Church Outside the Box

The "Church Box" (the common way of doing church in the south) typically looks like this: Sunday morning Bible Study (aka Sunday School); Morning Worship (usually at 11am with various worship elements); Discipleship Training or Training Union (more Bible study for church members in the early afternoon); and, evening worship service (usually immediately after the training union thing). Of course there are hybrids of this format, but the format is universal enough to recognize the Church Box that so many of us are accustomed. The "Church Box" way of doing church keeps us busy and wearied by so much religious activity. What would church outside of the box look like?

Imagine with me a different way of doing church in which the small group is the emphasis. Rather than fill our Sundays with activities that busy us, Sunday would be the time to gather the small groups into a single worship experience. The church would offer ever how many services were needed in order to accomodate the small groups of the church. For instance, if there were 600 people in small groups and the sanctuary would only hold 200, then three services would be needed. The services would be the same, but offered at three different times. While these services were taking place, children's classes would be offered. Once the three offerings of the same service were completed, that would conclude the activities for the day and give people an opportunity for a true "sabbath" experience - one where families got to visit with one another and worshippers could re-focus and refresh themselves for the upcoming week.

Once the day of worship was completed, small groups would meet all around the community at different times in order to accomplish two main things. The first of the main things would be Bible study. Small groups provide the perfect opportunity for people to learn from God's Word. The second of the main things would be service. Small groups provide the perfect blend of accountability and flexibility in order to get people out of the building and into the marketplace with the Gospel. Of course, small group leaders would be integral for the success of this type of "Church Box". The small group leader would initiate visits, follow-up with class members and lead the way in creating more small groups. Of course, in the midst of the week, the church would offer a worship experience.

In this "Church Box" there are not centralized activities that constitute church. Rather, there is flexibility and accountability in order to mobilize the volunteer base. Everyone would attend at least one worship service (pick the one that is most convenient because on Sunday they are all three the same); everyone would participate in a small group (pick the one closest to you and most important to you); and, everyone would find meaningful avenues of service through their small group (no more pew packers and non-participating members!). How cool would it be if every member of church was in at least one worship experience a week, one bible study a week and involved in some type of service at least once a week? That wouldn't be just cool, that would be church outside the box!

Small Groups Yield Big Results

Every church that takes seriously the Great Commission of the Lord to make disciples has to wrestle with the concept of maintaining unity and fellowship in the wake of a growing church. To state that another way, as the church becomes larger, leaders often struggle with how to maintain closeness and identity. The simple answer is in the small group. Unfortunately, most churches fill there calendars with endless meetings and schedule never-ending activities and usually work the same people to the bone in an effort to maintain their schedules. A much simpler approach would be to entrust faithful men and women with leadership in small groups.

These leaders become the influencers of the church and communicate the truths of scripture, the needs of the body and the schedule of events. When these three things are done through the small group, the worship services are free from endless announcements, the church is streamlined so as to promote effectiveness and people get to know one another around the two key components of discipleship - learning / studying and doing. If a church expects every member to participate in small group and every member avails himself of that opportunity, the spiritual climate of the church will change and change for the better. Souls will be saved. Lives will be transformed. God will be glorified.

Thinking about Bible Study and Fellowship

Perhaps the greatest binding force in the life of the church is the shared belief we have in the teachings of the Bible. People from diverse backgrounds and different perspectives often enjoy warm and abiding fellowship in church because they share common belief. Since Christians are united around Christ, it makes sense to build fellowship units in the church around the Bible - hence the importance of Bible Study.

When people engage one another around the study of Scripture, there is supernatural bonding that takes place. The Holy Spirit, who wrote Scripture and indwells every beleiver, manifests himself in such a way as to promote openness and honesty in the students. That transparency, then, promotes fellowship and intimacy among those in the study. Ultimately, they gain knoweldge and community and, from that, the power they need to live as Christians in a world that is marked by darkness. Bible study is the backbone of the church. Have you been in bible study with others this week?