feed and protect it from all harm, they are its source.  After the baby learns to eat, the parent no longer has to feed the child, they just provide the food and the child feeds itself.  After more growth, the youth will learn to get its own food and start making its own decisions, based on what it has been taught.  Then after while longer, the person is now able to live on their own and make their own decisions. It is all by growth.

What would happen if you never took a baby off the bottle?  Can you imagine a 45 year old baby still on the bottle?  We have churches filled with them!

The Word of God is our spiritual food and anyone can obtain all they need at any time day or night just by opening their Bible and feeding.  Sadly, many never open their Bibles unless it is at a meeting. 

Pastors, it is time to close the trough, it is time to get people to feed themselves, to grow, it is time to give them a chance to dig and show their understanding of the Word.  You know what is one of the hardest things for me?  To sit by and wait for someone else to dig up the answer to an issue when I already know the answer.  If I always give them the answer, they will usually not learn as they did not dig it out themselves.  People must be in positions to use what they learn or often they will not retain the knowledge or never know how it is used.

Churches should be a lively flowing center of activity by the Body of the Christ, not just a shepherd or visiting ministers.  It is a Body ministry!  It cannot function though, if everyone remains sheep just waiting to be fed.  Allow the Holy Spirit to move through many vessels not just one and see what God can do in a meeting!

It is a new year, 2010 has arrived!  How many more years do we have?  I like to make up little sayings for each year.  I could not settle on just one this year :)

1. “2010, the year to bring them in”
   
   Or..
   
2. "2010, the year Jesus to return again”

I like them both ;)

Anyway, to get our mindset going for this new year, how about some video’s. 

Let’s get our hearts in the right place.  We will start with a video that tries to give us a glimpse at heart of God and the sacrifice for us.  The video is “The Bridge Master”:

You heart should be in the right place to take a change on this next message, “A Letter From Hell”:

Maybe time to lighten up just a bit, but still go down this road, try out Carman’s “Witches Invitation" video:

Okay, we are awake with all of that.  Here is one of a audio sermon everyone should here “WHO ARE CHRISTIANS” or at least we “believe” we are, this is titled “Examine Yourself”.  It is a little lengthy and if you cannot get watch it at one time, do it in sections, it is worth hearing!

DISCLAIMER: I do not believe in “Eternal Security”  doctrine or as some call “Once Saved, Always Saved”, which clearly the minister in this video does, but I still think the message he has would go far in cleaning up the church if it were preached everywhere Eternal Security is preached, and that is something that is needed in this hour of the Apostate Church!

Okay, you might be thinking, “so that all is great, but what a heavy load I feel”, but there is good news.  Here is a quick music video to remember what’s important and the “GOOD NEWS” we have the privilege to share:

There will be posts about we are “The Body of the Christ”, “Who we are in the Christ” and “The Joy of the Lord”.  All coming soon to this site.  We need to walk in the Joy as the Body of the Christ and declare to the world around us the Goodness of our God!