Take Your Pick

On the one hand, “I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” and on the other hand, a shopping mall/consumerism. Or a menu of radio stations.

I think that’s the most choices I’ve ever seen!

One word: consumerism.

I guess maybe the bigger question coming into play is whether the church is called to run counter to the culture’s consumeristic mindset or if they’re called to bring The Gospel into it…

I’ve never really cared for the “different worship services” approach. In fact, I attended a church briefly that was large enough to have several services, all with different themes. Different worship styles, different preaching pastors, the works. It actually created several “mini churches” within the larger church. I didn’t see that as productive or helpful.

I love that my current church, as large as the previous one, uses the same worship styles (and preaching) for all of its services. Sure, some people might be more comfortable with just hymns or with just contemporary music, but it’s really not all about what “we’re” comfortable with. I think the idea is creating a worship service that is most comfortable with those we are trying to reach.

I don’t always love every song, but I’ve heard before that it’s sometimes singing those songs that we’re not really feeling like sing that is most worshipful to God anyway.

Trying to be all things to all people.

Or really the mindset of a blogger (forgive me for that analogy) but trying to blog about everything when all you need to do is focus on one thing.

It also brings about a sense of not knowing ones identity. almost like saying “We have a lot of people here and we do not know what to do with them so we will cast a huge net out there and hope they catch on somewhere”

It’s a menu and I’m trying to pick what I want to eat. Always a very self-centered choice. Always about me. And, restaurant food tends to be higher in calories, too salty, and generally unhealthful. But that’s why I go out to eat… so *I* don’t have to cook or host or set the table or clean the dishes. Someone else can do that for me. And that makes me happy. And fat.

I’m with Eric Herron on my response to this.

The “hook” should be about being excited. Together. In one place. Excited about what God did by sending His only Son to Earth. To live among men (and women, of course). He came in one image. Not 31 flavors. Back to the simplicity of walking by faith every day. Through the good & bad. And it’s a 24/7 job to carry the message. Not just 15 times on Sunday. It’s not about creating “church” images to fit the people coming!! We should be of one mind. One Spirit. One purpose.

I don’t see anything inherently wrong with multiple service formats, as long as the (substantial) effort is invested to keep the church as one church. Thus, it really only works in churches where members are involved across style preferences in service and study together throughout the week.

More often, the churches which try more than one style of worship do so because they are not being terribly successful with one and are just reaching for the right solution. Unfortunately, splitting your identity when you are already struggling is the opposite of helpful and more often than not creates two struggling churches with one name.

The church in the picture probably was successful because large churches offer so many activities and make such an effort to integrate people in different ways. Besides that, genuine community identity is difficult to develop beyond a certain size of group, so splitting and offering multiple formats may make sense in terms of building community in that context.

it feels like a “church menu”. makes me hungry.

that cafe one looks pretty cool. But then again coffee is my drug so that’s cool if Gods my dealer.

wow. i wouldn’t know where to start!?!

i’m not sure where to start? do we really need all of those options? i just like to keep it straight forward and simple. i have a hard time choosing a menu item at McD’s let alone at church.

country gospel!? yes please.

All the different logos make me think of a sponsor list

how american.

it looks like a restaurant menu.

Segregation and consumption.