In this chapter, Hugh presents the holes of the attractional model of a church. I see them too- and I think that is resonating with many of us. But I am not ready to throw the towel in for all of it. Hmmmm- can’t we do both?
I would love to see a service that is done well- but doesn’t create an environment that people will sit and be passive about their faith- and even claim that they did their duty that morning by sitting in the pew.
I really don’t like poorly done services either- I’ve seen them- and it looks like the leadership doesn’t know what they are doing. At the same time I don’t want to be so rehearsed that it gets viewed that church is a job for the professionals. I don’t want a service that is the sum of the weekly Christian experience.
I want to create a community of believers that church is experienced in their everyday life. I want to see Christ-followers daily walking out their faith in the real world- in their neighborhood- with their family. I want the weekend service to simply gather the church together to be encouraged and re-sent out to do what they are supposed to do. Can we have people flip the idea of church around in their mind?
It’s flipped in my mind now.
Amy
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I think there are so many things about the way I did and do traditional-attractional church that I was doing because that is what I was taught. And by people I highly respected and wanted to learn from, and I thought they were right. And what I'm excited about while reading this book is that I'm not getting these ideas and new ways of doing things from this author or anyone else. But what he's talking so much about has been what God's been whispering to me the last year or so. But it's helpful to see that people are actually doing this and that it's actually possible for me to also.
There were a couple things I liked about this chapter one is that he said he doesn't spend much time getting ready for the service and puts his main time towards what matters. So many churches focus so much effort and burn out so many people with THE SUNDAY SERVICE that if you want to do anything else you can't cause you are tired from putting on this great show. I know I want this I want to put my focus towards that matters and spend the highest percentage on that and a little on the other stuff. I can't say that I think this would or will be easy though cause just as monica said this is what I was taught and what I grew up doing and it will be hard to learn a new method when I am comfortable with the current one. I just know we have tried a few things like discussion and stuff for some of our youth service but sometimes those take more time than just putting together a sermon. But I loved that he said they don't have a worship practice or anything and if they mess up places oh well, the time is not about putting on a good show for the by standers to watch its about getting real with Christ and ministering to each other.
One thing that I feel is hard about this is that Monica and myself are going to help or do things in regards to childrens and youth, but many times what at least childrens takes is a program and that doesn't seem to change much, so where does that put it and I don't know my mind is boggled about that right now.
I don't know my mind is wrestling right now so I am just going to stop for now and come back later.
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