As I reflect on many of my church experiences in the past, whether growing up in the pew or serving in different capacities I’ve noticed acommon mentality regarding weekly church services, or more creatively penned, The Holy Huddle.
Ever seen a football game where the team huddle together, motivated by a rousing pep talk from the QB and charged with a play, they break and head back to the sidelines? They don’t run the play, they don’t execute the command, they simply return to the bench.
Exciting, huh?
This is the equivalent of many churches. Their weekly service rarely serves as anything more than a glorified huddle.
The pastor preaches, the people sing, the children play, and the Gospel may even be preached, but the people are not charged or equipped to flesh the Gospel out in their daily lives.
How many times have we huddled together on Sunday, but chosen not to play the game during the week?
What purpose is there in having the good news of the Gospel if we never take it outside the four doors of the church? In order for the church of the South to experience revival we must have an ‘outward perspective’ of the Gospel and what that means for the communities our churches are planted in.
Here are some thoughts from last weeks sermon regarding the church in the NT:
- The power of God was almost always seen in the community versus inside the church.
- 39 out of 40 miracles occurred outside the church. Again, the community.
- The world is never commanded to go into the church. The CHURCH is commanded to go into the world.
Our weekly services are not to be minimized or neglected. They are essential to the growth and health of the Body (Heb. 10:23-25). Yet our weekly worship is not the main event. If our churches are built on, consumed with and comitted to the purpose of the Gospel then we will heed the words of Christ as He ascended into Heaven:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20) The Church is designed to impact the world. Let’s engage our culture with the power of the Gospel! I need to remind myself daily: we are equipped as THE most powerful change agents in the world!
