JEFF TURNER

In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul addressed serious problems in the church. One issue involved the misuse of spiritual gifts during their meetings. Instead of bringing order and understanding, their gatherings had become disorderly. Paul described the result with one clear word: confusion.

The situation had become so chaotic that if an unbeliever entered their meeting, the reaction could be alarming. Observers might look around and decide that the people were behaving as if they had lost their senses. This picture showed how far the church had moved away from the purpose of a proper gathering. With this in mind, Should a church service be planned mainly with unbelievers in mind, or should it focus on believers?

To understand my answer, it helps to first remember what a church is. A church is the gathering of people who have been redeemed by God. When these believers come together, the purpose of the meeting is centered on their relationship with Him and with one another. During these times, believers worship God together. They give praise to Him and honour Christ. Their focus is not on entertainment or on adjusting the message to attract outsiders. Instead, the gathering is meant to direct hearts and minds toward God.

Church meetings are also a time for believers to strengthen one another. Fellowship with other Christians is an important part of spiritual life. By being together, they encourage each other to continue walking in faith.

I believe another key part of a church gathering is the teaching of Scripture. God’s Word is read, explained, and applied so that believers grow in their understanding. Through this process, they become stronger in their faith and better prepared to live according to God’s truth.

Prayer also holds an important place in these meetings. Believers come before God together, bringing their needs and requests to Him. They confess their sins, ask for His mercy, and seek the strength that only He can give.

All of these elements form the heart of a Christian gathering. Please don’t think I’m writing a how-to-do manual. I’m speaking of things that should be part of our gathering as the Church. The purpose is to build up believers and deepen their worship of God. Because of this, shaping a church service mainly for unbelievers does not match the design of the church.

There is, however, a place for events that focus on reaching those who do not yet believe. Special gatherings can be arranged where the message of the gospel is clearly presented to them. These occasions can help people hear the truth about Christ.

But if a church replaces its regular worship gatherings with constant outreach events, a different problem can develop. The church may become spiritually weak. In some cases, people who do not truly believe may feel comfortable in that setting without realizing their real need for salvation.

Do you agree? disagree? I would love to see your comments below.

What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.

1 Corinthians 14:26