So. You want me in your church.
Here’s how to get me.
- Parking.
I need lots of space for my big SUV. And it better be close to the doors.
Don’t want to do much walking. So if it isn’t - how about a shuttle.
- Nice Building.
This is important. I’m not interested in some strip mall church that looks
like it’s struggling. Or an old traditional church - unless you've done
millions in renos. I’m an upwardly model semi-professional. I want my
surroundings to reflect my importance.
- Proper HVAC.
This isn’t important. It’s critical. I want to be cool when it’s warm and
warm when it’s cool. 68ºF to 72ºF - year round. Is that too much to ask.
- Comfy chairs.
And when I say chairs, I mean chairs. Preferably theater-style. With wide
arm rests. Give me some space for my girth - and safe distance from the
other arriving consumers.
- Be punctual.
I’ve already spent too much time getting me and the family ready and there
for the meeting. Begin it on time. Have something cool playing on the big
screens to entertain if we arrive a little early.
- You’ve got an hour.
Make good use of it. I want to be in and out in no more than 75 minutes.
Maybe a few more if you’re serving decent coffee. Decent coffee that’s
free, of course.
- Music.
Three songs up front. One fast (to get us going). One mid-tempo (to help
us be reflective). End with a fast one (that tells us how much
Jesus/God/the Spirit loves us - just no Jesus-Is-My-Boyfriend songs. OK!)
- Announcements.
Get them over after the music. Present them on your big screens so they
can be done quickly. This isn’t a time to stick your B-team on the
platform to give them some face time. And, unless Larry David is writing
for you, avoid humor. Have the Final Cut folk edit your marketing stuff
down to 15 second bites. If it works for Sony, it’ll work for you.
- Offering.
Now. It’s up to you where you put it. If the preacher is great, after the
sermon might work better. If not. Go for the money after the
announcements. (Maybe show some shots of starving third world kids in the
last announcement. Heart-string-tugs work for Compassion and World Vision
- why not your church.) “God loves a cheerful giver” and the Malachi 3
verses and the 100 fold blessing are important reminders. A good story of
how tithing worked for someone would be great. No more than 90 seconds
though.
- Sermon.
Twenty minutes. Did I make myself clear. 20 Minutes. 20. Twenty. We have
the attention spans of gnats. Keep that in mind. Make it practical. If I
wanted systematic theology, I would have gone to seminary. Use humor.
Steal from the best if necessary. I want to leave feeling built up. And
it’s a bonus if I can use the jokes/stories you told at work tomorrow.
- Final song.
Let the band rip on the last song. Feel good, happy-clappy works here. You
want us wanting to come back for more next week.
- Benediction segue.
Let the band lay back and under as you Bless Us. Speak multiplied
blessings over us - and then do a fast pitch for whatever product you need
to sell. I did say. Fast pitch.
- And then the band amps back up. This is the place for guitar or sax solos as we head
out the doors to the shuttle bus or book store or free coffee. It’s okay
to charge us something extra for Lattés.
Like I said. I’m a consumer. Oh. And
a sort of a Christian. If you build this, I will come.
Or so you’ve been told.
http://adjix.com/9vrw
JOHN 3:16 part one: “FOR GOD.”
Part two: “SO LOVED”
LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT
CHARLES E. WHISNANT
THREE-FOLD LOVE OF SALVATION
1
2
3
WHAT IS LOVE?
Martin Luther wrote: “Love is an image of God.”
John Henry Jowett: “Love
is faithfulness unto death.”
In
the Island of Ambrym: Love is translated
“The heart keeps calling, calling, calling for me.”
“GOD SO LOVED”. How much is that?
1A So Loved: Surpasses
Illustration
2A So Loved: Transcends
Emotion
3A So Loved:
Defies Comprehension
·
His
love is sovereign, uncaused, uninfluenced
·
·
His
love is everlasting, unending
·
·
His
love is infinite and unbounded
·
·
His
love is unchangeable
·
4A SO LOVED:
PROVIDES REDEMPTION
THE
AUTHORITY OF THE PASTOR/TEACHER COMES FROM THE SCRIPTURES.
THE
PASTOR/PREACHER/TEACHER HAS BEEN CALLED, AND GIVING AUTHORITY TO PREACH THE
WORD OF GOD.
THE AUTHORITY IS IN
THE WORD, NOT IN THE PREACHER.
WHEN I SAY THE ONLY
AUTHORITY I HAVE, WHAT I MEAN IS, THE AUTHORITY I HAVE IS THAT WHICH IS
EXPLAINED IN THE WORD OF GOD.
THE SCRIPTURES DOES
GIVE THE PASTOR/TEACHER AUTHORITY.
1.
THE RIGHT TO COMMAND,
2.
OFFICAL POWER TO ACT ON BEHALF OF SOMEBODY ELSE,
3.
OR OFFICIAL PERMISSION TO DO SOMETHING,
4.
A SOURCE OF RELIABLE INFORMATION ON A SUBJECT
;)
AUTHORITY
