-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Baptist Church Offers Lounge Option
- Thread starter Jerome
- Start date
OldRegular
Well-Known Member
A vivid demonstration in real life of the true meaning of Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth! Just think Brunch while you worship! Can't beat that with a stick!~:laugh::BangHead::laugh::BangHead:
To me, this so-called "high-tech" system isn't that much different from the bunch of "late arrivers" and/or "early leavers" who populate the back pews of many of our local church assemblies today.
A church of which I was once a member some years ago had one of its rather highly-skilled members install a video camera system in the auditorium in order to record the corporate worship services that were later sent to a local TV station to air over its broadcast facilities.
This person devised this camera system in such a way as to be able to record "shots" of members of the congregation while the services were in process.
He once showed me a couple "clips" of some of these "shots" that he recorded on tape and forwarded to the TV station for airing.
I'm sure there were some eyebrows raised when the cameras would "zoom in tight" at some of the members who were obviously fast asleep as the services were going on!! :smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin:
A church of which I was once a member some years ago had one of its rather highly-skilled members install a video camera system in the auditorium in order to record the corporate worship services that were later sent to a local TV station to air over its broadcast facilities.
This person devised this camera system in such a way as to be able to record "shots" of members of the congregation while the services were in process.
He once showed me a couple "clips" of some of these "shots" that he recorded on tape and forwarded to the TV station for airing.
I'm sure there were some eyebrows raised when the cameras would "zoom in tight" at some of the members who were obviously fast asleep as the services were going on!! :smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin:
From the article:
[the cafe] also caters to some homeless and mentally ill congregants who administrative assistant Lea Kendhammer said aren’t always comfortable in a crowd.
“It’s just another venue,” she said.
We have an overflow space for our services.
Its fairly similar, we have a large room with chairs set up. The service feed is projected onto a large screen. Some weeks it doesn't fill up, others it gets rather comfortable. For our purposes the room helps with late arrivers, parents with kids who don't want to use our childcare options, and a number of other reasons. The space is helpful to connect with lots of people, though it isn't a lounge atmosphere.
We have benefited from having the space, though we always have a someone who encourages regulars to plan on making the regular venues.
Its fairly similar, we have a large room with chairs set up. The service feed is projected onto a large screen. Some weeks it doesn't fill up, others it gets rather comfortable. For our purposes the room helps with late arrivers, parents with kids who don't want to use our childcare options, and a number of other reasons. The space is helpful to connect with lots of people, though it isn't a lounge atmosphere.
We have benefited from having the space, though we always have a someone who encourages regulars to plan on making the regular venues.
This is very different than an ear tickling. I think this just may be a way to minister to those on the outside of society. Then kudos to this church!! I personally would prefer a couch or two in the sanctuary myself but I can't convince the pastor to get one up front!
SolaSaint
Well-Known Member
I admit I didn't read the article and am just reacting from the OP. However I still must say why do we come to church? Is it to worship the Most High God? Do we as the church need to make it so comfortable to unchurched people that they will now be enticed? Kicked back in a Lazyboy with a Starbucks watching a big screen TV? Millions do this every Sunday while watching Joel Osteen at home. I'm sorry I just don't get it.
I read somewhere that we don't make jails to reach the unjailed. :wavey:
I read somewhere that we don't make jails to reach the unjailed. :wavey:
OldRegular
Well-Known Member
You make a good point. The Church is the Body of Jesus Christ. The Church meets as a body to worship the Most High God. Hopefully unbelievers will be drawn to the worship services, observe the Body of Christ in worship, and hear the Gospel of Redemption preached.
What's Next?
Box seats built along the sides and back wall! And each box seat comes with a full brunch bar and maybe for those Baptist who see nothing wrong with drinking, a bar?
I just have one question...WWJD or T?
Box seats built along the sides and back wall! And each box seat comes with a full brunch bar and maybe for those Baptist who see nothing wrong with drinking, a bar?
I just have one question...WWJD or T?
More than likely heal the mentally ill and feed the homeless as an object lesson to the pharisees who think what you are sitting on, and where it is located, within your gathering of fellow believers, to hear a sermon, matters one whit to Jesus.
Ahhhh…thinking outside the box. Perhaps it should be based on sacrificial giving. Those who don’t give can sit in the lounge, but charge for brunch. Then you have a general admission (in the front…if Baptist), but those box seats need to be at a premium. Certainly the televised service should be PPV – at least that may get some into the lounge. Oh…and for those who are willing and can afford a large gift on at least an annual basis…an offset. For an arranged gift (a minimum dollar amount but also a minimum percentage of annual gross income) the member can be considered present “in spirit,” without the discomfort of leaving home. This would be good for those cold or rainy days…or if there is something better to do.
Seriously, though….when did the focus shift from God to man? When did it become all about our comfort?
Seriously, though….when did the focus shift from God to man? When did it become all about our comfort?
Just did a mini-study on how to worship. Here's a thread that covered part of it.
http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=92476
The only thing Jesus said about worship is that it should be done in spirit and in truth, specifically pointing out that worship does not depend on a physical location. So sorry to tell you but Jesus doesn't say you need to be in a sanctuary to worship, in fact he says the opposite.
What's wrong with it?
With shifting the focus on God to man or with the focus of worship being on our comfort?
Gib
Active Member
This whole comfort thing can be taken to the local church without the amenities in the OP. Our church has padded pews for your seat and your back. They are very comfortable. Carpeted floors cushion every step. AC/Heater units make every SS class, the sanctuary, nursery and bathrooms just the right temperature every Sunday. The ladies restroom has a couch and a love seat for the you know who's who need it. The furniture will have to be removed. There's a man who comes early makes coffee, brings OJ, bottle water and fruit. He loves serving God and serving people. We'll let him know his service isn't needed. The church will now meet in the parking lot. You can either stand or take a knee during worship. Don't want to be comfortable whilst we worship God.
And all that worship during in home meetings like, WMU, Men's ministry, and home Bible study groups will have to stop meeting due to their being couches, chairs, food and running water. "Everyone, we're moving to the garage so we can worship without any comfort distractions." :tongue3:
And all that worship during in home meetings like, WMU, Men's ministry, and home Bible study groups will have to stop meeting due to their being couches, chairs, food and running water. "Everyone, we're moving to the garage so we can worship without any comfort distractions." :tongue3:
That wasn’t the question, Gib. Even in the early church I’m sure they had the common sense to get out rain. Adequate facilities, padded pews, etc. are environmental issues that may attribute to worship. But I see a difference between A/C and setting up a lounge so others can chat and be comfortable rather than being uncomfortable in a crowd of 80 to 100 worshipping God. There is a point where comfort becomes distraction – and that is, IMHO, when our focus shifts from God to man and the focus in worship becomes our comfort (or even our uncomfort…if one would go to the extreme of having to kneel in a parking lot when adequate facilities were available).
Well Jesus use miricles and food to bring people together to hear Him preach so if this draws some in to hear the good news, why not.
Begging the question, noted.
What? Do we not always make things in the church comfortable? Do we have to be sure it is uncomfortable in order to be focused on God? I do not get it how does being comfortable automatically lead to a lack of focus on God? What do we have to do? Go back to unpadded pews? Sit on the floor? How much discomfort do we have to endure in order to make sure we have a focus on God?
Last edited by a moderator: