Discussing Church 23
Last Sunday was their minister’s last day. Other area clergy have high respect for him. I wish I could have met him.
Consider these four discussion questions about Church #23:
1. Today ends their summer schedule with one contemporary service. Next week they’ll switch to their winter format with two services: one traditional and the other contemporary.
Had we known, we might have come next Sunday for a doubleheader.
If your church has seasonal schedules, why? How does this impact people who want to attend your service?
2. Like Church #8, the church’s youth programs are part of Young Life, a nondenominational youth ministry, which taps college students as leaders.
What programs do you have that might be more effective if you worked with existing, external ministries?
3. Throughout the service, a person mills about, occasionally sitting and sometimes murmuring. She appears homeless and acts mentally ill. Though I’m distracted, I’m pleased no one confronts her behavior or shoos her from God’s house.
How does your church treat those who don’t fit in or act strangely?
4. Afterward, two members confirm that their pastor prepared them to function without him. Though it’s their minister’s last day, they expect to do just fine after he leaves.
How well would your church function without a minister? How long could you keep it up?
[See the prior set of questions, the next set, or start at the beginning.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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