Featured Should Baptist Churches .....

Well, what about...

You got me. I must confess, but it's not Super Bowl.

I like to watch the Indy 500. But it is always - these days anyway - on Sunday morning, about the same time as the morning worship service. It used to was, I would always consider skipping church 'just this once' to see the race. But I wouldn't; I'd be in church.

However, since I moved to Nebraska, the race now starts at 1100 local time, so I can get home at just after 1200 (I live but about four blocks from church) and see most of the race.

 

Our church suggests, and for years we have followed through, each Sunday school class getting together for snacks, the game, and some fellowship at halftime -- in other words, turn off the TV and talk to someone you don't know very well. This helps build relationships within the church body that can be developed further, so that when ministry needs to be done within or outside of the church, there will be enthusiasm instead of excuses, like "I don't know anyone, I'll feel awkward."

This is one reason, obviously not the only one but among them, that our ministry outreach and our ability to respond to in-church needs has increased so dramatically over the last few years.

 

The answer is, each church is autonomous, and each local church decides for itself. However, having said that I am not shy about giving my opinion. We have three hours of church a week and one hour of Sunday School. That is four hours. I spend about four hours driving a van route, three hours preparing for a Sunday School lesson, and maybe five hours visiting, outreach, administration, and other miscellaneous tasks. Total it up and that is sixteen hours. I did leave out the time praying, reading the Bible at home, and BB. Anyhow, the point is, the Lord gives me 168 hours per week and I have Him around 20 at the most. A pew sitter on Sunday morning gives about an hour a week. We can get all the way down to those who come only Easter and Christmas.

So lets put this into perspective. God asks for our worship and praise for a little bit of the time He gives us to live, and we have the gall to make a three ring circus out of one of the times we worship him, in this case Sunday night. What does a multi-million dollar corporation that spends millions on either immoral commercials or commercials that promote worldly desires have to the with worshiping the Lord. So lets give up an opportunity to worship God so we can see a bunch of men carry a odd shaped ball over an imaginary line.

If one has any respect for worship and praise, why not just stay home and watch the idiots run down the field. Either that or record it on a DVD recorder.

Look, the stadium is packed. The crowd is excited to the max. I can feel it in the air. If the subject of this event was the Lord, the seats would be empty, there would be no cheers, and the only thing one would feel in the air is boredom. So, as Christians, lets tune into the worldly event of the year, and cancel church. Sounds like a great idea to me.

 

It gets back to what your local church thinks is proper to do. Yes, having a devotion during halftime is better than not having anything related to a worship service. Hopefully someone during the devotion during halftime will be touched by the Lord to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

I guess a question that comes to my mind is why is the Super Bowl an exception to sporting events during church? What is different about that than the World's Series, NCAA basketball championship, the New Year's Bowls, the Stanley Cup, or the Olympics?

If you are going to pick out a team, you could at least pick the Saints, Packers, or Titans.

 

Don't have an evening service, so no. Some do an outreach with a video of a coach or athlete at halftime. Don't usually worry about what other churches do or don't do, enough on my plate already.

 

My church considered doing this a few years ago, but it was brought to the pastors attention that this was illegal or on the border of being illegal, so we decided against it. Personally I cringe at the thought of missing on opportunity to hear the word of God preach because of football.

 

Ah, thank you for the clarification!

 

Not in the game, Salt, nor is Kansas City. Sorry to say. :laugh: :thumbsup:

 

We have 9:30 am and 11:00 am services, and on super bowl sunday, we have parties in individual homes, usually each cell group gathers for food and game!

 

:thumbsup: :laugh:

 

Our 'team' lost over and over at the stadiums in the early centuries.
Can't imagine what the martyrs would think of today's churches voluntarily embracing such a trashy spectacle.

 

Yes & dont forget to spend your money in the Shangri-La that is NJ....

 

We'll put you down as a "no," then.

 

I personally dont think there is anything wrong with having a Super Duper party at the church providing it doesn't substitute regularly scheduled services. Wouldn't that be considered a fellowship event?