If you have read what I have posted lately you might think I am against Pastors and large congregations. You might think I want to see only House Churches where there is no leader at all. Not at all.
If we were doing church correctly, we would have everyone using their spiritual gifts. Everyone would be seeking God’s leading and guidance for everything in their lives, big or small. The church would be out there telling people about Christ. The church would be visiting the sick, the widows, and those in need. The church would be teaching about the Bible and how to make disciples. The pastor would only have to make sure his congregation was doing things scripturally and in order. He could help encourage and guide the congregation to do the work of Christ.
As it is now, pastors work more hours than almost anyone in their church. They get burned out and leave the ministry. The burden we place on our pastors is more than God ever planned, and it is because we are not looking to the scriptures to see how the church is to function.
On Sunday, you probably go to a church building and have a church service. You have an order of service (if it isn’t written in the bulletin it is probably still set up how long singing will be, when the offer is, when the sermon begins and heaven help us if it does not end in time). A leader (usually the pastor) gives the sermon and if you have something to say you don’t dare to speak up because that would be “out of order”
This is not the way God has set up the Church. This is the way man has. Man is the one who put a pastor as the one to lead and plan the church service. He has to spend hours of his time getting ready for each service, and we expect him to do much more outside of the Sunday services. We place too much burden on the pastor. If God was leading everyone's church service what would happen?
God desires to lead your Church in everything it does, but if God came and led your Sunday church service, what would be different? I would love to hear from you. Write in the comments what you think would happen? If He is leading your Sunday service, then, please comment on what happens in your service.
Photo credit: 40+293 Snooze by bark
Great article. Thanks. We do simple church on Sundays so everyone listens and shares as led (usually). I am the pastor and simply take shared turns with others facilitating what's going on. We deliberately plan less and less and we see more and more happening. Congregation size, 20-30, in Chowchilla, CA. We are looking to network with other simple-tons for Jesus! His yoke is then easy...!
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