what does your church do?

[dawgs10]

what church do you attend and do you have services that are normaly called revival services? services during the week, held nightly and how is the turn out for these services?

[Paully_44]

what church do you attend and do you have services that are normaly called revival services? services during the week, held nightly and how is the turn out for these services?

We had a revival with my Uncle Bill Stockham about a 6 months ago. First revival we've had in years. Our attendance sunday morning runs around 70-80. Attendance during the revival was around 20.

[dawgs10]

what church do you attend and do you have services that are normaly called revival services? services during the week, held nightly and how is the turn out for these services?

We had a revival with my Uncle Bill Stockham about a 6 months ago. First revival we've had in years. Our attendance sunday morning runs around 70-80. Attendance during the revival was around 20.

was this a normal night time attendance are lower.

[Paully_44]

what church do you attend and do you have services that are normaly called revival services? services during the week, held nightly and how is the turn out for these services?

We had a revival with my Uncle Bill Stockham about a 6 months ago. First revival we've had in years. Our attendance sunday morning runs around 70-80. Attendance during the revival was around 20.

was this a normal night time attendance are lower.

probably normal, but then we really dont have a regular night service.

[dawgs10]

last night was the first night of a series of services at my church. i would say about 60% of the sunday morning crowd was there. is this normal in all churchs? what do you guys think.

[RamboPreacher]

don't know. We've not had any since I joined the COGOP.

[PastorDaniel]

on average...I'd say that this is about "normal" dawgs....revivals are not quite like they used to be....people and technology have changed...large crowds at historical revivals were an attempt to see what was going on...lots of visitors would come because there was nothing better to do...unfortunately...there is usually something better to do than gather for a couple of additional nights for the same ol' same ol' and slap the label revival on it...NOT saying this is what ya'll do...but it is what many churches do....

A traditional revival in this age would take a lot more work than we put into them....lots of one on one invites and something to get them there...like ya'lls successful trunk or treat....why do you have over 400 show up and register for that...and only slightly more than half of your congregation show up for a "revival"....its because the Trunk-or-treat is interesting and fun....same reason that you get alot of people for 5th quarter....It's interesting...

Interest is what drew crowds to early revivals...before TV...before the Movies....You want to draw a crowd for a "revival"??....take some of your creativity and make it interesting.

[dawgs10]

on average...I'd say that this is about "normal" dawgs....revivals are not quite like they used to be....people and technology have changed...large crowds at historical revivals were an attempt to see what was going on...lots of visitors would come because there was nothing better to do...unfortunately...there is usually something better to do than gather for a couple of additional nights for the same ol' same ol' and slap the label revival on it...NOT saying this is what ya'll do...but it is what many churches do....

A traditional revival in this age would take a lot more work than we put into them....lots of one on one invites and something to get them there...like ya'lls successful trunk or treat....why do you have over 400 show up and register for that...and only slightly more than half of your congregation show up for a "revival"....its because the Trunk-or-treat is interesting and fun....same reason that you get alot of people for 5th quarter....It's interesting...

Interest is what drew crowds to early revivals...before TV...before the Movies....You want to draw a crowd for a "revival"??....take some of your creativity and make it interesting.

i would submit this daniel. if you have 400 for trunk or treat and 100 for a revival, the world needs Jesus in such a way that i would say churchs are failing and we Christians are failing and the world has no hope. if the people in the churchs are to busy to support church in everything they do we are to busy. Satan has the church right where we wants it. its up to us to shake ourselves or God will do it a way that we may not like.

[dolfan]

Dawgs, this is no criticism but I do wonder. First, if your church wants to meet 7 nights a week, 52 weeks a year, more power to you. I hope they always want to be together. So, understand this isn't about your church following trends on how often they meet, etc.

The question: What do you think of the idea that the church really doesn't "work" when it holds assembled events as opposed to being sent out into the community to strategically win people to Christ? Seems to me --- and I've yet to see it done anywhere, so don't feel like I'm being a harpy on you or anybody --- that the church owes it to the world, is indebted to it in fact because of Jesus' sacrifice of himself, to leave the assemblies of themselves and spend a far greater amount of time in homes and lives and faces of people.

I liken it to an open field tackle in football (the new catch phrase you hear commentators using is "tackling in space") --- you don't wait for the runner to come to you; you pursue the ball whereever it goes and many, many times you have to be in the right position to make the play by yourself and not with everyone else immediately around you. Everyone plays their role so you can be in that spot at that time, but you're not looking to make a gang tackle so much as just to get you in the right place to make the play. When the moment arrives, you strike.

[dawgs10]

i agree 100% dolfan. that is very much true. it should be the focus of a church to reach out. my local church spends about 80 of our time with outreach events outside of the walls. i really dont think a church will see success meeting together 7 days a week all the time and would have to do it without me alot if they did. my point here is that when the rubber meets the road are we to busy to come together as a church and worship and attempt to learn and grow closer to each other and God. if we are, why?

[PastorDaniel]

Dawgs...I didn't say don't have revival or that the church shouldn't support it...and I agree with you on alot of this....but what I'm saying is....make your revivals as interesting as your trunk-or-treats and 5th quarter...go the extra mile to get the people there and then preach the word with fire and fury....

[dawgs10]

right daniel. but thats not the underlaying factor here? are we babysitters or minsters? are we offering a relationship with God or a show? is it the churchs fault or is it luke warm Christians? should we have to top ourselves every single time or should we sometimes get together to sit at the feet of the Lord and if we dont put on a huge show should we wonder what is going on in the church today?

[dawgs10]

Dawgs...I didn't say don't have revival or that the church shouldn't support it...and I agree with you on alot of this....but what I'm saying is....make your revivals as interesting as your trunk-or-treats and 5th quarter...go the extra mile to get the people there and then preach the word with fire and fury....

and by the way i know what you are saying and understand that you are not picking like some do. i think i should start using the emoticons more often. lets see maybe these will work. not for you but for some of the ankle biters that are on here.

[fezzik]

are we offering a relationship with God or a show?

Aren't you the one who said you needed a 'preachy' preacher to keep you attentive during a sermon? Is it about content, or is it about delivery style?

...if we dont put on a huge show should we wonder what is going on in the church today?

Similar comment: the assembly has a well known speaker planned who you found to be lacking in his delivery style and you were concerned that he would not maintain your attention because he was teaching more than preaching. This man isn't going to put on a show for you, but you question now what's wrong with society when they don't want to sit in on your non-showy services midweek?

is it the churchs fault or is it luke warm Christians? should we have to top ourselves every single time or should we sometimes get together to sit at the feet of the Lord and if we dont put on a huge show should we wonder what is going on in the church today?

If a teacher teaches and gives an exam that every student scores below 50%, who is to blame? Is it the teacher's fault for improperly delivering the material or did the students not learn well enough?

If you manufacture a product that could save the world and you go bankrupt trying to sell it, was it your fault for not advertising well enough or was it the population's fault for not paying attention to your advertising?

[PastorDaniel]

agreed...I see your point...it comes to the definition of revival...my opinion of revival is evangelistic in thought...meaning lost souls saved...what you've mentioned is discipleship...sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning...even in that case it needs to be built up as somewhat interesting or at least needed...the problem is on both sides...are Christians failing to become disciples...YES...are churches failing to discple properly...YES...I just finished an Awesome discipleship course...sometimes we need to revisit our definitions of certain terms and make sure that we are properly promoting....instead of revival with Dr.????...how about "We are offering the opportunity four 3 days of Intense Discipleship Training..." A lot of people hear REVIVAL and think..."I'm already saved"