Doer church? What if a church gathered to let people be doers — to let them hear what the Spirit is saying to them and then actually do it? “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22).

Perhaps church meetings are for hands-on, participatory training and practice in hearing and obeying the Spirit of God. As we learn to hear and obey the Spirit in church meetings, we grow in our confidence and in our ability to hear and obey the Spirit in our everyday lives. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Maybe we could learn from high school and/or college science labs.  Classrooms are lecture based, but labs are participatory.  In class rooms people are mostly passive spectators making little or no difference in the class.  However, in labs people are actively involved and directly influence outcomes.

We live in a highly participatory culture, from social media, to cell phones, to voice activated computers, to internet chat rooms, to talk radio, etc.  Perhaps it is time for the 21st Century church to connect with the times and give people the opportunity to be actively involved in church meetings as the Spirit leads them.

At The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee, rather than hearing a one-man-sermon, everyday people show and tell what God has done, as led by the Spirit.  Come visit us in the McFerrin Park Neighborhood of East Nashville one Sunday mornings at 10:45 or Tuesday night at 6:00 — 225 Berry St. 37207.

Doer church at The Salvation Army Berry Street.