TheBlade Posted July 28, 2023 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 68 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 2,235 Content Per Day: 1.35 Reputation: 1,139 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/06/2019 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/25/1961 Share Posted July 28, 2023 On 6/27/2023 at 11:28 AM, Vine Abider said: I've been to Sunday gatherings with a variety of groups over the past 50 years. I always enjoy getting with believers, no matter how they meet - the Lord is in us! But I've noticed almost everyone follows the same basic format: An up front stage where the focus is on a few people functioning. In these Sunday assemblies, there is usually a "worship team" who plays music and sings on a stage, and then someone comes up front to give a message. In a few gatherings I've been to, sometimes interaction may be encouraged - members are directed, perhaps during a short break, to speak with the person sitting next to them. But one thing almost never happens in nearly all places I've visited: Members are not encouraged to speak or otherwise participate (other than singing along with the worship team). However, I've also been to gatherings where the meetings were more open and saints were encouraged to function. That is, they were free to call a particular song to sing, or standup (at their seat) and share something that the Lord is touching is their heart with, or ask for prayer, or maybe just to share about something or someone who encouraged them to pursue Christ. And then, after the ministry message was given, some would then share how they related to it or were touched. To me this kind of functioning of the body is incredibly encouraging, nourishing and greatly builds-up one another! I've heard some say that this only works in smaller gatherings, and while it's certainly true that a larger portion of members can share in smaller settings, I've also experienced this in much larger groups. So two questions: 1. Where did we get this near universal format of focusing so much on a few people functioning up front? 2. Why is its practice so prevailing? ya might not notice it but .. it happens even in forums. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vine Abider Posted July 28, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 207 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,506 Content Per Day: 6.14 Reputation: 2,352 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 6 minutes ago, TheBlade said: ya might not notice it but .. it happens even in forums. Really? Are we focused on just a few people? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne2 Posted July 28, 2023 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,499 Content Per Day: 1.46 Reputation: 622 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/29/2021 Status: Offline Share Posted July 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Vine Abider said: Really? Are we focused on just a few people? Sometimes! Study Group Join our online studies! Only those part of the ministry can start topics in this forum, although anyone may reply to any topic started! I think leadership is often more those leading or starting what others join in. But maybe that is not what you mean by focus on a few. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted July 28, 2023 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 245 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 7,033 Content Per Day: 3.28 Reputation: 4,944 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted July 28, 2023 10 minutes ago, Anne2 said: Sometimes! Study Group Join our online studies! Only those part of the ministry can start topics in this forum, although anyone may reply to any topic started! I think leadership is often more those leading or starting what others join in. But maybe that is not what you mean by focus on a few. Jesus had His inner circle. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne2 Posted July 28, 2023 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,499 Content Per Day: 1.46 Reputation: 622 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/29/2021 Status: Offline Share Posted July 28, 2023 2 hours ago, Michael37 said: Jesus had His inner circle. Yes, he did. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solus Christus Posted July 29, 2023 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 8 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 316 Content Per Day: 1.05 Reputation: 142 Days Won: 3 Joined: 07/23/2023 Status: Offline Share Posted July 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Michael37 said: Jesus had His inner circle. And an inner triad: John, James, and Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farouk Posted July 29, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 26 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 6,670 Content Per Day: 12.19 Reputation: 3,400 Days Won: 31 Joined: 11/18/2022 Status: Offline Share Posted July 29, 2023 32 minutes ago, Solus Christus said: And an inner triad: John, James, and Peter. @Solus Christus .... and Paul worked closely with Timothy and Silas also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathoner Posted July 29, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 72 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,353 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 13,401 Days Won: 99 Joined: 05/24/2020 Status: Online Share Posted July 29, 2023 4 hours ago, Anne2 said: Sometimes! Study Group Join our online studies! Only those part of the ministry can start topics in this forum, although anyone may reply to any topic started! I think leadership is often more those leading or starting what others join in. But maybe that is not what you mean by focus on a few. Note that George dedicated a sub-forum specifically for members' bible studies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solus Christus Posted July 29, 2023 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 8 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 316 Content Per Day: 1.05 Reputation: 142 Days Won: 3 Joined: 07/23/2023 Status: Offline Share Posted July 29, 2023 10 minutes ago, farouk said: @Solus Christus .... and Paul worked closely with Timothy and Silas also. & Titus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathoner Posted July 29, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 72 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,353 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 13,401 Days Won: 99 Joined: 05/24/2020 Status: Online Share Posted July 29, 2023 5 hours ago, Vine Abider said: Really? Are we focused on just a few people? I don't think so. A forum is not an accurate representation of face-to-face life. It's just a forum. In face-to-face life, I rarely speak. I speak only when poked, prodded, or when it's required on the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts