Sunday, July 1, 2007

Evening Service?

One of the things I mentioned this morning was that we were looking for input regarding and additional service on Sunday. How much interest is there in one? What should it be like? What time? What would you like to see as elements of that service? Lecture format? Discussion? Prayer? Praise and worship? Let us hear from you on this throughout the summer. I've already received input from a few people so jump in here and let me know what you think.

Here's another idea we've been kicking around. Is there any interest in online giving? We've had a few folks mention things would be easier for them if they could tithe online while they are paying their bills. We could place a link to a PayPal account. It's easy to use and very secure. Are you interested?

Post a reply here (just click on the "comments" link below), send me an email, kuvakas@aol.com or give me a call and tell me what you think.

Great service today! Ron and the team did a great job leading us in worship and Doug brought the Word with clarity and brevity. Anyone challenged by what they heard today?

7 comments:

  1. I'll go on record to say...it's tough getting out for a second (third) service on Sundays. Is it just the getting older thing? Maybe you need to start a podcast??? hee, hee I'd like to have the ability to give via my VISA card (from the comfort of my home on Sunday evenings, of course). Now, don't get excited, folks! I pay it off each month! (I use it for the cash back rewards.) Don't ask me if I tithe on the rewards tho...I'm not prepared to lie!

    smiles to all!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was strongly challenged by Sundays service. There is still very much that I need to learn when it comes to setting one self aside for anothers need and to turn to the Lord with my own burdens rather than to others.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My family always enjoyed the format of and fellowship at John Boswell's Sunday evening "Message and a Meal", not to mention it included a meal (and sometimes meatballs). Unfortunately, there were times when we just couldn't get to it due to other schedule conflicts, such as last minute homework for school the next day or work at the hospital. I expect that any service day or time is going to be met with conflicts of one sort or another and 100% participation is going to be impossible. All I can suggest is to prayerfully consider where the Father is leading and if there is someone interested in leading it then go for it and see what happens. If the message is biblically based then the format or other activities that might be included are secondary. It gets tough to justify when only one or two people show up (or no one shows up), but God will touch those that need to hear the Word regardless of how it is presented. O.k., this is obvious and nothing new, but it's what I thought about so I figured I would share it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hebrews 10:25 says: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching".

    The goal of our faith should be to bring glory to God and we do that by becoming more Christ-like. We become more Christ-like, in part, by worshiping Him, studying His Word, and encourging/serving one another in love as brothers and sisters in Christ. For the most part, we do these things every Sunday morning. And we fool ourselves when we think that 2-3 hours a week is enough time together as a body to accomplish our purpose.

    What could possibly be more important than having another opportunity to gather toghether Sunday night as well? And don't even get me started on Wednesday night services! When will our faith be our life instead of the hobby we have made it? "I don't want to miss the big game". "I need to spend more time with my family". "I have to get up early to make that long commute". "My favorite show is on that night". We make it very easy for the enemy to silence us.

    So, I suggest a Sunday evening service that pretty much mirrors the morning service: A time of worship singing (Although the worship teams are awesome, maybe the evening service could be comprised of just one or two people), a time of prayer, (maybe breaking into small groups to pray) and then a time of teaching/preaching. Since the morning services seem to be more New Testament, maybe the evening service could consist of going verse by verse through Old Testment books. Ditto for a Wednesday night service!

    All throughout my Christian life, I have heard various folks complain that they don't feel connected in church, their needs aren't being met, that they aren't hanging with the "in crowd" so they feel distant. And all of these folks are the ones that pop in and out Sunday morning with hardly a "hello" to anyone. hmmmm.

    If you want to be blessed, you have to be under the spout where the blessings come out. And the blessing are flowing when the saints are gathered together.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1 John 3:8 "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

    John 20:21 "...Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

    What's our assignment?

    ReplyDelete
  6. John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

    1 Cor 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not in word [logos] but in power [dunamis]."

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1 Cor 4:20 is a great verse but we have to remember to keep it in context. When Paul uses "logos" (word) here, he is referring to those wo were speaking critically of him in vs 18 and 19. So the reference here is to the spoken words of his critics. He is saying, "...let's evaluate them by what they do, not what they say." Frequently when we see the word "logos" we immediately assume the writer is speaking of the breathed word of God. This is not the case here. As far as the use of dunamis, within the context of verses 14-20 adn the voerall theme of Chapter 4, it would seem Paul is saying, "The kingdom of God does not consist of arrogantly spoken words but in the capabilities of the speakers to accurately reflect the holiness of God."

    ReplyDelete