Pentecostal church services tend to follow a very predictable pattern. I’ve been in a number of churches over the past 40 years,and all of them follow the pattern listed here:- opening welcome or prayer- singing or praise and worship- offering- more praise and worship- preach the word – prayer time- go homeRealizing of course that there will be variables such as communion or some other event. What I’m wondering is whether or not this predictability is how church is supposed to be? Discounting the insanity that passes for church with the likes of Bentley and Bethel, have Pentecostals become too regimented and predictable? Is there an opportunity for the Spirit to move any longer? Thoughts________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
I think a big part of it is because
I think many of the generation following my generation in the COG, became a little leery of what we all saw as ‘WILD FIRE’ and many times it was very apparent. Back then we chided all the Baptist and ‘formal religious denominations’ because of their ‘formality.’The church was so concerned about ‘SISTER Brown or Bro. Charles ‘getting started’ that a ‘form’ felt better.I remember two people, a brother and a sister who practically held a ‘FourSquare church’ Hostage, because of the many messages in tongues and their interpretations, it practically split the church.I do miss the times when the spirit took charge and we rejoiced because we were HIS Sheep.My question is what do you guys as pastors see as a problem with a ‘program?________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
What;s wrong with a plan – an order of service?If God interrupts the normal flow – fine.If you want to plan a move of the Spirit – go ahead and add that in – let us know how that works out________________
Re: Perhaps
I have heard the statement, Better wild fire than no fire. Even when said I don’t think the author or speaker really meant that in reality. Just a burning desire for SOME FIRE (or Spirit display).I do not doubt that there have been sincere folks who could not wait on the Spirit of God, and thought He needed some help and so they gave a faux tongues/interpretation to spur things on. Many well meaning folk.But then there are those who create a ‘wild fire’ that consumes the good and bad as the name projects, Wild fires are NOT good. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
Most Pentecostals have known, seen or been part of a church that was a Shout and ‘display’ every time the church doors opened. The Word was seldom delivered. I remember the statement very vividly, We had a great service tonight, the preacher could not preach. NOT a BAD thing, unless it is every service and no instruction in His Word is ever administered.Now that is not gospel of course, just an opinion. I got to know and love a wonderful 4SQ preacher, Brother (DR) Aldridge long time pastor in Belmont, NC.He told me, if the Lord has laid a message on my heart, it will be delivered. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
What;s wrong with a plan – an order of service?If God interrupts the normal flow – fine.If you want to plan a move of the Spirit – go ahead and add that in – let us know how that works out. Obviously a plan is necessary. My point is that the plan seems to have supplanted the Spirit. Of course I don’t want wild fire or whatever you want to call it. I also don’t want bro. and sis. so and so to take over a service. Been there, done all of that and much more. There has to be a balance between the plan and a free movement of the Spirit, and in many churches there is an imbalance towards the plan,leaving little,or no opportunity for the Spirit to move. These are my observations, hopefully yours differ in a positive manner________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
Good point. Back in Ohio I had a man tell me their pastor had not got to preach for six weeks due to the Spirit taking over. This was in a Mountain Assembly church of God. I asked him if he knew what Spirit that was________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”