Worship
I already raised some questions about how we evaluate our worship services. I am beginning to question the concept of a "worship service." I haven't thoroughly researched this yet, but it seems that the "services" that the early church held would be more accurately described as "discipleship and fellowship services." http://www.alanknox.net/2008/09/early-church-gatherings/ Not that there was no worship in those meetings, but I don't think they felt compelled to label everything as Worship through the reading of the Torah, Worship through the breaking of bread, etc. Worship was part of their gathering, I'm pretty sure, but it was also part of their life! They worshiped in prison, they rejoiced after being flogged by the religious leaders in Acts 5, but it doesn't seem (admittedly, after only a cursory search) that they had "worship services" in our contemporary sense.
I'm not trying to advocate cutting worship out of our gatherings, but it might be easier to realistically plan and evaluate our gatherings if we don't feel the need to label everything as worship. It might be easier to interrupt a sermon (one form of discipleship) to tend to rebellious teenagers (another form of discipleship) if we don't take the view that we are "interrupting" the WORSHIP OF THE LORD. If worship is viewed as every breath we take rather than what we do when we gather, how would it change our expectations?
Fellowship
I believe the current culture of church-hopping undermines fellowship in its deeper senses. Accountability and church discipline are destroyed when all a rebellious person has to do is go to the church down the street and start over. If people bounce from church to church every now and then when they get bored or ticked off, they will never develop deep relationships with fellow church members. I propose we found a movement: first on an associational level, but eventually globally. The pastors and churches that subscribe to the concept would agree not to take new members moving from other local churches that were part of the movement without first meeting with the prospective members and the soon-to-be-former pastors. The reasons for moving can be discussed honestly, and any issues that need to be dealt with (conflict, ego, bitterness) can be lovingly addressed, rather than simply ignored to fester. In many, if not most, cases the aim would be reconciliation with the original church family, though the second church could provide a nurturing environment for healing and growth if necessary on the path to such restoration.
Discipleship
I raised the idea of depending on the Spirit to lead new (or otherwise) converts in their own discipleship. I guess individual needs also need to be balanced with community needs, which is what happens in larger settings, like Sunday School and especially sermons. And I think our community of modern Christians needs to be taught some basic things like: all suffering is not to be avoided, being dishonored for the cause of Christ is worth rejoicing over, mission work is messy and costly, forget about what you "like" and give your life for the kingdom, etc. Of course, others could look at me and list things I need to be taught, I am sure...
Service
While I am intrigued by the idea that our pastor has raised, that we are to do good "especially to those of the household of faith" (Gal 6) my thoughts today have taken me in another direction. I have thought of the example of William Wilberforce, who actively and intentionally and for years pursued the end of the slave trade in England. By comparison, most of our "benevolence" is random and compulsory--we help when someone comes to us. (I do realize that some had to come to Wilberforce, but once he learned of the greater need he did not need individual slaves to come up to him over and over again.) I think of those who worked to end slavery in this country. I think of Mother Theresa serving in Calcutta. I think of Heidi Baker in Mozambique. I think of Paul going from city to city collecting for the poor in Jerusalem. I think we need a ministry mission (at least one). I think we need to look at our community, and perhaps beyond our community, and say to ourselves what is the greatest need that we can impact as ambassadors of the Kingdom, and then marshal the forces of heaven and earth in the effort (all under the direction of God, of course, not to imply directing Him)!
Evangelism
I believe if our church is to matter, we have got to get serious about penetrating the darkness around us with the light of the Gospel. I think we need to make a declaration. We are staking claim to our block for the Kingdom of Heaven. There are about 22 buildings on this block. Some are residences, some are businesses. Within a month, we will get to know every family and every business on this block. We will know them and something of their story. If they have needs, we will seek to aid them. If they are lost we will share Christ. If they are unchurched we will share EHBC. If they are active church members with us or with someone else, we will seek to bless them in their walk with the Lord. If we can patronize their business we will. We will know and be known by this block in the name of Jesus Christ. . .and then we'll take another. And another. Our reach in ministry and evangelism will grow and grow and as we bring in new people they will help us grow even more. And our talk about being a light in this community will mean something.
A second, parallel line of attack comes from the lives of our members. I still believe in the "Wellspring" concept, and the idea of Babystep Evangelism. Maybe it needs to be packaged differently. Maybe my ego got in the way when we tried to launch it before. Whatever the case, our reach shouldn't only spread from the location of our building, but also from the lives of our members.
