While I agree with a GREAT DEAL of what you're saying here - I'm not sure about this: "The sermon’s purpose is to remind the saints of God’s blessings and commands, not convert the lost." I feel like that's a little "this-or-that." Paul, in Acts 17, certainly used a "sermon" to attempt to convert the lost. If we have visitors and we're not at least introducing them to what God's plan of salvation through Jesus is WHILE THEY'RE IN OUR PEWS...I think we're risking missing an opportunity we may not have again. I guess I don't see how that negates our "reverence and awe" factor. The sermon's purpose is to address the hearts of the listeners - whoever they are. I get it - the worship assembly is for us to worship. But, in my opinion, we're missing it if we're not explaining God's offer of salvation as often as we can.
I've heard the plan of salvation explained for many years now (I'm 77) - hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized and live faithful until death. I am not sure that I have every heard what "being faithfull until death" actually means. I do think that most people believe it means we are not to purposeflly miss any of the services of the church. I assume that if we have someone decide to be baptized after hearing the gospel for the first time, we should surely make arrangements to teach them further. I can think of so many people who must have concluded that they definitely need to be baptized, but who only attend a few times and then they are gone. Yes, it is my duty to do what I can to encourage them to be there, and I am negligent in this. But I now see that we are using the wrong approach (at least were I am a member). It has been this way for years.
I would remind us that Paul's sermon in Acts 17 was not in a "Lord's Day Assembly" and therefore not subject to the considerations we have about the conversion element of the sermon. The assembly in totality is for Disciples. Anything that might result in conversion is probably because of someone in the assembly who has already being studied with, or as in 1 Corinthians 14, an outsider comes into the assembly and will end up saying that "God is with you". I also believe that we need to do a thorough study on what "worship" is. The assembly is not THE worship of the church, and is nowhere implied or inferred in the NT that it is. The assembled worship is only one part of worship and not the most important part -- merely the assembled part. All of our worship to God is important. But the assembly should have a special value for the saints in that it is for their instruction, encouragement, edification, admonishment, etc., and joining together to glorify God and praise Him.
Good thoughts. I think you are on the right track. The church today, sad to say, has started to sound like the denominations. I cringe when I hear rigid prayers to "guide, guard and direct" and "separate and apart from" but "as a matter of convenience." It's like we are playing on repeat instead of having spirits drawing near to God.
The ones that bother me are the "memorized prayaers." How sincere are they? I, myself, have a hard time listening to them. I would rather someone bumble a prayer trying to think of the words of he wants to say than to say the same one every week forever. They are generic.
While I agree with a GREAT DEAL of what you're saying here - I'm not sure about this: "The sermon’s purpose is to remind the saints of God’s blessings and commands, not convert the lost." I feel like that's a little "this-or-that." Paul, in Acts 17, certainly used a "sermon" to attempt to convert the lost. If we have visitors and we're not at least introducing them to what God's plan of salvation through Jesus is WHILE THEY'RE IN OUR PEWS...I think we're risking missing an opportunity we may not have again. I guess I don't see how that negates our "reverence and awe" factor. The sermon's purpose is to address the hearts of the listeners - whoever they are. I get it - the worship assembly is for us to worship. But, in my opinion, we're missing it if we're not explaining God's offer of salvation as often as we can.
I've heard the plan of salvation explained for many years now (I'm 77) - hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized and live faithful until death. I am not sure that I have every heard what "being faithfull until death" actually means. I do think that most people believe it means we are not to purposeflly miss any of the services of the church. I assume that if we have someone decide to be baptized after hearing the gospel for the first time, we should surely make arrangements to teach them further. I can think of so many people who must have concluded that they definitely need to be baptized, but who only attend a few times and then they are gone. Yes, it is my duty to do what I can to encourage them to be there, and I am negligent in this. But I now see that we are using the wrong approach (at least were I am a member). It has been this way for years.
I would remind us that Paul's sermon in Acts 17 was not in a "Lord's Day Assembly" and therefore not subject to the considerations we have about the conversion element of the sermon. The assembly in totality is for Disciples. Anything that might result in conversion is probably because of someone in the assembly who has already being studied with, or as in 1 Corinthians 14, an outsider comes into the assembly and will end up saying that "God is with you". I also believe that we need to do a thorough study on what "worship" is. The assembly is not THE worship of the church, and is nowhere implied or inferred in the NT that it is. The assembled worship is only one part of worship and not the most important part -- merely the assembled part. All of our worship to God is important. But the assembly should have a special value for the saints in that it is for their instruction, encouragement, edification, admonishment, etc., and joining together to glorify God and praise Him.
Great word, especially about communion. I do think a sermon can be both edifying to the saints and convicting to the lost.
Great word, especially about communion. I do think a sermon can be both edifying to the saints and convicting to the lost.
Good thoughts. I think you are on the right track. The church today, sad to say, has started to sound like the denominations. I cringe when I hear rigid prayers to "guide, guard and direct" and "separate and apart from" but "as a matter of convenience." It's like we are playing on repeat instead of having spirits drawing near to God.
Very good comments in the comment section. It sounds like we are all seeing
that the world has crept into our assemblies.
The ones that bother me are the "memorized prayaers." How sincere are they? I, myself, have a hard time listening to them. I would rather someone bumble a prayer trying to think of the words of he wants to say than to say the same one every week forever. They are generic.
We are in the time of the seventh church, Laodicea, and YAH has finger on the button. Not sure we can reset the church, but we can revive individuals.