Comments on: Audience vs. Community http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/ A web-based missional intercessory prayer and resource-equipping ministry Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:45:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: A nursery rhyme – the flesh vs. a new heart in Christ | prayeramedic http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-835 A nursery rhyme – the flesh vs. a new heart in Christ | prayeramedic Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:03:22 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-835 [...] effectively serve the Church (the people not the steeple), of which there are many. But aside from church architecture, monologue sermonizing, fakeness, and many other things the pastor-CEO’s teach, one of the [...] [...] effectively serve the Church (the people not the steeple), of which there are many. But aside from church architecture, monologue sermonizing, fakeness, and many other things the pastor-CEO’s teach, one of the [...]

]]> By: Sermons: Reinforcing a Passive Audience | prayeramedic http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-837 Sermons: Reinforcing a Passive Audience | prayeramedic Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:47:33 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-837 [...] note of the key word throughout this entire post: audience. Are we trying to foster and audience or a community? And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with [...] [...] note of the key word throughout this entire post: audience. Are we trying to foster and audience or a community? And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with [...]

]]> By: Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-839 Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:33:46 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-839 P.S. you mentioned they preached the Gospel in the large gatherings, another reason I think the full Gospel should be preached EVERY Sunday. Preach the Law showing our need for the Savior and the Gospel showing Him to us EVERY week. Take me to the cross every week, and then show me how to live in the power of His resurrection. P.S. you mentioned they preached the Gospel in the large gatherings, another reason I think the full Gospel should be preached EVERY Sunday. Preach the Law showing our need for the Savior and the Gospel showing Him to us EVERY week. Take me to the cross every week, and then show me how to live in the power of His resurrection.

]]> By: Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-838 Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:32:24 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-838 That's very good that Saddleback has more folks in small groups than in the large gathering. Now if he would stop asking people to be re-baptized so he can boast about how many he gets dunked in one day that'd be another issue.... That’s very good that Saddleback has more folks in small groups than in the large gathering. Now if he would stop asking people to be re-baptized so he can boast about how many he gets dunked in one day that’d be another issue….

]]> By: jake http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-836 jake Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:15:53 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-836 Your idea "Multiple local churches could come together and share one building for common worship" could very soon become a very real reality. With the state of the economy and the alarming number of ministers leaving the ministry it could become a reality by default instead of intentionality. The early church, as we discussed last week, had its large gatherings (temple courts e.g.) and its small groups (houses). The large gatherings were for worship and proclamation of the Gospel; whereas, the homes were for teaching and fellowship. I believe the Biblical model is the best model. It seems now that the American church is trying to recapture that model. An interesting stat from a mega-church, because I know how you love mega-churches. Saddleback averages just over 19000 in weekend worship attendance and nearly 21000 in small group attendance. They are doing something right. Your idea “Multiple local churches could come together and share one building for common worship” could very soon become a very real reality. With the state of the economy and the alarming number of ministers leaving the ministry it could become a reality by default instead of intentionality.

The early church, as we discussed last week, had its large gatherings (temple courts e.g.) and its small groups (houses). The large gatherings were for worship and proclamation of the Gospel; whereas, the homes were for teaching and fellowship. I believe the Biblical model is the best model. It seems now that the American church is trying to recapture that model.

An interesting stat from a mega-church, because I know how you love mega-churches. Saddleback averages just over 19000 in weekend worship attendance and nearly 21000 in small group attendance. They are doing something right.

]]> By: Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Dan O'Day (prayeramedic) Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:31:55 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-841 Hey Samantha, I totally agree that many churches have been doing a great job in their small group ministries. I simply wonder if the Sunday morning gathering "as is" is really effective, or if it's something that should be rethought. Only a relatively small percentage of those who attend Sunday morning gatherings actually get involved in small groups, when the opposite trend should be more of the reality. In other words, maybe we should invite people to small groups, not to the gathering. Then those who are already in small groups will gather each week for worship and prayer. The small groups is the real place where discipleship occurs, thus the real energy and money should be focused on it. Multiple local churches could come together and share one building for common worship, worshiping as the one true Church. The small groups is where it's at. Hey Samantha, I totally agree that many churches have been doing a great job in their small group ministries. I simply wonder if the Sunday morning gathering “as is” is really effective, or if it’s something that should be rethought. Only a relatively small percentage of those who attend Sunday morning gatherings actually get involved in small groups, when the opposite trend should be more of the reality. In other words, maybe we should invite people to small groups, not to the gathering. Then those who are already in small groups will gather each week for worship and prayer. The small groups is the real place where discipleship occurs, thus the real energy and money should be focused on it. Multiple local churches could come together and share one building for common worship, worshiping as the one true Church. The small groups is where it’s at.

]]> By: Samantha http://prayeramedic.com/2009/07/audience-vs-community/comment-page-1/#comment-840 Samantha Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:00:47 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=776#comment-840 Great post. I listened to a podcast last night by Mark Driscoll in church planting and he was talking about how hospitality isn't for believers- it's for nonbelievers who might be "strange" in that we don't know them. When we invite them in, it speaks volumes and is what true hospitality is. As far as community goes, I think churches are doing a good job of building their small group ministry so that real biblical community can take place. If the leadership stresses the importance of community, even if a congregation does meet in very traditional church (that seems more "audience-like") then it can happen. It has everything to do with the leadership at the top's focus on community. Great post. I listened to a podcast last night by Mark Driscoll in church planting and he was talking about how hospitality isn’t for believers- it’s for nonbelievers who might be “strange” in that we don’t know them. When we invite them in, it speaks volumes and is what true hospitality is.
As far as community goes, I think churches are doing a good job of building their small group ministry so that real biblical community can take place. If the leadership stresses the importance of community, even if a congregation does meet in very traditional church (that seems more “audience-like”) then it can happen. It has everything to do with the leadership at the top’s focus on community.

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