I was trained to sit passively in church services. As a new Christ-follower Jesus was doing amazing things in my life and on my college campus during the Jesus movement. However, every time that I attended a church service I was required to passively sit and listen to one man preach. The pressure to be quiet was enormous so I complied.
Even today I can’t find a church service where the attendees are encouraged to share what God is doing in, around, and through them. The thing that I have done differently is to stop attending churches where the congregation isn’t allowed to share as God the Holy Spirit prompts them. Instead, I gather with my wife and with spiritually hungry people throughout the week to pray together and to encourage and minister to one another.
For too long Christianity has been seduced by the love of power. We’ve depended on positional power — having a controlling leader with an official title lead us when we come together for worship on Sunday. We’ve also looked to political power to make us happy during the week.
When a leader in the body of Christ lays down all love of power and begins to help Christians gather to humbly and openly experience the power of Spirit-produced and Spirit-activated love for one another, Jesus begins to amazingly demonstrate His presence in our midst. This happens when Christ-followers are allowed to assemble themselves together to freely “spur one another on to love and good deeds” and to encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
When God the Holy Spirit is allowed to directly and personally lead and govern a gathering of Christ-followers by prompting individuals in the meeting to obey His inner voice, the kingdom of God begins to manifest in their midst. This happens as the people present let God strengthen them by His Spirit and allow Christ to literally dwell in their heart through faith (Ephesians 3:16) as they listen to Him speak within them and then do what He tells them to. (Romans 8:14)
Weigh your worries and you will see that they are too heavy for you to carry alone. Let the risen Jesus and your brothers and sisters in Christ help you. (1 Corinthians 14:26) Perhaps it is time to let the unseen Jesus, Himself, lead us when we come together to worship. (Mark 8:34)
Ungag church attendees. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
If you are in the Nashville area, you can experience an ungagged gathering of Christians. We come together every Saturday morning at 8:30 at Chile Burrito in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Short Reflections, Lasting Encouragement 
Have never attended a Church that does it. Maybe consider going into ministry yourself. Preachers are called to serve and had some change their message during the service. There’s lots of ways to share your story to those who need to hear it not always in church.
Thanks for your comment. I’ve been a pastor and people wouldn’t let me ungag them. They were paying my salary and wanted me to do all the talking. Now I use social media, blogging, and talking with people face to face in order to share the Good News about the risen Jesus.
Now, I get it. Thanks for sharing. Been to some churches where the people are allowed to share their story. You’re welcome.