10 Marginally Interesting Ideas For A "Church Service"
I spend a good deal of my time thinking about what "the church" should look like in the 21st century. Riveting, I know. I don't blog about those thoughts very much because frankly, I have a lot more highly negative editorial commentary questions than I have answers.
One thing I do know about our good friend Jesus is that he was a mover and a shaker amongst those with the least. The least amount of...
One thing I do know about our good friend Jesus is that he was a mover and a shaker amongst those with the least. The least amount of...
- money
- food
- good health
- friends
- good behavior
And that's what I envision "the church" should look like today. Not just a one-hour weekly show service, but regular service to those with the least.
Shaun recently talked about a church in India that is doing just that. (Great post, by the way. Read it if you haven't already.) He then issued a blog-wide challenge to write about how the church in America could carry out the following motto: "Our witness is our service."
I'm no dreamer with a vision. But what I do have are ten solid ideas--projects that you, your family, or your church could do to serve those around you:
Shaun recently talked about a church in India that is doing just that. (Great post, by the way. Read it if you haven't already.) He then issued a blog-wide challenge to write about how the church in America could carry out the following motto: "Our witness is our service."
I'm no dreamer with a vision. But what I do have are ten solid ideas--projects that you, your family, or your church could do to serve those around you:
- Make no-sew fleece blankets for chronically ill children in the hospital
- Assemble care packages for homeless men and women
- Host a baby shower with gifts going to the local pregnancy center
- Run a food drive alongside another community event
- Send cards and personal items to local men and women serving overseas in the military
- Request a "wish list" from area teachers and then give them the needed supplies
- Get to know your neighbors (idea #2) (idea #3) (idea #4) to build community and help meet their needs (friendship being a major need)
- Provide a day of free medical services for those without insurance
- Give away popsicles at the park
- Provide clothing, shoes, and other items for foster care famil in your town
My hope is that the list sparks something that you could do in your community. What ideas would you add to this list?
(Be sure to check Shaun's blog where he has posted a compiled list of everyone who blogged on this topic.)
9 comments:
The cause that immediately springs to mind is Heavenly Angels in Need. They accept formal wear and wedding dresses, along with baby items. You can check out their ministry at http://heavenlyangelsinneed.com
I can definitely appreciate that we need practical ideas to live out.
I tend to think that the church ought to focus on asking God to break its heart for the lost.
Jesus said that when the heart overflows, the mouth speaks. I think that same concept can be carried out about actions, as well. When our churches become serious about loving God and others, the actions will come.
And of course, we need to remember that meeting physical needs is only a step in the process. Nothing we do for physical needs is worth anything if we're not speaking the truth about Christ overtly.
"They overcame the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" Rev. 12:11
Service can't be our witness. It can only work in conjunction with explicit explanation of our need for Christ and Him crucified.
(But I know you already meant that... I'm just putting this out for someone who stops by and doesn't. :D )
I liked this post. All too often, people think the main reason for doing service is to meet the needs of others. I happen to completely disagree with that. The main reason for doing service is so that you can grow spiritually. God can do anything - He doesn't need us to do it - He just ALLOWS us to help Him. And service allows us (and others) to experience Him. So I think every person should ask God where He wants them, then act on that.
Loved this post.
Am adding the popsicle and granola bars to my list of things to do with my kids this summer.
I agree with what Sara said that witness can not be only service, but I feel I have no right to speak the truth into someone's life until I show them just how much I love them.
Serving them allows me to do that.
Hmmm...interesting thoughts. I may have to join in, although it will be late. Must go ponder now.
Great post. Wonderful ideas.
I loved what Tonggu Momma said:
service allows us (and others) to experience Him.
Hi.
I wandered in, following links that started somewhere off the coast of Laurie Lagrone and Foolery.
Interesting post; I would like to take a different slant for a moment.
I don't think a church service ought to look like the things you mentioned. I do think the church should. In explanation, the church service is where we assemble for the purposes of prompting one another to love and good works, as set forth in Hebrews 10:24-25. If we're sufficiently prompted to act like the church, we'll do all the things for the folks you mentioned.
The church service is for the members .. to build them up .. to motivate them. The church is for doing all the things you mentioned, but generally not in the service.
Short version: we're to be IN the building to help/motivate/prepare us to BE the church OUTSIDE the building.
Or not. Just a guy in a pew, here.
:)
Bob: Those are good points, for sure. My use of "church service" was more a play on words versus a statement saying the Sunday service should be "service." (Although sometimes that might be an improvement on what sometimes goes on!)
It does open up the related can of worms of what a Sunday service SHOULD look like. I somehow doubt that when Jesus was thinking "church" he had in mind a 30-minute talking head, 20 minutes of singing, eating a wafer and some juice, and collecting some (little) money. I say that with snark, but underneath all that I frequently ask myself (with complete sincerity) what the church SHOULD look like, Sunday through Saturday.
Tradition is a funny thing, I think. And it always amazes me how we got from "there" to "here."
S ... (I was going to use your initials but thought the better of it)...
If you haven't heard the testimony of William Paul Young (the guy who wrote The Shack), you ought to. He describes what tradition does to a group that carries on traditions that nobody really knows the source of. It's a hilarious story, and quite true.
And if the "service" doesn't do the things mentioned in Scripture, then it oughtn't be held. One ought to be found that does include praise, worship, prayer, and building up of the body for the work of service.
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