Comments on: How Do We Look For The Theology of A Church? Part III http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/ Current Blog Project: Six Months With a Quaker Preacher Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:46:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: C. Wess Daniels http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2669 C. Wess Daniels Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:04:38 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/#comment-2669 Hey Graham - nice to see you on here. I totally understand what you mean and no you're not missing my point. I am making an assumption based on my own experience, there's not statistical data invovled here. One reason I said what I did is because a majority of churches operate on a signal pastorate model, which lessens the likely hood of a variety of styles represented (though it's certainly not impossible by any means). But then again, I think if you're church is like that (as is mine) then that's wonderful. I think it should be like that, and I am certainly not endorsing the other way. The other problem is if you only have one day to visit a church, there is hardly enough chance to let people know the variety you offer in the way of teaching the Scriptures. I know I've had friends come to my different churches at some of the most inopportune times (accidentally), you know, that week we had the ceo of some board come and talk to us about tithing, the hiring of a new staff member, or about a change in pastorates or something. Those friends didn't get the opportunity to see what the normal routine was. I think that's where we have to just leave it up to God and the grace of people understanding that every week can (and probably should) be different. Forgive me if I painted to broadly with my statement. Hey Graham – nice to see you on here.

I totally understand what you mean and no you’re not missing my point. I am making an assumption based on my own experience, there’s not statistical data invovled here.

One reason I said what I did is because a majority of churches operate on a signal pastorate model, which lessens the likely hood of a variety of styles represented (though it’s certainly not impossible by any means).

But then again, I think if you’re church is like that (as is mine) then that’s wonderful. I think it should be like that, and I am certainly not endorsing the other way.

The other problem is if you only have one day to visit a church, there is hardly enough chance to let people know the variety you offer in the way of teaching the Scriptures. I know I’ve had friends come to my different churches at some of the most inopportune times (accidentally), you know, that week we had the ceo of some board come and talk to us about tithing, the hiring of a new staff member, or about a change in pastorates or something. Those friends didn’t get the opportunity to see what the normal routine was. I think that’s where we have to just leave it up to God and the grace of people understanding that every week can (and probably should) be different.

Forgive me if I painted to broadly with my statement.

]]> By: graham http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2661 graham Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:19:33 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/#comment-2661 <blockquote>An assumption I think is safe is that most preachers tend to stick to one style, and may do something different from time to time, but if you don’t like my preaching style this sunday, you probably won’t like it next week either.</blockquote> It's interesting that you say that, because I'd say the exact opposite. I'd hate to think that someone would come to check us out and decide on the basis of one sermon. 1 week we mightbe straight expositional, the next we can be dialogically to the point of a big rambling chat. Another week, someone might preach who is still learning the ropes and so on. And then there's the recognition that we sometimes just have off-weeks. Am I making sense, or just missing your point?

An assumption I think is safe is that most preachers tend to stick to one style, and may do something different from time to time, but if you don’t like my preaching style this sunday, you probably won’t like it next week either.

It’s interesting that you say that, because I’d say the exact opposite. I’d hate to think that someone would come to check us out and decide on the basis of one sermon. 1 week we mightbe straight expositional, the next we can be dialogically to the point of a big rambling chat. Another week, someone might preach who is still learning the ropes and so on. And then there’s the recognition that we sometimes just have off-weeks.

Am I making sense, or just missing your point?

]]> By: Camassia http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2642 Camassia Wed, 06 Sep 2006 22:58:13 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/#comment-2642 [...] Wess has written a thoughtful three-part series on what to look for when shopping for a church: one, two, and three. Rilina is starting a series on the same subject, since she is looking for a church herself. [...] [...] Wess has written a thoughtful three-part series on what to look for when shopping for a church: one, two, and three. Rilina is starting a series on the same subject, since she is looking for a church herself. [...]

]]> By: Camassia http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2638 Camassia Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:33:56 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/#comment-2638 It would probably help to revamp the website if we want to diversify beyond our current combination of Fuller people and ethnic Mennonites. Hugo and I are the only people I know of who actually showed up because we'd been reading Mennonite theology. It would probably help to revamp the website if we want to diversify beyond our current combination of Fuller people and ethnic Mennonites. Hugo and I are the only people I know of who actually showed up because we’d been reading Mennonite theology.

]]> By: C. Wess Daniels http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 C. Wess Daniels Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:12:03 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/09/02/how-do-we-look-for-the-theology-of-a-church-part-iii/#comment-2633 Camassia, Great idea - something very simple that got overlooked. Of course if people looked at our church's website they would be able to know much of anything...maybe we should do something about that? Camassia,
Great idea – something very simple that got overlooked. Of course if people looked at our church’s website they would be able to know much of anything…maybe we should do something about that?

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