Why Do We Have Church Anyway? – Part 4

November 30, 2010 by admin

Sociology is the study of group living. It includes the investigation of integrated and non-integrated groups. The distinguishing characteristic of a non-integrated group—such as the crowd at a sporting event-—is that members do not meet regularly to communicate with one another about their common interest.

In an integrated group there is sustained interaction regarding some common interest through which the members mutually adjust their behavior. Well aware that no sociologist would classify the church as a non-integrated group, I must admit to a growing fear that more churches are non-integrated groups than we care to realize. The problem is certainly not that the members fail to meet regularly, but rather that they somehow have misunderstood the importance of talking about the common interest when they do get together!

Apart from the sermons, which are rarely heard or heeded as well as professional ministers assume, communication is seldom centered about the Christian faith, which is the cohesive element. Instead, congregations have equated “Christian fellowship” with potluck suppers, baby showers, Sunday school class socials, and church picnics—where conversation is about jobs, families, school, hobbies, sports, romance, and acquaintances, but seldom about the common faith and its implication for our lives. The peripheral edges are merely skirted. We may mention that the preacher’s message has been a blessing, or whisper that so-and-so’s son is far from the Lord. But, it is with embarrassing difficulty that we bare the condition of our personal spiritual being.

Not only are we unable to expose the treacherous dissents and agonies of our failures to a loving brotherhood, we cannot even share the specific ecstasies and triumphs of our faith lest we be thought super-pious. Our sufferings, therefore, are mute and our joys are tongue-tied! For the church to qualify as a valid integrated group, there must be a great adjustment here, with our interaction beginning to center in our common beliefs and their outworking in our lives.

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For so many of us, the Christmas celebration can be a mile wide and an inch deep. We tire ourselves with an ever-growing list of gifts to buy, activities to complete, and traditions to uphold. And through a maze of cards and calls, outreach and entertainment, we struggle to connect with others in meaningful ways. Our intentions are sincere, but often trivial. When we look back on the season, we’re often left feeling like our holidays somehow lost the Christ in Christmas, and only touched the surface.

Every pastor needs resources to help him or her find appropriate Sermons for Advent and Sermons for Christmas. With Christmas Sermon resources from Mainstay Ministries, you can help your congregation season their Christmas traditions with the flavor of Christ. More than simply helping them to remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season,” you can encourage people to focus on Christ in the very traditions that have become part of our celebration of Christmas: decorating our homes, conveying Christmas greetings, giving and receiving gifts, gathering with family and friends, entering the new year with goals. Click here to see a list of special Christmas Sermon Packages available.

Looking forward to Christmas? Looking for key Sermon Ideas? Wondering what to preach throughout the Christmas Season? Searching for help in preparing for your Sermons on Christmas Day? In addition to the above special offer, Mainstay Ministries has many valuable resources filled with Christmas Sermon Ideas to help you plan for your Christmas preaching and for such Sunday Sermons, including resources for the following: Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermon, Advent Sermon Series, Advent Sunday Sermons, Christmas Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermon, and Christmas Sermon Series. Connect with us on-line by clicking here.

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Why Do We Have Church Anyway? – Part 3

November 29, 2010 by admin

Conceivably, local churches could be eliminated were it not for the great need Christians have to discuss their faith with one another. An individual believer is able to worship or pray alone. He or she can share his or her faith apart from the church. And, a believer can even adequately instruct himself or herself along spiritual lines.

It is obviously impossible, however, for a believer to participate in Christian fellowship without others who share his or her beliefs. I do not mean by this either to deprecate the value of corporate religious activities or to imply that interaction is the most important function of the church. Interaction is, however, that unique need which makes the formation of local church bodies mandatory.

The circle below is the beginning of an all-encompassing diagram that will illustrate our concept of how a church functions. It represents the formation of a congregation from the surrounding society. The need that has precipitated such action is for people to interact around the common interest.

The initial role of the local church is to fill the need for true spiritual interaction.

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Why Do We Have Church Anyway? – Part 2

November 26, 2010 by admin

In our months of discussion and evaluation at Circle Church, what eventually evolved is a philosophy of the church which is given in this series of blog posts. We found that we first had to answer the question: “Why does the church exist?”

Just as it is foolish to ask whether there is value in using a video projector during the morning service if no one has first determined a purpose for that service, so it is equally foolish to become excited about specific solutions to parts of the local church’s ministry if a unifying total of what is desired has never been figured out.

These blog posts, based on my 1971 book, Full Circle, deal with many new approaches to methodology, but each is rooted in a well-thought-through philosophy of the local church. As far as I am concerned, it is rooted in a well-thought-through philosophy of the local church.

As far as I am concerned, it is only in the context of how a church functions that value can be assigned to new ideas.

Congregations must therefore come to a clear understanding of why they exist before any consideration of methodology be allowed to occur. Only when satisfactory answers are given to such basic questions can patterns be built that are both original and truly helpful.

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You can learn how to develop highly relevant Sunday sermons that grab the attention of your congregation and help your listeners respond effectively to the deep truths of God’s Word. David Mains and Mainstay Ministries have a whole range of helpful solutions. Do you need to prepare a Topical Sermon, an Advent Sermon, a Christmas Sermon, an Easter Sermon, a Sermon Series, or any other Sunday Sermon? You can find help on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons. Just click here to visit David Mains’ website.

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Why Do We Have Church Anyway? – Part 1

November 25, 2010 by admin

“What is the greatest need of the local church?”

This was the question we struggled with in the months before we started Circle Church and continued to struggle with as we grew.

The question haunts clergy and laity alike. We of Christendom are achingly aware that something is oppressively wrong with the church, but what? Unfortunately we have established a pattern of grasping at any straw we think will rescue us from the murky grave into which we seem to be sinking. A multitude of questions arise.

“What the church needs is an aggressive method of person-to-person evangelism.”

“Seminaries must train men and women to become thunderous prophets of God.”

“A vital Christian Education program is the key, because after all, the coming generation is the church of the future.”

“We desperately need people who know the word of God better. Therefore, we should schedule time for in-depth Bible study.”

Helter-skelter we chase after each new cure which might conceivably “save” the church: a practical approach to neighborhood visitation, an outstanding seminary grad who appears to be gifted in working with young people, home Bible study small groups. All of these are good ideas. But, none deal with the basic problem.

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Pastor, when “sermon prep day” rolls around each week, do you face the task of preparing another sermon with a frown on your face? If so, you’re not alone. Many pastors literally dread preparing their Sunday sermon. There just doesn’t seem to be an easy solution. The good news: David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help, whether you need to create a Topical Sermon, an Advent Sermon, a Christmas Sermon, an Easter Sermon, a Sermon Series, or any other Sunday Sermon. For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.