Message v Method

In this technologically, uber-advanced society, it is easy for the method of delivering ones' message to become more important than the message itself. Nowhere is this more problematic than in the church-world, where the efforts to reach those who do not have a relationship with Christ become priority, while the message of Christ takes a back seat and gets lost, either in part or in whole.

Incredible discernment and wisdom is needed, to ensure whatever method is used to reach the unsaved is done so with the highest regard for the message. The power of Christ is found in Christ Himself, not in lights and audio and video and graphics and a concert-like atmosphere, or in liturgy or any number of things. Yes, they have their place. Yes, they make for "cool and exciting" environments and they all have their time and place. But if the method doesn't lead people to make a decision regarding the message of Christ, then you probably should stick to the basic message of Christ and spend significantly less time worrying about what it looks like and how it sounds.

Pray for churches and staff, that their priority would continue to be or return to the message of Christ.

Pray for discernment in their methods, that the decisions they make would be made in prayer, as it was written in the early church and the elders in Acts, "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us".

Pray that churches would find the balance necessary in their decisions, that there would be a desire to be involved in church, but also growing spiritual because of the message received while they are present.

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