Occasionally i spend some time reading other peoples blogs, i like to see what other people are thinking and why. Recently i read a blog about the structure of the church and whether or not it was effective.

While i think the blog had some valid points about how church was done (the example given of a standard church meeting lead went something like this: Call to worship, Songs, Prayer, Songs, Sermon, Songs) it think that the proble with some worship services is not so much the structure but the content. I heard it said once that "a good sermon will not get people into a church, but a bad sermon will certainly stop people from coming back." I think that this is very true. Worship services should serve to guide the congregation into a place where they experience God in spirit and in truth. I am as gulty as any one of having preached a sermon whilst feeling and being underprepared, and i know that it was a lame excuse on my part, but i have learnt from these experiences.

The blog i read suggested that reproducing small groups were a better alternative to 'church'. Ii think the key word with the small groups is 'reproduce'. So often these small groups become little cliques that an 'outsider' is excluded from.

While i believe that small groups are vital, i also believe that 'church' is important. the passage in Acts 2 that was included spoke about the things that the believers did. The passage showed that ALL of the believers met together in the temple courts IN ADDITION to meeting in their small groups.

Small groups should be a place of fellowship, teaching BIBLICALLY SOUND TRUTHS, as it appears some groups are not so great on this, preferring instead to teach their post-modern interpretaion onf what they think the bible says to them. Small groups should also provide accountability to its members. I think church should build on this, providing a celebration of faith, teaching, challenging and providing opportunities for people to commit or recommit their lives to the LORD. While this can happen in small groups i believe opportunities in bigger meetings should provide an atmosphere for people to make a decisions.

In conclusion i leave you with Paul's words "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." from Heb. 10: 24 -25.

And one final thought:

Is it that the model of church as we know it is not working, or is it that the people who go to church aren't doing the required leg work before they bring thier friends to church, are people even brining their friends to church???

Adios Amigos

P.S I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.