This was going to be a comment but it got long and it's a little radical so let's start a new thread. Here's an example of an unspoken assumption. (I think there's a past post about this.)
I don't know if this is true of Catholic and Orthodox worship, but as Protestants we assume that the heart of worship (or at least a significant part of worship) is the message - the pastor's message.
Biblically, is that the heart of worship? Is that what our gathering to worship and adore God is all about?
I believe that hearing God's Word is one of the Biblical reasons we gather. Is God's Word the "sermon" or is it the scriptures? Are there ways for a multi-generational congregation to ponder a passage of scripture during Worship besides listening to an adult sermon?
One of the reasons kids are released during the sermon is for age-appropriate processing. But that takes me back to Jesus and His preaching to the multitudes. I assume He had a multi-generational audience. He was teaching, often handling the scriptures. They were in His presence. Was this "worship?"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Let's bury that unspoken assumption, deep! One of the things we really hope is true at Artisan is that the service of worship does not revolve around some dude (usually a man, fair or not) talking for 30+ minutes.
ReplyDeleteThis (if we succeed at it) makes worship more robust and meaningful for everyone, including small children.
I've often wondered why churches call their main meetings worship when, as you say, it is generally built around a sermon. Worship is very often a part of church meetings, but the whole meeting is hardly worship in the sense that people are worshipping God.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. The churches in Acts seemed to centre their meetings around the teaching of the apostles (and fellowship, breaking bread and prayer). Worship, though clearly a part of church life* doesn't get a mention.
Maybe just the title of our meetings is wrong.
Are there ways for a multigenerational congregation to ponder a passage of scripture during Worship besides listening to an adult sermon?
I think so. A lot of the stuff that you describe that goes in in the meetiings at Artisan seems to be just that.
This is a from the front, not very participatory example: We have a section of our Sunday meeting that is typically a comedy sketch. It is for the kids in name, but we pack it full of scriptural truth that speaks quite directly to people of all ages. It is one of the most effective parts of our meeting.
-
*Recorded prayers in Acts, restoration of the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16)
Welcome, Jeff. (check out Jeff's blog)
ReplyDelete"The churches in Acts seemed to centre their meetings around the teaching of the apostles (and fellowship, breaking bread and prayer)". This was a good reminder, thanks! I hadn't thought of this as a model for gathering.
And, as you say, "Worship, though clearly a part of church life* doesn't get a mention." Searching the NT about gathering and worship sounds like a trail worth exploring. :-)
Thanks for the welcome, Margie. I've been reading your blog for about two months.
ReplyDeleteI've also been doing a lot of thinking with the leadership team in my church about what should be in a meeting. Our Sunday meeting is primarily for people who are not yet followers of Jesus. We have done a lot of work to make the meetings understandable to anyone. But every element of the meeting is immediately recogniseable as part of the typical evangelical charismatic 'liturgy'.
It makes me wonder how much of what we are doing is introducing people to a culture and how much is actually introducing them to a Person. And is the culture useful in getting people close to Jesus?
Being with Jesus is the one necessary thing, and when someone or a group are are actually with him, I think worship just happens.
-
There is a church called Xenos Fellowship has some fascinating ways of meeting, intergenerationally & not, with ideas about worship that don't excite me overly. But this does: 'Xenos leaders did a church-wide survey of our own membership in the spring of 2005. We were pleased and a bit surprised to find that 82% of Xenos members claim they were not involved in any church at the time they began coming to Xenos. Over 60% of our members reported that they met Christ at Xenos.' Their site is worth a look. It certainly sparked my thinking.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYour comments c. Xenos Fellowship: in this day and age - a wonderful testimony to the power of God!
ReplyDeleteYou say, "It makes me wonder how much of what we are doing is introducing people to a culture and how much is actually introducing them to a Person. And is the culture useful in getting people close to Jesus?" - a critical question that crosses preference and denomination.
"Being with Jesus is the one necessary thing, and when someone or a group are actually with him, I think worship just happens." I would absolutely agree with this.
To my thinking, when all the rest is said and done this is close to the heart of it all.