Who is the Church Service For? (Part 3)

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Who is the Church Service For? (Part 3)

Dec 4th 2007Jeremy MyersChurch & Church Planting

We previously asked the question, “Who is the church service for - believers or unbelievers?” (See Part 1 and Part 2). We saw that depending on how you answer that question determines whether you are going to focus on teaching believers or reaching out to unbelievers (aka seekers) in your “church service.” However, statistics and surveys reveal that in general, disciple-making churches don’t turn out very good disciples, and seeker-sensitive churches tend mostly to attract Christians from other churches. So both approaches are failing in both discipleship and evangelism.

I suggested that the solution to this dilemma is to ask different questions. First, What is church? and second, What is the church service? With basic answers to these questions, we can now see that the only time “church service” is happening is when a group of believers (the church) are actually meeting the needs of someone else (serving), whether these needs are spiritual or physical. To be balanced, a church should focus on both spiritual and physical needs. Who is the church service for? It is for anybody that that the church is serving.

Ideally, a group of believers could meet together for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, then as a group, go and put into practice what they have learned in Scripture. They could do this all on one day, or split it up during the days of the week, or even alternate weeks. This will work best when the same group of believers that learns together goes out and serves together as well. Other than these few things, I cannot find any clear guidelines in Scripture on when the church is supposed to meet and/or what they are supposed to do.

This will radically free you from the constraints of what has come to be known as “church.” Tune in tomorrow to see what I mean.

3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Who is the Church Service For? (Part 3)”

Amanda on 05 Dec 2007 at 2:37 pm #

I’m enjoying reading the thoughts you have here regarding what God really meant “church” to be. I first started thinking about this issue a few months ago when a family friend gave us a pamphlet by a man named Mark Frees titled “Is the One-Pastor System Biblical?” Here is a link to the article online, if you want to read it. http://cnview.com/churches_today/is_the_one_pastoral_system_scrip.htm

I think Mark Frees makes some very good points in this article, and it opened my eyes quite a bit to some of the problems churches have today and why, but I have to say I don’t completely agree with the conclusion he seems to come to. While I agree that the Bible doesn’t teach that God’s blueprint is for a one-pastor system only, I know that God can still use a church with just one pastor, as there is no such thing as a perfect church, and God obviously uses hundreds of churches all over the world to spread His Word, and to serve others.

Mark Frees himself was once a pastor of a non-denominational church, but came to the conclusion that the one-pastor system isn’t Biblical while doing a study of the church in order to teach it to the congregation. I don’t know what happened, or why he left, but he is no longer the pastor at that church, and I believe has since joined a “Plymouth Brethren” congregation, though they don’t use that name themselves. The Brethren are a group that I have been studying quite a bit as well, as I really like the set up they have in their churches, but like I said earlier, I don’t think that the system they have is the only way God can use His children. But either way, the Plymouth Brethren from over a hundred years ago and since have given us many valuable writings, and the writings of C.H. Mackintosh especially have been very encouraging to me as I learn more about the LORD. (I would also recommend this site: The Biblical Resource Database, for hundreds of articles and resources regarding almost any Biblical subject imaginable. Regardless one’s personal convictions regarding God’s plan for the church, it is an invaluable resource.)

Many Blessings (and sorry for writing so much.)

~Amanda
Jeremy Myers on 05 Dec 2007 at 8:54 pm #

Amanda,

Thanks for the links. I am familiar with the Plymouth Brethren and think that in some ways, they are right on, but are way off in many other areas.

But that’s true with everything. I know I’m way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds.

That site does appear to be a good resource. Thanks.
Amanda on 06 Dec 2007 at 10:36 pm #

Jeremy,

But that’s true with everything. I know I’m way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds.

Very good point. I know the same is true with me, and I pray everyday for the LORD to give me more understanding, but I’m also thankful for these shortcomings as well, in both myself and in other people. It helps me keep my eyes on Christ, and reminds me to not put any one person or any specific teaching or doctrine on a pedastel, because no one is perfect. I can agree with someone or a doctrine on one thing, but that doesn’t mean we need to agree on everything else. (Is that even possible?)

And I’m glad you can use the links, if anything, they make a person think.