http://www.sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/dave-browning-the-case-for-the-hour-long-church-service-933.asp?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BetterPreachingUpdate
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The author makes a case for a one hour church service, an increasingly popular concept in an attempt to reach people for Christ. The case is being made that it is not necessary for a church service to exceed an hour and be effective. He cites examples of how much of everyday life is broken into 1 hour blocks (TV shows, doctor visits, classes, meetings). He talks of how services can be prolonged simply by not starting on time. I agree with this. I hate when we're even a minute late. He talks of how the spirit is not limited by time. No argument. He gives a schedule of how to make it happen and the the things that can get in the way and waste time. He then tries to debunk the arguments against it. While it's good to do whatever we can to reach people with the Gospel here are some things to consider about doing a 1 hour service:
#1 Our time with God should not be compared to a TV show or doctor visit. I hate going to the dentist. Do people think spending more than an hour with God is like going to the dentist? If they do maybe we are doing something wrong and need to change.
#2 While I agree with the author,the spirit is not limited by time, he can work in the blink of an eye. We however can quench the move of the spirit when we become fixated on a time schedule.
#3 This is people pleasing plain and simple. There are all sorts of surveys as to why people don't come to church. Some have great validity that the church should address. Others are just plain personal comfort issues. Length of service, quality of bathrooms or the space between each in the other in the sanctuary really shouldn't be that big a deal. Aren't we there for God, not us?
#4 Isn't the Gospel enough? When someone comes to a real relationship with Jesus I don't think they will care about how long a service goes. Time with him becomes more important. Soccer, baseball, football, American Idol won't matter much. If we really hunger a three hour service will seem too short.
#5 This is one more example of a great problem with the American church today. Jesus said "GO and TELL" yet we want them to come to us. Consequently we try to develop all sorts of ways to attract a crowd. (which is all we really do). But what if we obey and went out to share the Gospel and people got converted before they ever came to church? We may find that they don't want an hour service.
Now I'm not going to knock those who feel this leading. I have been to hour services and they have been very nice. good worship, good message. My biggest problem is that it allowed no time to connect with God or with others. Two very important things that should happen in a meeting of believers.
Our services aren't an hour and they're not two hours. Somewhere in between. To me church is not a TV show or meeting. While there is a structure there is no need to stick to a script just to appease people and put more in the seats. While this may accomplish that what kind of believer will they be? Someone who shows up once a week because it makes them feel good? Or a committed believer who wants to do HIS will? As illustrated in the article people have some pretty important things to do so they don't have too much time for God. They could squeeze in an hour before soccer or a run but that's about it. Is God really a priority? Or just another thing to do? Like a class or doctor visit?
Method is good. There are many different ways people come to Jesus, but in the end the message alone should be enough.
Until next time,
Pastor Paul
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