Not surprisingly,  many churches have become very successful with this method of church growth.  They are seeing hundreds flock to their churches to see what's going on.  What will happen this week?  How will they be able to outdo last week’s service?  It’s easy to see how these churches could reach others with the gospel message of Christ.  Using the latest technological means to communicate the gospel is an awesome thing.  If a big show on  Sunday is what it takes to bring people to Christ, then it should be a good thing... right?  Isn’t that what church is all about? 

I have served in churches from the very traditional to the highly contemporary.  I have been the producer of the “show”.  I have witnessed first-hand how putting on a good program can bring people into the building on Sundays.  Provide great “shows” and they will come.  Match the world’s quality and they will be impressed.

Have we become misguided in our understanding of what church is about?  Have we exchanged our times of worship for entertainment?  Is the price of putting on a great “show” worth the cost of worship and spiritual growth?  Are our trendy sermons that relate to real life situations doing anything for the Christians who need and desire spiritual growth?  Are we challenged from week to week to be more like Christ?  Are we taught how to be a light in our spheres of influence?  Or is evangelism still reserved for the pastors and deacons?

“Why did God put us here on earth?” is the question I often ask myself.  My answer: To have fellowship with Him.  I ask, “What was the purpose of the first church?"  Answer: To minister to the brothers and sisters in Christ.  Church was a place for worship and teaching. It was a place where people were called out to go and do ministry.  It was a place where people gathered for encouragement and fellowship.  Oddly to us, the evangelism was done in the marketplace and in the streets.  It was done on a hillside or an ocean shore.  Jesus Himself never went into the church to reach the lost--He went into the streets and peoples homes.

Today we seem to have lost the focus and purpose of the Sabbath and worship.  I like the song, “The Heart of Worship”.   It is so simple and yet true.  “I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, it’s all about You Jesus”.  That’s what worship is!  It’s not about the flash or the hype.  It’s not about entertaining people into the Kingdom.  It’s not about showing people how good we are and how hip our church is.  It’s about God and His Son who died for our sins.  It’s about coming before a Holy God and worshipping Him purely for who He is.  Why do we tend to plan our worship services to please man rather than God? Why is it focused around the needs and wants of man when it should be focused around God and His desires.

I believe I am a called worship leader and teacher.  This may play into why I am frustrated with the high level of production and the low level of worship that is predominate in our churches today.  What was the purpose of the Sabbath?  To rest, to worship, to fellowship. Is it our day or God’s day? We have turned it into a theater/concert hall.  When we enter the place of worship are we allowed to worship?  Are we encouraged to worship?  Are we taught to praise God for who He is - period?  Are we taught to sing and worship Him regardless of how bad we sound?  Are we taught applicable lessons from God’s word that will help us become more like the Father?  Or are we encouraged to sit back and enjoy, relax and let us worship for you.  I love entering a worship center where good music is helping lead people in genuine worship...where people are singing and praising God just for who He is...where they have left the world outside the doors and have made a choice to focus on God and His glory!

Nothing else matters when we are tuned into the mind and heart of God.  He desires this of His children.  In John 4:23 it says, “But the hour is coming , and now is, when the true worshiper will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”  The word “seeking” is zeteo in the Greek.  In its context it has the added connotation of “require” or “demand”.  Wow!  It doesn't say that you have a choice in the matter.  He requires those who know Him and love Him to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Where is your church?  Is the program the end or is the program the means?  Do you plan the service with worship being the goal or do you plan the service with the people in mind?  Will they be entertained?  Will they leave thinking, “ Wow, that was some great music,  and that video presentation was awesome, and that preacher can really preach it up?”  Or will they leave having been with God?  Will they have tasted a bit of heaven?  I believe that one who is touched by God in true worship will be more likely to return to your church than one who is awed by the performance.  They can receive entertainment from the world when it comes to music, media and drama.  When the spirit moves them because they have truly worshipped, they will return with a desire to give more and receive more of God during the worship times.

Worship is like any other spiritual discipline, it must be taught.  Who will teach them?  Who will lead them to the throne of God?  Will our services continue to be great programs or will they become great experiences with God?  Will they remain on the “cutting edge” or will they get to the center of the worship experience?  I encourage you to teach your people worship. It is not a mystery or difficult thing to understand.  They just need to be taught.  Don’t allow them go through life not understanding it.  Remember, worship is the only thing we will do in heaven that we do here on earth.  Why not get a head start on it here.  God desires true worship, we need genuine worship, and people are hungry for an experience with God through worship.

Must the show go on?  I feel that if we would get away from trying to please man and return to pleasing God, He will bring the revival we need in our churches.  He will bring the lost to our doorsteps.  He is and always will be in charge of who comes to Him and when.  Let’s be the light in the workplace and marketplace.   Let’s witness in the streets and in our schools. Let’s put on programs during the holidays and during the week and save our Sundays for worship.  It’s what God desires.  It’s why He created Sunday.  It’s about Him and Him alone. As we prepare for our services, lets keep in mind that He is the focus.  Drop the show and plan a celebration for the Lord who saved you from sin and desires to have fellowship with us.  Make it about Him and you cannot help but grow.