House and home
Like it or not, Saskatoon Vineyard Christian
Fellowship is, by default, a house church. I think that we've been slow to
admit to the transitional phase that we find ourselves going through. Moreover,
it's been hard to accept and embrace the change, and to see it as something
good. It's an opportunity to move forward into something new. The difficulty
seems to be that strange yet familiar churchy aftertaste in our
mouths.
I can't speak for everyone, but personally I've found the gatherings around potluck meals and holiday or social excuses to be very life giving; whereas the times that we've swung to a more recognizable and deliberate church format seem, of late, a bit shallow and, at the very least, exhausting. Perhaps this is simply my perception of things... perhaps not.
One challenge for us, as I see it, is to somehow integrate our faith into our gatherings while still maintaining the life generating elements that we've unearthed in the simple act of getting together. It shouldn't be a difficult thing, but somehow it is. Somehow things seem sort of awkward and somewhat forced whenever we're intentional about turning our attention toward God. Maybe we're trying to hard. Perhaps it's just my perceptions again? I guess what I'm saying is that the life that is there around a meal or a game together should be there whenever we gather, regardless of whether we are deliberate about expressing our faith and worship. Our gathering as believers is to build one another up; to encouraging each other in our faith and worship; to worship together. So, when we gather, we should be built up and not sapped out.
o.k... Anyone who knows anything about our group is aware of the amazingly rich blessing of children that God has given us. This fact, however, presents another unique challenge. How do our gatherings look in light of the fact that there are more kids than adults? What form does corporate worship take when the average age of the majority is 7 years old? This IS a blessing. We are reluctant to see it as such, and to rise to the challenge. We are being forced to rethink everything that we've assumed a home church to be. We have to think outside of the box and rediscover what is going to work for us... and it's going to have to come right from the core of who we are. Formulas will not work this time. The biggest thing before us is the discipling of our children. That means that we've gotta start putting hands and feet to our faith and worship. Faith without works... talk is cheap.
"Train up a child in the way he should go... and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
I can't speak for everyone, but personally I've found the gatherings around potluck meals and holiday or social excuses to be very life giving; whereas the times that we've swung to a more recognizable and deliberate church format seem, of late, a bit shallow and, at the very least, exhausting. Perhaps this is simply my perception of things... perhaps not.
One challenge for us, as I see it, is to somehow integrate our faith into our gatherings while still maintaining the life generating elements that we've unearthed in the simple act of getting together. It shouldn't be a difficult thing, but somehow it is. Somehow things seem sort of awkward and somewhat forced whenever we're intentional about turning our attention toward God. Maybe we're trying to hard. Perhaps it's just my perceptions again? I guess what I'm saying is that the life that is there around a meal or a game together should be there whenever we gather, regardless of whether we are deliberate about expressing our faith and worship. Our gathering as believers is to build one another up; to encouraging each other in our faith and worship; to worship together. So, when we gather, we should be built up and not sapped out.
o.k... Anyone who knows anything about our group is aware of the amazingly rich blessing of children that God has given us. This fact, however, presents another unique challenge. How do our gatherings look in light of the fact that there are more kids than adults? What form does corporate worship take when the average age of the majority is 7 years old? This IS a blessing. We are reluctant to see it as such, and to rise to the challenge. We are being forced to rethink everything that we've assumed a home church to be. We have to think outside of the box and rediscover what is going to work for us... and it's going to have to come right from the core of who we are. Formulas will not work this time. The biggest thing before us is the discipling of our children. That means that we've gotta start putting hands and feet to our faith and worship. Faith without works... talk is cheap.
"Train up a child in the way he should go... and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Posted: Sat - January 3, 2004 at 02:22 PM
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Published On: Feb 14, 2004 03:48 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Feb 14, 2004 03:48 AM