At a recent apologetics conference a question was posited to me concerning the Great Commission. since the conference was not recorded the question that was asked of me I can only paraphrase as I ask the same question to this body.
In regards to the Great Commission; concerning the process of the preparation of Christ followers to be able to adequately share the good news with non- believers and then to make (train and help mature) disciples of new believers who in turn are they themselves capable of discipling others; How does the way that we currently do church accomplish this command? Specifically as I was asked. How the methodology of Sunday worship services, which usually involves singing, announcements, requests for tithes and offerings, special presentations and finally biblical lectures from church leaders who offer their personal interpretation of the chosen scriptures (also sharing their personal experiences that hopefully contribute to the understanding of those scriptures), along with special programs and individual targeted ministries and other events during the week accomplish this commandment given to each of us as Christ followers? His followup question was: What are churches current specific plans To mature new believers as well as current existing believers and how well is the church impacting our secular world?
I will tell you how I responded to this very intelligent young man, I will call him here mike, but more importantly I am posting this to get input from the body of Pastors and church leaders on this forum as to how to address these questions.
I responded by complimenting him on his very intelligent and heartfelt questions. I told him that I did not feel that I could not or should not attempt to respond with an appropriate response to these very deep and soul searching questions in brief time allotted in this Q and A format and that his questions were a sound basis for a thesis that someone could actually write a dissertation on. However, I asked him to please email me with the questions and that I would get input from church pastors and church leaders before I responded to his question. I did not want to give him just my opinion asI felt that he these questions deserved a consensus from a larger body of pastors and leaders who would best be capable of responding since this is their area of responsibility.
So, that is what I'm doing. I'm asking each of you who will be kind enough to respond to have a discussion with your fellow pastors and church leaders concerning these issues Mike brought up So I may respond to Mike as I promised.
Thank you for taking your time to discuss and respond to these, what I feel, are very critical questions that Mike has asked of us.
In regards to the Great Commission; concerning the process of the preparation of Christ followers to be able to adequately share the good news with non- believers and then to make (train and help mature) disciples of new believers who in turn are they themselves capable of discipling others; How does the way that we currently do church accomplish this command? Specifically as I was asked. How the methodology of Sunday worship services, which usually involves singing, announcements, requests for tithes and offerings, special presentations and finally biblical lectures from church leaders who offer their personal interpretation of the chosen scriptures (also sharing their personal experiences that hopefully contribute to the understanding of those scriptures), along with special programs and individual targeted ministries and other events during the week accomplish this commandment given to each of us as Christ followers? His followup question was: What are churches current specific plans To mature new believers as well as current existing believers and how well is the church impacting our secular world?
I will tell you how I responded to this very intelligent young man, I will call him here mike, but more importantly I am posting this to get input from the body of Pastors and church leaders on this forum as to how to address these questions.
I responded by complimenting him on his very intelligent and heartfelt questions. I told him that I did not feel that I could not or should not attempt to respond with an appropriate response to these very deep and soul searching questions in brief time allotted in this Q and A format and that his questions were a sound basis for a thesis that someone could actually write a dissertation on. However, I asked him to please email me with the questions and that I would get input from church pastors and church leaders before I responded to his question. I did not want to give him just my opinion asI felt that he these questions deserved a consensus from a larger body of pastors and leaders who would best be capable of responding since this is their area of responsibility.
So, that is what I'm doing. I'm asking each of you who will be kind enough to respond to have a discussion with your fellow pastors and church leaders concerning these issues Mike brought up So I may respond to Mike as I promised.
Thank you for taking your time to discuss and respond to these, what I feel, are very critical questions that Mike has asked of us.
