Comments on: I declare – No Church Sunday

By: Be the church… | Solar Crash

Be the church… | Solar Crash — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:57:18 +0000

[...] faith community has rebranded our no-church-sundays to Be-the-Church-Sunday, which is closer to the heart of our [...]

By: Solar Crash: November round-up | Solar Crash

Solar Crash: November round-up | Solar Crash — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:57:46 +0000

[...] interacting on any of them. – Tantric Preaching – Pastoring vs. Jesus – Multi-Ethnicing a church – I declare – “No Church Sunday” – Pulling hearts out Similar Posts…Values Breakdown by Lon on June 22nd, 2007Failure… [...]

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:15:29 +0000

Great idea Lon, one we practice regularly. One aspect that I find refreshing about doing this is family time. If we’re honest, our western church models are based on English ‘children-are-to-be-seen-not-heard’ eras and church for our 3 kids can be the most family disrupting thing I can think of.

One thing I’m interested in hearing from Dave is why ‘the need for consistency still wins out’. We see in Isaiah that the Lord sometimes gets tired of our ritual consistency, as well as in Corinthians where Paul says that sometimes we gather and it’s for worse instead of better because we’re on auto-pilot, not discerning the Lord’s body. So I’m just wondering what you meant there.

Good topic and discussion guys!

By: Lon

Lon — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:37:55 +0000

Hey Dave, no I haven’t personally planted yet, though I’m helping lead a plant at the moment for my internship. It’s around 40 or so people. We’re definitely going to integrate some type of reflection exercise around it all as well. Thanks for the encouragement!

Barbara – that’s a great story, there’s like a whole world out there we’re routinely disconnected from!

By: Barbara (Xerraire)

Barbara (Xerraire) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:58:54 +0000

Recently, due to a health issue my niece [goes to church every Sunday] didn’t go to church. She in fact, was in the mall looking for something there to aid in her pain, I can’t remember exactly what, but she made an emergency trip to buy something for comfort.

She couldn’t believe how crowded it was, how many people.

First thing she told me was, “There’s a whole ministry out there!”

Provocative words really. I thought about it.
The lost souls are out THERE and not in the church BUILDING.

I suppose there is a happy medium to witness to them without losing our regular fellowship, but it was interesting what she said.

By: dt

dt — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:49:43 +0000

Lon–Have you already planted? I guess I didn’t realize that. FYI–I’m on staff at Hill Country Bible Church in Austin, TX. Our goal is to plant 100 churches int he next 9 years. We’ll be at 17 in September! Praise God.

So, I agree that in a church plant situation the rules are a little different, but I think the need for consistency still wins out. Consider more of a directed “field trip” time with a leader remaining at the typical meeting space to connect with late comers. Or have them leave the service with homework, or end early and assign “homework” for the next 30 minutes. I guess it all depends on how small your group is.

Big picture–way to go! Pastors who think outside the boring box will always have a leg up in engaging people with the LORD. God’s peace for you as you see God work in your midst. dt http://www.davetilma.com

By: Lon

Lon — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:59:32 +0000

thanks for the feedback guys.

yes, part of the practical struggle was why cancel a sunday service rather than making time elsewhere in our schedules for people/mission.

part of it was to really challenge our own routines/traditions and the other was to challenge those around us of what church really meant, and maybe even what might be more important to us.

Dave – I really appreciate your insight. Maybe I do need to make an option or a space for those who are in need of healing and rest. thanks for challenging me on this. One of our advantages as a church plant right now is we’re a relatively small community so I think now’s the time we can pull this off, without disconnecting people. I’ll definitely be reporting back what we do and how things go!

By: dt

dt — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:45:49 +0000

I think the intent is right on, but the exercise may not turn out like you’d like. I think you’re attempting to challenge core level attenders, but you’re sending fringe, marginal and even non-believing attenders away. People come to church for any number of different reasons on any given Sunday. The woman who just lost her husband, or had an abortion or randomly shows up won’t be able to connect. Every Sunday may seem tedious, but it is crucial. We do not know on which Sunday God will choose to work, but coming with an expectant attitude is one of the seven characteristics of a model church. Sam (comment above) may argue that a conversation may be more of a ministry to those people, but that is questionable and hypothetical. I believe in scattering the salt, but not scattering the sheep. dt http://www.davetilma.com

By: Sam.

Sam. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:12:36 +0000

Spot on in my book! We tend to hang out at Starbucks on Sunday mornings and just meet up with friends and use the time to build those relationships.

By: tony sheng

tony sheng — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:49:31 +0000

I like this idea a lot. I think we have to impress upon some of our communities this idea of being intentionally sent out. In #2, yes, sent out on a Sunday, but also sent out as a mindset and lifestyle.
Good stuff.