Purpose Driven Mess

Too Much Agreement!!!! Aaaarrrgghh!!!

Got---to---go---away!!!!

 

It was the Holy Spirit that brought the unbelievers to the believers so Peter could have the chance to share the Gospel. The Holy Spirit does the same thing today in the church. I bet there are millions that have been saved by coming to church. The gospel starts there and branches out from there. Sunday's are for worshipping God, re-energizing life application and proclaiming the Good News. Deep discipleship and study is not for Sunday worship service, IMO. That should occur during private time, small group and Bible studies.

 

I agree with all except the part that worship service is not for discipleship. I want to be discipled everytime we're gathered together. But maybe that's just me.

 

Ok, I'll agree with that. Bye. :laugh:

JK!

 

You are so RIGHT!! Visitor's time is Sunday morning -- Sunday night for Bible stury -- SS is for fellowship -- Wednesday is for theology -- and worship is the rest of OUR LIVES!

I read PDL. It definitely is a "sequel" to PDChurch. It's not about YOU -- it's about God, the church, and becoming "best friends with God."

Well, Jesus said "I call you friends because you know what I do" BUT God wants us to be SONS. This thought isn't even broached in PDL.

Two ways we become "best friends with God" --- 1) "constant conversation" and 2) "continual meditation." Later, the "most important relationship" -- "friendship" with God.

skypair

 

Without the Blood of Christ there is NO gospel.

HankD

 

You must have skipped day 15. PDL, page 118, 2nd paragraph, "When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become his children...." That's pretty much the focal point of that whole chapter.

 

As for the evangelism/discipleship debate, all ya'll are putting God in way too small of a box. The Bible says that God's word will not return void. I know you have seen this many times, so why the debate? How is it that in a room, everyone hears the same Scripture read, everyone hears the same preacher and the same words preached. One believer hears and is convicted of some sinful attitude in his life. Another believer hears and finds strength to face a difficult situation. Still another believer hears and feels God'S call to a particular ministry. And the unbeliever hears and is brought to repentance and salvation.

So, reagrding the question, "Is Sunday morning for evangelism or for discipleship?", the obvious answer is, ABSOLUTELY!!!:thumbs:

 

And may I add, fellowship, worship, and ministry.:thumbs: raying:

 

I'm with Amy on this one

Every time we meet we meet for discipleship

My church is a 1st Century church---in every aspect a church that preaches sound doctrine, that engages in sound evangelism, that engages in glorious fellowship, that engages in untireing ministry, that engages in neverceasing prayer.----all of that before RW ever "saw the light of day!!"

"And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

 

Really Blackbird, everytime...

YOu all don't get together just for fellowship.. like a picnic, or dinner, cookout... or from where you are from Crawfish whatchamacallits?
Just for the fun of being together?

Do you ever get together to go out soulwinning?

Do you ever get together to fix the elderly's leaking roofs?

Or do work parties around the church?

I can see some degree of discipleship in those, but the main thrust of soulwinning is evangelism, not discipleship
The main thrust of church picnics is fellowship... not discipleship.

So there are different things the church does together that fit into different categories.

 

Ugh! And I had the book right in my hands when I said that!

I guess that wasn't the major impression it made on me. I guess after hearing him say "It's not about you" (First page, right?), that I was going to be reading about how to be a servant rather than a son.

skypair

 

When I think of trying to be seeker-sensitive, I don't think of dumbing down messages. I think we need to raise the intelligence of messages to biblically deal with the good theological questions that are being discussed by Christians and non-Christians today and not only focusing on the major issues that faced the 1500s to the 1800s, but that is an aside.

When I think of seeker-sensitive, I think of the many generations of church culture that has placed barriers between God and modern folks who seek him. All of these barriers having nothing to do with right biblical doctrine.

Those who have grown up in a culture where it was assumed that folks go to church have become accustomed to a predefined dress, language, music and lifestyle that is cultural and not necessarily biblical. It is those cultural barriers that are completely foreign to seekers. These cultural facets are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but as a whole, they can combine to create an environment that is insular and unnecessarily difficult for the seeker to navigate through and meet with God.

This is what I believe seeker-sensitive churches are very good at doing: Removing unnecessary cultural barriers and presenting the core biblical message to a generation that cannot identify with previous generations of church culture. Sometimes that mean preaching like the way Paul did on Mars Hill and not like the fire and brimstone style that isn't found in the bible. And hopefully it never means that worship and discipleship are neglected since those are two of the five purposes emphasized by Warren in PDL and PDC.