A Chance to Do Church in a Radically Different Way
I appreciate the effort so many preachers and full-time staff are putting into doing online church. But it can feel really awkward. The smaller the church and resource pool, the more difficult it can be. And I love the whole, “church is not the building; we are the church” idea, but I suspect your preacher expects you all back at the building when this is over.
For now, we have the chance to do church in a different way. A more radical way. If you share a house with family members or roommates, then do family church instead of (or in addition to) online church. Even if there are just two of you. Here are a few ideas.
Pick the songs and sing them yourselves. You don't have to perform parts. Or play an instrument. Pick songs and give it a shot.
Detail your prayer time. Everyone can talk about who and what they want to pray about, and why.
Open up communion. Everyone can talk about what Jesus means to them, and why he is important. You can even take it as part of your family meal.
Dive into the Bible. If no one wants to give an exhortation, just read. Some sections to read are Phil. 4, or the Sermon on the Mount. Get into the text.
Talk about how to live your faith the next week. My wife and I call old, needy, lonely, or compromised people every Sunday. We pray, ask what they need, tell them they are loved, let them know when we will deliver their requests. So far, the most popular items are toilet paper, paper towels, prescriptions, and dog food.
Write cards to people you love. Or you can FaceTime and Marco Polo (my grandkids are teaching me that last one).
Church will be more real, more authentic, and result in more real connections. Active church, not just “watch” church. You may realize you have been watching church for a long time. This is a great time to lead your family. And everyone can participate. When we do family church, everyone selects a song, prayer, Scripture, or thought. It can be the best church service I ever experience.
Maybe try something different. It may be the wave of the future.
Family church. House church. Neighborhood church.
Maybe church really will leave the building.
