Comments on: a response to consumer religion http://normansennema.com/archives/3358 trying to find His way Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:01:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: twiggy http://normansennema.com/archives/3358/comment-page-1#comment-1566 twiggy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:13:05 +0000 http://normansennema.com/?p=3358#comment-1566 Have the chairs go all around - no front stage, everyone on the same level. I like the Brethren concept of where you have many lay speakers (not preachers) that stand up and share. Perhaps you don't even have to stand up - just share in your spot. Give permission for the congregation to respond. It will take a season to get used to - some may not like it, since we are all now looking at each other (no room for dosing!). It becomes more active, more open for responsiveness, alive, breathing, engaged for activity! But of course, you may run into such problems as these; - patience to hear people speak out (appropriately and inappropriately) - may take longer to get through the sermon outline - may actually wake us up to make decisions and be accountable to each other ... ooch! that means I can't sleep through my church years anymore! Have the chairs go all around – no front stage, everyone on the same level. I like the Brethren concept of where you have many lay speakers (not preachers) that stand up and share. Perhaps you don’t even have to stand up – just share in your spot. Give permission for the congregation to respond. It will take a season to get used to – some may not like it, since we are all now looking at each other (no room for dosing!). It becomes more active, more open for responsiveness, alive, breathing, engaged for activity!

But of course, you may run into such problems as these;
- patience to hear people speak out (appropriately and inappropriately)
- may take longer to get through the sermon outline
- may actually wake us up to make decisions and be accountable to each other … ooch! that means I can’t sleep through my church years anymore!

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