The Psychology of Worship and Church Growth
The Psychology of Worship and Church Growth
Commentary
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
Sept. 26, 2010
I spend a lot of my time wandering in and out, worshipping in Episcopal and Anglican churches around the world. I have come to some conclusions about church growth and worship that I would like to share with you.
You won't find these thoughts coming from church think tanks, in Pew, Gallup or Barna reports or the myriad resolutions from Episcopal General Conventions. They are my own observations. You can take them for what they are worth.
The first thing I notice about a church is its passion. Does it have a passion for souls, for growth or is it simply marking time. Does it have a passion to hear the Word of God? I spoke to a godly rector recently who told me his parish doesn't want to grow; it wants to stay where it is as the leaders like things the way they are, please don't disturb us. If he raises his voice and suggests otherwise, a woman will scream something like this, "This is our church, rector. We have been here for decades and we are not changing. Rectors like you come and go, we remain, thank you for your ideas, but we like things just the way they are." End of story.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
Commentary
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
Sept. 26, 2010
I spend a lot of my time wandering in and out, worshipping in Episcopal and Anglican churches around the world. I have come to some conclusions about church growth and worship that I would like to share with you.
You won't find these thoughts coming from church think tanks, in Pew, Gallup or Barna reports or the myriad resolutions from Episcopal General Conventions. They are my own observations. You can take them for what they are worth.
The first thing I notice about a church is its passion. Does it have a passion for souls, for growth or is it simply marking time. Does it have a passion to hear the Word of God? I spoke to a godly rector recently who told me his parish doesn't want to grow; it wants to stay where it is as the leaders like things the way they are, please don't disturb us. If he raises his voice and suggests otherwise, a woman will scream something like this, "This is our church, rector. We have been here for decades and we are not changing. Rectors like you come and go, we remain, thank you for your ideas, but we like things just the way they are." End of story.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
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