Give Me That

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Give Me That Show Time Religion
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Give Me That Show Time Religion

• Can the church fight apathy and materialism by
  feeding peoples appetites for entertainment?
• Evidently many in the church believe the answer
  is yes, as church after church jumps on the
  show-business bandwagon.
• Is the OLD TIME religion NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH?
  (Jeremiah 616)

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Altar Call at Solid Rock Church
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Receiving The Holy Spirit at Solid Rock Church
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Worship at Solid Rock Church
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You must realize that no one is good enough."
There is none righteous, no, not one" - Romans
310You must accept the fact that even you are a
sinner."For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God..." (Romans 323)You must know
that God loves you, even though you have failed
Him." But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us". - Romans 58You must see that a price must
be paid for your sin."For the wages of sin is
death" (Romans 623)" and without shedding of
blood is no remission. of sin" - Heb. 922You
must realize that Jesus paid the price!" but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord." (Romans 623)"But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans
58)You must repent of your sin (turn away from
your sin)."The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand repent ye, and believe
the gospel." - Mark 115You must ask Christ to
save you."For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved." ?(Romans
1013) Believe and confess"That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation." -
Romans 109-10 Are you willing to ask Jesus to
be your Savior? Then please ask Him to come into
your heart with the following prayer"Lord
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I deserve to go
to hell. But you said you would save me if I
would call upon you. Please forgive me of all my
sins and accept me as your child. Thank you for
saving me! Help me now to live for you. Amen."
Solid Rock Church
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• July 9, 2009
• Upward
• Flag Football and Cheerleading
• Registration begins July 14Evaluation Day -
  Saturday, August 8Registration ends August
  13Football is open to kids in 1st6th
  gradeCheerleading is open to kids 4 years
  old6th gradeContact Brian Gill, Recreation
  Director.
• Posted by Bill S. at 824 PM
• Tags community, upward sports, children
• Ministries

Richland Hills Church of Christ, Dallas , TX
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Richland Hills Church of Christ, Dallas , TX
Assembly Times

• Weekend Both/And Assemblies
• (Broadcast begins five minutes prior to
  assembly.)
• Saturday (Instrumental Worship) 500 p.m.(CST)
• Sunday (A cappella Worship) 900 a.m.(CST)
• Sunday (Instrumental Worship) 1130 a.m.(CST)
• Wednesday (A cappella Worship) 700 p.m.(CST)

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Family Ministries Faircreek Church Fairborn, OH
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Give Me That Show Time Religion
Three Major Problems

• Pursuing the wrong goals
• Utilizing the wrong methods
• Achieving the wrong results

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Give Me That Show Time Religion
As the congregation becomes an audience, the
worship service is presented as entertainment.
Across the Protestant and Roman Catholic
spectrum, local congregational worship seems more
and more like a Hollywood production. . . .
Show-business elements are unmistakable in
contemporary worship. The key words used by
advocates are relaxed, informal,
interesting, relevant but the inevitable
result is TV-styled services. Televangelism
And American Culture (Grand Rapids Baker Book
House, 1991), pg. 211
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Give Me That Show Time Religion
Not a New Problem
The fact is, that many would like to unite
church and stage, cards and prayer, dancing and
sacraments. If we are powerless to stem this
torrent, we can at least warn men of its
existence, and entreat them to keep out of it.
When the old faith is gone, and enthusiasm for
the gospel is extinct, it is no wonder that
people seek something else in the way of delight.
Lacking bread, they feed on ashes rejecting the
way of the Lord, they run greedily in the path of
folly. Another Word Concerning The Downgrade
The Sword and The Trowel (Aug. 1887), 398
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Pursuing the Wrong Goals

• Chasing numbers
• The customer is always right provide what
  people want (tolerance, anonymity, positive
  reinforcement, humor, entertainment . . .)
• Provide a social, nonthreatening atmosphere where
  unbelievers can feel comfortable never having
  their sins challenged . . .

Attendance Records
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Pursuing the Wrong Goals
Many have left looking for the experiential
aspect of religion . . . Baby Boomers lives are
so filled with worry about economics and
relationships that they want a place where they
can flat out have some fun. Boomers Demand Own
Spiritual Paths Prodigal Sons, Daughters Want
Changes If, When They Return to Fold, The
Tennessean, 11 April 1993, 14 A
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Pursuing the Wrong Goals
We have a society filled with people who want
what they want when they want it. They are into
their own lifestyle, recreation, and
entertainment. They want comfort, happiness, and
success. When churches appeal to those selfish
desires, they only fuel fires that hinder true
godliness. (Ashamed of the Gospel, When the
Church Becomes Like the World, pg 85)
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Pursuing the Wrong Goals

• A deeper spiritual problem is revealed and
  perpetuated by the Showtime atmosphere.
• Many do not know what it means to worship and
  serve God.
• Many are addicted to entertainment.
• Many do not want to worship and serve God!

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Pursuing the Wrong Goals
Should be pursuing

• Conversion (2 Corinthians 517)
• Transformation (Romans 121,2)
• Unity in truth (Ephesians 41-6)
• Edification (Ephesians 411-16)
• Holiness (Ephesians 417517)
• Maturity (2 Peter 13-10)

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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
This is the oldest full time Gospel, preaching,
soul winning clown ministry, in America. This
ministry consists of professional clown tricks,
christian skits, ventriloquist, along with
performance of Gideon, the parrot, Precious, the
super dog, Zacchaeus, the gospel robot, also
singing action songs with Aunt Alice and her
electric organ, and a vivid Biblical, visible
illustrated message.
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods

• Special Music
• Ventriloquists dummies
• Clowns
• Professional wrestlers
• Body builders
• Comedians
• Dancers
• Actors
• Punk rockers
• Rap artists

Is there anything that is off limits?
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods

• Pragmatism i.e., whatever works (entertainment,
  recreation, etc.) is good
• A market-driven ministry Find out what people
  want and give it to them (do not offer what they
  do not want)
• Do not preach or teach about doctrine, sin, hell,
  etc., (doctrine isnt important anyway), and do
  whatever will make Christianity popular.

