Ex Marine Covenanter posted this on facebook; seemed appropriate somehow to post here at this time.
Is it Ever Acceptable for the Worship of the Church to Not Include Preaching?
- Thread starter C. M. Sheffield
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C. M. Sheffield
Puritan Board Graduate
I would not agree that singing even doctrinally sound hymns is tantamount to preaching the Word. If it were, we could, in theory, dispense with preaching altogether so long as there remained a commitment to singing godly hymns. Praise and preaching are distinct elements of public worship. But preaching occupies the place of first importance in public worship. And that's why I puzzle at why otherwise godly churches would ever dispense with it if it were not necessary.
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I agree with you that the primary emphasis should be the teaching of the doctrines of scriptures, but also would see this service as bring more of refective in nature.
C. M. Sheffield
Puritan Board Graduate
Why do you place a service with the preaching of God's Word over against one that is "more reflective in nature"?
Can there be a service "more reflective in nature" than one that brings the light of God's word to bear upon the consciences of its hearers when coupled with the heat of a minister's godly example and earnestness of his appeal? What can be more reflective than that?
Remember, NOT torture. Only an "enhanced interrogation" technique. My oldest son asked to be water-boarded to know what it feels like, so I did it until he thrashed around a bit and sputtered once or twice, and he concluded that prisoners caught in the act of planting roadside bombs had a lot worse coming to them. Then he did me, too, but held it a little longer than after I tapped out. I still agreed with his assessment, though (after I puked a bit). All good fun.Ex Marine Covenanter posted this on facebook; seemed appropriate somehow to post here at this time.
earl40
Puritan Board Professor
Why couldn't the missionary simply give the sermon as an example to what he does in the field?
I think it needs to be before or after the service because as a report it is information and interrupts the worship of God. Our church has missionaries give such reports in SS or after the church dinner following the service.
De Jager
Puritan Board Junior
I don't have any problems with a missionary presentation as long as it does not replace the other elements of worship. For example I am not OK with replacing the sermon with a presentation. If a presentation is to happen, tack it on to the rest of the service. Of course, then churches would force their congregants to stay for up to *gasp* two hours....which is asking a lot when many need to go home to catch the 1 PM NFL kickoff.
Or to get home to the pot roast in the oven!
It can work that way, sometimes. But mostly doesn't work well.
I believe every sermon ought to be expository and cover the passage directly on all points. So too much personal info might be distracting from the text. There would be a temptation to make the sermon about the missionary and not what the bible is saying about that passage. Short anecdotes might be possible to illustrate a point, but a full summary of one's efforts would be impossible in this format.
That never works very well. Every single minute after the expected end of the service becomes a growing burden for the people. The missionary does not want to be that sort of burden on folks. Drive 3 hours to visit a church only to see impatience in the eyes of the folks. I don't think I'd agree to even commit to such a scenario knowing the nature of most US church goers.
Using the Sunday School hour works well since folks already are used to this use of their time. Sunday School for mission info and sermon hour for a sermon.
The fact that you have a church dinner after the service sounds very cool! Tell me more.
My current church has a monthly dinner folks bring food for, and the session usually schedules mission presentations then.
De Jager
Puritan Board Junior
Call them out on it. It's not your fault that people have their priorities messed up.
I only visit once every 4 years. Not a job I want (to call them out). AND, I totally get it...church gets LOOoong sometimes overseas, too, and I get hangry, too, and want to be dismissed unless the event was already expected to be long. If advance notice was giving to prep the people psychologically, then they might be able to bear it better. Maybe have a coffee break and lunch before-hand.
Phil D.
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When we have had a missionary report, the report has always come at the end of the worship service.
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