Our destination is not a church to visit but a revisit, returning to the congregation we were part of a decade ago.
Consider these four discussion questions about Church #52:
1. This church would be bigger, except they keep sending members away to plant new churches.
How could your church do better at sending people into the world to advance God’s kingdom?
2. After the service the pastor invites people to come forward for prayer with the prayer teams. I appreciate them serving people through prayer, but few churches do. Don’t they see prayer as important?
How can you elevate prayer at your church?
3. Today we heard an insightful message from a gifted communicator. We enjoyed worship led by talented musicians. Yet something felt off. They have a traditional soul. “Safe” best describes their vibe; they are playing is safe.
How can you help move your church from playing it safe to being bold for Jesus?
4. I had meaningful conversations today, but they were all with people I knew. If I had shown up as a stranger, I would have departed as a stranger, feeling more alone than when I had arrived.
What can you do to make sure no one leaves your church feeling like a stranger?
[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.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
2 replies on “Playing it Safe”
Peter Dehaan you ask relevant questions. Many people want to act on their faith. They want to show others how the Gospel and their faith in God puts them into action. Sending people out into the world to make disciples too early before the Disciples within a small congregation or a large one have truly been discipled into mature Christians can cause problems. Deepening one’s faith takes time, years. People need to read your books Peter and they need faith in the Triune God. The three persons of the Trinity are three distinct persons who are committed to one another and all Creation by the Almighty Grace and LOVE of God. One can say…God is a BIG HUG. Reading your books, getting more acquainted with the stories of the Bible (being aware of the veil of Patriarchal language that veils the Woman Jesus and unites the Trinity and God’s Grace as a HE) and working in a congregation to build people up and help people resolve conflicts with one another and their families and neighbours is important peacemaking work.
I should have added. Sometimes we need to play it safe so that everyone has time to learn how to hear the melody and humm, sing or play along.