One thing I really like about our church is that we have an informal style in our worship service, and we encourage participation from every member of the church body.
There are very few places where the Bible gives explicit instructions about how to hold a church gathering. And of course there was variety in how the early church met together. But in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives some very clear instructions.
What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.
1 Corinthians 14:6
So for many years we’ve been inviting the church to share during the worship service.
My father started this, and he recently wrote about it on his blog in more detail. Read that here.
I recorded a short podcast episode where I explain a little bit more about how we do this, and how I’ve been embracing this model of church gathering even more recently! I would love to hear your thoughts about this.
Do you know of any other churches who are trying this type of meeting?
Hi Ethan, this is Edgar Mendez from Queretaro, Mexico. Your dad and mom have been a couple of times with us: we love them.
Concerning this subject I do not recall exactly how did we start but maybe from 4 year ago, I decided not to have a pulpit! That was really a big step on this way of having the gathering.
There are many experiences that I can share with you but in my opinions one key point is to realize we are a body with gifts from a) the Holy Spirit (I Co. 12), b) ministries from our risen Lord (Eph. 4 ) and c) faculties from God that Father (Ro. 12). All these “abc” are described that each member has. Thus: a) there are not such a clergy (Apostol, Prophet…) but only bishops (regularly identified as Pastors; Acts 20) and deacons* which are the actual combination of abc.
*Nothing to do with the deacons concept as usual in most of churches; look how this word is used in NT letters.
Hi Edgar, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I like your concept of ABC, I’m going to think about that one some more!