Am presently reading a book by Graham Cooke & Gary Goodell entitled Permission Granted To Do Church Differently in the 21st CenturyAn exert from the book states the following:Despite what some people think, as we move along in this continuum called Third Day Church, it really becomes very practical and not nearly as mystical or weird as it may appear. We are basically experimenting in our gatherings with the growing issue of extended worship expressions and the mutually edifying participation buy the released released saints movement.The worship is unrushed, unencumbered, extended, open, passionate, and highly experiential. The worship is for our Father, and it is to be worship that pleases Him, and worship that He leads. Next to that, there is an open invitation for others to participate and carry their gifts to the meeting for the purpose of mutual edification, requiring the creation of a new environment, new rules, and new patterns as we do church.As we keep taking a long hard look at how we have done church for years, we must be willing to grapple with all forms of scaly skin that need to become a new wineskin. As I mentioned in the last chapter, the last bastion of resistance usually falls into this area of preaching or teaching, or at least how and when we preach or teach. It is here where we bump into some of out strongest habits, with adjustments and changes needed. To be willing to touch that all-but-sacred, single pastor, lecture driven form, we begin by asking some hard questions about out philosophy of how people learn.
OTCP
Acts 17:21
I’ve heard of Graham Cooke, but I don’t know much about him. Some of his ideas seem consistent with house church ideas.Honestly, I am a bit concerned with too much emphasis super long extended ‘worship’– meaning listening to musicians go on for hours. I went to a MorningStar seminar back in the early 90’s, and the musicians would go on and on and on and on with a repetitive riff on the guitars and spontanously make up lyrics. I think we should be accepting of actual prophetic songs if that happens. A guitar can block out a lot of other people from using their gifts in a meeting for mutual edification. It can be just as hampering to other people’s expression of gifts as the Sunday-sermon tradition can be. Maybe some of the ideas about worship music are as deeply engrained as how and when teaching and preaching are done. I think we need to be balanced on the preaching and teaching part. On the one hand, the Bible doesn’t command us to have one sermon. We don’t see an example of one pastor leading one local congregation. We don’t see any teaching that we are to have one long sermon in church. I Corinthians 14 assumes that in church meetings, different people will sing, teach, speak in tongues and interpret and prophesy. The ‘commandments of the Lord’ in the passage are related to how to have an orderly church meeting like this.But we do see that Paul and the other apostles did teach extensively. A lot of house churches embrace the idea of a I Corinthians 14:26 meeting. But house church meetings can turn into a time of light Christian coffee house chit chat. Another issue is that during a discussion, it can be hard for a teacher to really develop a point or communicate certain truths. Prophesying and teachings are extremely important gifts, emphasized in scripture, and they need room to operate. Insisting on conversation instead of some sort of more formal teaching can be counter-productive, too, IMO. I don’t see it as either or, but as both and. It’s not the case that there must be either preaching and teaching OR mutual edification. We should have the in-depth teachings, but also allow room for other spiritual gifts. I think it’s a good idea to have some time for mutual edification through shorter teachings, testimonies, words of exhortation, etc. even when a long extended teaching has been given________________
People in Third Day Churches are encouraged to:1. Bring a song2. Bring a report3. Bring a prophecy4. Bring encouragement5. Bring a dance6. Bring a lesson7. Bring a poem7. Bring a skit.Using your gifting is encouraged.The one another’s in Scripture is encouraged.1. Love one another2. Be devoted to one another3. Honor one another above yourselves4. Live in harmony with one another5. Stop passing judgement on one another6. Edify one another7. Instruct (admonish) one another8. Accept one another9. Have concern for one another10. Carry one another’s burdens11. Forgive one another12. Submit to one another13. Agree with one another14. Teach one another15. Encourage one another16. Build each other up17 Live in peace with one another18. Be kind to one another19. Spur one another toward good deeds20. Confess sins to one another21. Offer hospitality to one another22. Serve each other23. Show humility to one another24. Fellowship with one another.
doncha think________________God-HonoringChrist-CenteredBible-BasedSpirit-Led
65% of non-churched persons will not present themselves to the current institution of church. We must have ‘third places’ that are filled with the presence of Jesus and people that can do without convention. It is the hope of the future. There are more ‘third places’ than just this Third Day movement and, hopefully, there will be more in the coming years________________Live an epiK life!Discover More…www.refocusing.orgA Mission in Formationwww.bluewaterinthekeys.com