Seeker Sensitive or Seeker Friendly

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on September 15, 2014 at 11:49am

Beloved - I am in agreement with RC's answers about the topic. It's only a 7 minute video.

"...It's a strategy of unbelief. The 'minister' wants to grow his church, the 'minister' wants to see success, and so he's looking for all these programs and all these techniques to get people to come in... But he never goes over the bridge and gets to the Word. If you want a power in your Church, be an expository preacher; preach the Word because that's where the Spirit is. Isn't that God's strategy? If we believe God's strategy, we're going to preach the Word."

Romans 3:11…10as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."…

We are relevant and Christ like not because we are like the culture, but because we are radically different than the culture.

Permalink Reply by Seek on September 15, 2014 at 2:02pm

I dunno.  My church doesn't always hit is right, like on their ideas of tithing.  But the Pastor does preach.  He's covering end times coming up.  He's covered worshiping God, spending time with God in prayer and in the Word, don't just read the Word but you have to put it into action, etc.  But his outlook has been...get them in the door so they can hear the Word.  He's more interested in targeting children with blowout Children's church and VBS services because as he says, if you get the children, you get the parents.  Every week he speaks to those who are sitting in the pews who haven't accepted Christ and offers an altar call. 

I've heard it said that the church was meant for the saints and we aren't supposed to invite unbelievers in, but how then do we get them to "hear the Word"?  Faith comes by hearing.  They are spending about 99.9% of the time hearing the world, and if we cross their paths and share the Gospel .1% of the time, we're far outweighed.  Better to get that .1% up a bit by having them sit through a 2 hour service than a 5 minute passing on the street, isn't it?

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on September 15, 2014 at 3:19pm

Indeed Seek,

"Better to get that .1% up a bit by having them sit through a 2 hour service than a 5 minute passing on the street, isn't it?"

Absolutely! Extremes tend to almost always be bad. Hence, we are to know what the primary purpose of the Church is, but not neglect the other commands we are given, such as - ...go and preach the Gospel... Matthew 28.

We address the lost, but they should not be the primary or soul purpose of are gathering together. We come together to worship the Holy one of Israel, that is what we were born again to do. We bring Him glory as we worship Him and obey all his other commandments from right motives. :)

Sounds like your pastor is doing a good job.

Permalink Reply by Seek on September 15, 2014 at 6:17pm

He is...till he preaches on tithing. :-O

Permalink Reply by thewatchman on September 15, 2014 at 5:34pm

I've watched this video before & it's PERFECT for this topic!  Thank You

I am in agreement too.  

Permalink Reply by Leonard T on September 15, 2014 at 7:12pm

Watchman,

Since terms mean different things to different people, whether we like that or not, it would be helpful to define what you mean by seeker sensitive. I understand the term as it applies to what we call the seeker sensitive church movement, but others may view it in light of some preconceived idea that seeking for the lost is a good thing and thus seeker sensitive has to be good. Just looking for some clarity to help the discussion move in the direction you intended by posting it.

Lord Bless,

LT

Permalink Reply by thewatchman on September 16, 2014 at 6:23pm

LT,

For clarification:  We as Christians can reach out to the lost & should, but by using God's standards and God's means, which is the Gospel.  I remember a saying once, I can't remember the author, but it goes something like this:  "If the prodigal son were to be living in these days, someone would have given him a sandwich and a warm bed and he would never have gone home."  

For instance, I do know that in some churches they sent people out to go door to door and ask people why they aren't attending a church & if they are, why are they?  Then they take the answers and use it as a guideline as to how they conduct their services to make it more appealing, clever, audience worthy, to get them through the door.  Sounds more like an advertising campaign for a business, to me.  This is not worshiping God, this is worshiping the created, this is not pleasing God, this is pleasing man.

I think what brought about this question, is the recent Osteen mess.

People who are living in unbelief and walk into our churches should feel uncomfortable when they hear the Gospel.  People who are living in unbelief will not feel comfortable being around us, you & I,  outside of the church.  We are to be the salt and the light.  But yet we have those sitting in churches week after week unchanged and comfortable, treating it more of a social gathering than a worship of God.

Now before I get handed over :), I am not saying not to be kind, gracious, honest, or loving, but you will do so for the sake of their soul.  You will proclaim the Gospel & yes, it can start even in a 5 minute time span, it can be 30 seconds and they will know where you stand.  The person that testified to me did it in a checkout lane at a grocery store.  

I just feel that we've lost our boldness.  

Permalink Reply by thewatchman on September 16, 2014 at 6:51pm

2 Timothy 4

Preach the Word

1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Permalink Reply by Seek on September 16, 2014 at 9:06pm

I'm not so sure about the feeling uncomfortable part.

When I knew I wanted a heart change I was timid of going to the altar because of past incidents that left me shying from public displays. But I wasn't "uncomfortable" with the message or with God. I thought you had to go to the altar to get saved but was afraid of walking up in front of all those people. So God sent the evangelist to me instead.

However, I've seen some who were uncomfortable. They don't typically return.

I think it goes to those who receive the message and those that are uncomfortable around it because they don't want to hear they sin. They want to see themselves as being good and don't want to hear about sin.

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on September 17, 2014 at 5:27am

Char,

They should feel uncomfortable as their worldview is being challenge by the Word being preached and our lives conforming to the word.

Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Uncomfortable because they now see they sin against a beautiful Holy God etc...

Not uncomfortable because we are not hospitable or LOVING.

:)

Permalink Reply by Amanda on September 17, 2014 at 5:56am

In Matthew 25, we learn that the way we treat others is the way we treat Christ: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in" NIV.

Some verses specifically address the way we are to treat brothers and those who are of the household of the Lord while others speak of strangers or even enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

I've read that missionaries in third world countries find that taking care of a few physical needs, such as giving food and water and medication, help the people to be able to focus better, or have ears to hear, the gospel message. 

Job 31:32
but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler--

Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Ezekiel 18:7
He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.

Ezekiel 18:16
He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.

Romans 12:13
Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

James 2:15
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

James 2:16
If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Permalink Reply by thewatchman on September 17, 2014 at 6:05am

Amen David.

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