The Disruptive

Once I thought i'd look up to see how we can give Glory to God. I only found one way:

Romans 15:7 (NLT = New Living Translation):
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So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified.



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We can't expect people to get "cleaned up" and then come to Christ. It doesn't work like that. When we find Christ, he's the one who cleans us up. Bussing in a bunch of unbelievers to "bring them to Jesus" and make them behave like Sunday School angels ain't gonna happen. We have to meet people where they are and let Christ change them. This is one reason why I believe most evangelism should be done outside the church building.

Instead of bussing people in, why not focus on a different "program" to reach people? What about a weekly basketball session with a devotional? What about a ministry to single moms, like changing their oil or parenting lessons? Evangelism is a lot more than dumping people off at church for a free babysitting session where we try to un-do a person's lifestyle within an hour. They need to see we care about them (warts and all) before they'll believe Jesus cares about them.

 

We were perfectly willing to take care of disruptive children on our bus. No problem. But our ministry ended when no more children would ride the bus, we worked on that ministry and spent 3 years on it. But when God was done, He was done. We saw the first salvations we've ever had on our bus ministry, which turned out to be about 80%.

 

We cannot sacrifice the worship service in the name of evangelism. It seems of late that the worship service has become expendable. Our worship of God should take priority. And to allow disruption inhibits worship, and gives an incorrect picture of God. Worship is only about what we give God. It has nothing to do with getting anything from Him.

Disruptive behavior is not acceptable in a worship service.

 

That is an awesome quote and a great explanation why many bus ministries fail. The need is not transportation, its ministry. We need to bring the gospel to the world, not the world to the gospel.

 

Our bus kids always sat with us, and when there were too many others would take a few to sit with. We hopeful taught them how to act in church, especially in worship service. We absolutely would never have allowed them to interrupt worship.

 

Great post! :thumbs:

Our church is trying to find a balance, with offerings within and without. However, disruptions during worship isn't tolerated.

 

I think it's amazing what people expect from the kids we bring into the church.

Kids are going to act like kids. Lost kids are going to act like lost kids. Bottom line, ministry is messy. If you want to reach out to some of these troubled kids and students, you're probably gonna get dirty, muddy, and maybe even bloody.

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but much work is gained from the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4. Translation... You'll get more work done if you have oxen, but your barn will be messy. If you want a clean barn, you won't get near as much work done. It's like that in ministry... to reach people, sometimes you have to get dirty.

 

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.


"No where in scripture does it command sinners to come into the church."

Dr. Curtis Hudson

 

I have his 1975 sermon sitting right here on cassette tape. I know full well what he said. He was talking about people who will not leave the church to witness. Period. By the way Dr. Hudson was an avid door knocker. Also further in that message he tells of driving up and down 85 in Atlanta at 2 am with a can of gasoline looking for someone to witness to.

 

The lost should always be broght in. Some times folks want to come to church and see what Christianity is about. But we do not cater oue worship services toward them. That sacrifices true worship and is disengenuine.

 

If a church desires to win the lost for Christ then we need to be able to handle some of the ugly that comes with that. Respecting God's house is not birthed into us it is something we must be taught. The parents of some of these bus kids are not teaching respect for God at home and the church only has them for a few hours a week. It takes time. I have been a child of God for 30 years and He is still not done with me yet!