How do you define a good church service?

Many people define a good service as having a good sermon, good singing, and a good crowd. I don’t like this standard, especially when it is me that is “preaching”. I don’t even like that word.

We have been part of the Collins church of Christ, a fellowship of a few dozen saints, most of whom have sat in the same pew for longer than I have been alive. But half the time I am not sitting in a pew, as I typically teach and preach twice a week. People are used to lectures, which are rarely effective, especially when it is me lecturing.

I have tried to make my sermons interactive, and allow opportunities for others to teach from the pew. This week, however, we did away with the pew altogether. We set up folding chairs in another rooms in small circles. Each person reoriented their chairs to a forward facing position, but after numerous reminders, we were able to get everyone to sit in circles of five or six.

We were away from the songbooks, so we sang a kids song, then sang a hymn that everyone knew from memory. With heads up, and people not scattered throughout an oversized church building, people enjoyed singing more (“wow, it sounds better back here!). And the songleader, forced into the role by obligation, was relieved to not have to stand in front leading songs.

We read the “one another” passages from the New Testament in the small circles, and talked about what they meant, what we do well, and what we can improve on. After people shared, we closed with a prayer.

I drifted from group to group, and listened to people normally silent about their faith share their beliefs. I witnessed vulnerability and authenticity. People seemed to enjoy themselves. People took steps toward leadership.

I don’t know if anything “new” was taught. We weren’t “deep” theologically (whatever that means). But everyone participated. Perhaps we can be a church after all, each encouraging one another.