Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
What is Sunday Morning for?

What is Sunday Morning for?

Last updated on: July 10, 2010 at 12:04 pm by Billy Kangas

What is Sunday Morning for? 2010-07-10T12:04:00-04:00 Billy Kangas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have you ever heard someone say something like, ” Church must be relevant to the lost people who need Christ?”
It’s something I hear all the time.

And it’s something I agree with…

However when you start talking to them you find they have a completely different idea of what a “relevant” church looks like…

In most cases in my life this confusion stems from different uses of the word “Church.”

For many people “Church” refers to the structures, services, and programs offered by an organization… and often time is simply shorthand for talking about Sunday morning services.
My understanding of “Church” is the community of believers baptized into christ. You might see how this can get confusing.

I just finished a book by Pastor Brad Powell called “Change Your Church for Good.” All and all it wasn’t a bad book but I think the name “change your Sunday for good” might have been more appropriate.

Let me tell you why…

For all my years in ministry I have heard about Pastor Brad Powell. Brad is the pastor of North Ridge church in Plymouth, Michigan, the largest church near my home town of Ann Arbor. I remember touring their expansive youth area, going to concerts in their stadium style sanctuary, and talking to countless people in the area about their experiences attending or visiting this church, but somehow I never actually attended a service there. The life of their church has been something that has always remained somewhat enigmatic to me.

Because of this I was really interested in reading “Change Your Church for Good,” Powells new book, and was blessed to receive a complementary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson.

The book is in many ways a history of Northridge and the changes Pastor Powell believes resulted in their great growth. For him the core of what made the church grow seems to be linked with a concern for the well being of outsiders rather then insiders a.k.a. Making “church” more relevant.

Powells process of making church more relevant for the lost seems to be centered around the Sunday service. This is intended to give the attendees a experience that is easy to follow with an aesthetic that is easy to swallow.

This is accomplished by using language that is easy to understand, a message that can be picked up by anyone and applied to their lives, music that mimics popular formulas, and an environment devoid of any of the potentially confusing vestments, art and architecture of the historical church.

Within this candy coating Powell argues that there should be a strong foundation on Biblical truth that does not suffer from cultural erosion. Powell likens historical church structures to a hand pump that delivers living water in a way that has become irrelevant in the age of the mega church faucet. Traditional church structures “put people to sleep,” according to Powell, but new one wake them up.

What is waking them up? Is it the videos and music or is it the conviction and life of the Holy Spirit?
I have gone to just about every kind of church service there is, and every single one I have gone to has a predictable formula and order. If you are simply trying to surprise people with a service it will get very old very fast.

Wouldn’t the world be much more shocked by lives that consistently demonstrate love then with a service that consistently mimics their surroundings.

On the surface “Change Your Church for Good” seems to be a book that teaches pastors how to make a service that make it easy for people to fit God into their lives. With a message of “make attenders of all nations” rather then make disciples…

This is too harsh though…

It’s clear that Powell has a passion for reaching the lost, and hurt people with the message of Jesus. I am actually very glad for the work he is doing in my hometown. The book offers valuable insight to the the difficulties of leading a church organization. Powell discusses how to build up leaders, make gradual changes, and steer clear on some very real dangers that any pastor or church leader may face.

I would like to hear more about how Powell works to make disciples once he had attenders.

Sunday is the beginning the first day of creation and the day where a group of confused women first discovered that Jesus was risen two thousand years ago. This surprising discovery is often the experience of people who come to Northridge.

So thank you Brad! Keep up the good work.

However in my own spiritual life I have found that the means though which God has formed me have been through many of the same religious rituals and traditions that Powell rejects as the irrelevant “hand-pump.”

Doesn’t water taste so much sweeter when you have to work for it?

Sunday is ALSO the end… the Eighth Day, the eschaton, where we celebrate in the liturgy with the angels and saints in praise of God and commune with Christ himself. This is something I get a taste of in the traditional liturgies of the church.

We are all believes between Sundays… living as part of the Church.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 20, 2010

After Pentecost: "Guest Blogger" Mos Def

Next Post

July 17, 2010 Survey: How do you use your creativity to do the work of God?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Books CCC Prayer Christmas Current Events Family Film Free Photo Fridays Humor hunger liturgical calendar liturgy Music Photos pope Prayer Prayerful Leader questions Quotes Review Saints Satire Scripture SYNOD SYNOD FOR THE FAMILY teaching Uncategorized video Weekly Round Up

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 April 2026 February 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 September 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 August 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 October 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Gideon" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hewer Redeemer Warrior God is my Strength