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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
We devise mission methods and policies in the
light of what God has blessed-and what He has not
blessed. Industry calls this modifying operation
in light of feedback. Nothing hurts missions
overseas so much as continuing methods,
institutions, and policies which ought to bring
men to Christ-but dont . . . (For Such a Time
As This cited by Ashamed of the Gospel, When the
Church Becomes Like the World, pg 71)
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
. . . We teach men to be ruthless in regard to
method. If it does not work to the glory of God
and the extension of Christs church, throw it
away and get something which does. As to methods,
we are fiercely pragmatic doctrine is something
else. (For Such a Time As This cited by
Ashamed of the Gospel, When the Church Becomes
Like the World, pg 71)
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
It is . . . Critical that we keep in mind a
fundamental principle of Christian communication
the audience, not the message, is sovereign. If
our advertising is going to stop people in the
midst of hectic schedules and cause them to think
about what we are saying, our message has to be
adapted to the needs of the audience. When we
produce advertising that is based on the take it
or leave it proposition, rather than on a
sensitivity and response to peoples needs,
people will invariably reject our message.
George Barna, Marketing the Church, pg.145
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
Could any procedure be more surely predestined
to dullness and futility? Who seriously supposes
that, as a matter of fact, one in a hundred of
the congregation cares, to start with, what
Moses, Isaiah, Paul, or John meant in those
special verses, or came to church deeply
concerned about it? Nobody who talks to the
public so assumes that the vital interest of the
people is located in the meaning of words spoken
two thousand years ago.
(What Is the Matter With Preaching Harpers
Magazine, July 1928, pg.135)
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
Worship style is as important as theology. Most
churches today dont split over theological
issues they split over style issues. It is
crucial for the leader to decide what style of
worship the church will embrace. Worship style is
not simply musical style. The entire worship
experience must be evaluated through the eyes of
your target.   When you confidently determine
who your target iswho youre trying to reachit
makes crafting a worship experience for that
person a lot easier. Through some trial and error
you will learn what works and what does not work
for your target group.
Ron Sylvia is the founding pastor of Church _at_ The
Springs in Ocala, Fla. - has grown from 21 to
2500 people in 10 years
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods

• Methodology The incorporation of human wisdom
  to effect church growth. (1 Corinthians 118-25)
• Rejecting the importance of Bible study (The
  age of exposition has been replaced by the age of
  show business)
• Belittles the importance of Worship and the
  Gospel.

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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
Should Be Using

• Sound Bible preaching and teaching--both negative
  and positive. (2 Timothy 42)
• Scriptural worshipwhere focus is on the Creator,
  not on the creature. (John 424 Romans 125)
• Church discipline. (1 Corinthians 51-7 Acts
  51-11)

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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
If you get bored in church, may I suggest to you
that its not a commentary on the sermon its a
commentary on your heart! Even if the sermon
isnt particularly worth listening to, the chance
to pick up some truths about God that come
through, should be the most exhilarating time of
your life. If youre uninterested or indifferent,
its not a commentary on the sermon, its a
commentary on you. (True Worship, MacArthurs
Bible Studies Series, Chicago Moody Press, 1982,
pg 89)
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Utilizing the Wrong Methods
It isnt the cleverness of our methods, the
techniques of our teaching, or the wit of our
sermons that puts power in the message. The
POWER is in the Word of God!
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Achieving the Wrong Results

• Entertained people NOT converted people!
• Worldly minded people NOT spiritually minded
  people!
• Compromising people NOT steadfast, unmovable
  people.
• Ignorant people NOT a people growing in the
  grace and knowledge of Jesus!

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Achieving the Wrong Results

• Reinforces a man-centered, self-serving view of
  worship Idolatry (Romans 125)
• Cannot adequately convey deeper truths necessary
  for growth. (1 Timothy 412-16)
• Diminishes sense of awe and reverence that should
  be present when we approach God. (Hebrews 1228)
• Reflects and promotes a lack of confidence in the
  power of the Gospel!! (Romans 116)

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Achieving the Wrong Results

• Local churches are filled with worldly minded
  people, who have worldly values, worldly
  interests, and worldly practices thus, influence
  for God is destroyed.
• Religious people--YES, but Im afraid just
  religious enough to inoculate them against true,
  God-centered religion!

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Give Me That Show Time Religion
Three Major Problems

• Pursuing the wrong goals
• Utilizing the wrong methods
• Achieving the wrong results

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Give Me That Show Time Religion

• Has NO New Testament or historical precedent. (1
  Cor. 14 Hebrews 1228 John 424)
• Channels worship away from God and toward the
  worshipper. (Romans 128)
• Cheapens the occasion and purpose of worship.
  (Acts 207 John 424)

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Give Me That Show Time Religion

• The way to cure apathy and materialism is NOT
  through materialism and mere emotional
  stimulation!
• The answer is found in conversion from carnality
  to true spirituality! (Romans
  87,8)
• The OLD-TIME religion IS SUFFICIENT TO FULFILL
  GODS PURPOSE! (Jeremiah 616)

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Give Me That Old-Path Religion
Jeremiah 616 Thus says the Lord Stand in the
ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where
the good way is, and walk in it then you will
find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We
will not walk in it.