Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

  • Home
  • Tennessee
  • SBC
  • Columnists
  • Culture
  • SS Lessons
  • Tennescene
  • Radio B&R

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHURCHES GONE?

March 20, 2021

By Nan Corbitt Allen
Freelance writer

church, structure, construction, sky, building, security“Where have all the flowers gone/Long time passing/
Where have all the flowers gone/Long time ago?”

Remember this protest song recorded by the trio Peter, Paul and Mary in the 1960s? Its lyrics describe a sort of cycle of life … of flowers … picked by young girls … who take husbands … who become soldiers … whose bodies go to graveyards … that are eventually covered in flowers.

Occasionally I’m asked similar questions about the church. “What’s happened to the church? Where has it gone? Will the church as we once knew it ever return?” 

These questions are usually referring to music and worship styles and are often asked by those who prefer the more traditional ways — of which they are more familiar. My answer is usually some mumbo-jumbo about trends, and relevance, and post-modernism and such. But in reality I have no idea what’s happening in the worldwide church. 

Through my six decades on the planet as a “church girl,” I’ve seen the Body struggle with itself (or against itself), in an attempt to make it more relevant. I am just now starting to see a pattern and trying to make sense of it all. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Filed Under: Featured, Opinion Column Tagged With: churches, discipleship, evangelism, fellowship, new churches, worship

15 WORSHIP ‘HELPS’ FOR REGATHERING CHURCHES

April 29, 2020

By Scott C. Shepherd
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board music and worship specialist 

Many churches in Tennessee will be opening their doors in the coming weeks.

In the coming weeks and months, churches across Tennessee will make the decision to gather again for worship. These services — though COVID-19 restrictions have been reduced — will not be a return to “worship as usual.” 

Here are 15 worship-related helps for churches to consider as they prepare to regather.

Maintain social distancing in worship. Restrictions have been lessened, but social distancing must continue. 

• Arrange the congregation so families are at least six feet apart from other families. Block off certain pews or remove chairs, and utilize staff, ushers and deacons to direct traffic, but these guides should also maintain social distancing. 

• Model social distancing on the platform. If you can’t have your full worship team on the platform and still preserve social distancing, reduce the size of your team for this season or alternate smaller teams each week. 

• Ministers are exceptionally good at “working the room,” and they ought to be! You want to greet our attendees, shake their hands, and give them hugs. Now, however, the most loving thing you can do is not touch your members. Greet, smile, and wave, but keep your distance. Practice what you preach. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, reopening for worship, worship

FIVE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN WE WORSHIP

November 15, 2019

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB

You and I came to the celebration late, but we are invited to stay for eternity and as we worship, God begins to teach us new concepts, new subtleties, new songs. What is God teaching you as you worship? Here are a few things He’s been teaching me.

(1) When we worship, life becomes a festival rather than a contest. Not a show. Never a show.  The greatest worship occurs when we turn the tables. The congregation is performing for God. We aren’t the audience. The pastor, the soloists, choir (or the band) are not the centerpiece of authentic worship. Jesus becomes the focus and our desire is to hear His applause. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: worship, worship and music

MOON LANDING REFLECTION: AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP

July 17, 2019

By Timothy Cockes
Baptist Press

JACKSON, Tenn. — Exploration is “a part of what God has built into us.”

Physics professor Bill Nettles said the moon landing, making its 50th anniversary this week, should help believers “realize that as image bearers of our heavenly Father, we are created as creative, imaginative people.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: exploration, space, worship

Subscribe Classifieds Advertise About

Recent Posts

  • TENNESCENE: APR. 21
  • SOUTHERN BAPTIST EDITORS GATHER VIRTUALLY FOR ANNUAL MEETING
  • TBC CP GIFTS NEAR BUDGET GOAL FOR YEAR
  • FOR BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS, IT’S A BALANCING ACT
  • APRIL 25: REMEMBERED

Tags

abortion baptisms Baptist Collegiate Ministries Bible: Acts Bible: Luke Bible: Matthew Bible: Psalms Carson-Newman University childhood Christmas church revitalization Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 Disaster Relief education ERLC evangelism family Five Objectives Golden Offering homosexuality IMB international LifeWay Lonnie Wilkey Lottie Moon missions money NAMB pastors prayer racial reconciliation Radio B&R Randy C. Davis SBC SBC annual meeting sports Summit TenneScene Union University volunteers WMU Woman's Missionary Union youth

Recent Posts

  • TENNESCENE: APR. 21
  • SOUTHERN BAPTIST EDITORS GATHER VIRTUALLY FOR ANNUAL MEETING
  • TBC CP GIFTS NEAR BUDGET GOAL FOR YEAR
  • FOR BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS, IT’S A BALANCING ACT
  • APRIL 25: REMEMBERED
  • APRIL 25: OUR COMMISSION

Tags

abortion baptisms Baptist Collegiate Ministries Bible: Acts Bible: Luke Bible: Matthew Bible: Psalms Carson-Newman University childhood Christmas church revitalization Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 Disaster Relief education ERLC evangelism family Five Objectives Golden Offering homosexuality IMB international LifeWay Lonnie Wilkey Lottie Moon missions money NAMB pastors prayer racial reconciliation Radio B&R Randy C. Davis SBC SBC annual meeting sports Summit TenneScene Union University volunteers WMU Woman's Missionary Union youth

Categories

Bible Studies for Life Culture Explore the Bible Featured News Opinion Column Radio B&R SBC Sunday School Lessons Tennessee Uncategorized

Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in