CBN Features Drama at Raleigh Church
Posted by Terry White on October 26, 2006
CBN recently featured the Grace Brethren church in Raleigh, North Carolina (Mike Lee, pastor), on its “Church of the Week” feature. Here is an excerpt. To read the entire article, click on http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/cow/hope_community102306.aspx
CBN.com – Hope Community Church of Raleigh, North Carolina, uses stage and screen to present the good news of the gospel in a dynamic and creative way.
“We use sound and light and music and drama and video to try to maintain the message that people can relate to, that will keep their attention and hold it,” executive pastor Dave Patchin explains. “When Jesus used parables, He set His message in a context that related to everyday life for the average person. And we try to do that with the Gospel and the Gospel message here at Hope.”
Hope Community uses drama as a key element in their Sunday services.
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“We use sound and light and music and drama and video to try to maintain the message that people can relate to, that will keep their attention and hold it,”
I mean no disrespect sir but God only said to preach the gospel.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The first responder clearly misu derstands the difference between form and function. I would urge you to read chapter two of Gene Getz’s book “Sharpening the Focus of the Church” in order to understand the difference between message and method. The men I know at this church clearly present the gospel. However, they are using appropriate cultural “forms” to procalim the gospel. They are not preaching a false gospel, for I have heard them preach Jesus Christ and Him Crucified as clearly as I have heard others preach him. I suggest you do a biblical theology study of Acts and examine the chapter on Mars Hill in Acts 17. There, Paul clearly references Greek culture in order to gain an audience for the gospel. Why should churches not use every method available that does not contradict His Word to gain an audience to hear the good news? Also, is it wise to make judgements about God’s servants without knowing their hearts. I urge you to re-read Romans 14:1-12, especially verses 4 and 12.
I would urge kjv to read Romans 14:1-12 and especially verses 4 and 10-12.
“Preach” means to proclaim or publish. Simply speaking, this means to communicate. Must we assume that there is only one means by which we can publish or proclaim? Must proclamation always be in the form we most commonly associate with “preaching”? Or are there also other forms by which we can not only “preach” but even illustrate more powerfully and in a more memorable way the truths we seek to communicate. I know, at 64 years of age, that if you were to repeat to me the first 6 words of any sermon I have ever heard, I would doubtless be incapable of remembering even one word more of what was said. But if your give me six words with a tune, I can often recall to memory an entire song I haven’t heard in 40 years. Now why is that?