Visiting Another Church (Part 1)
Jess and I went with our friends Hanley and Meryl to visit another church. Hanley is on a sabbatical leave, so he’s taking the time to check out other churches. We asked to tag along, and last Sunday we went to visit a new church in Los Angeles.
This new church is only a 25-minute drive from my home. They have a mixed congregation, but I noticed a lot of Asian Americans. They also have a wide age range, although everyone on the stage leaned toward the younger side. We went to the night service, and I’m sure their day services catered to a different demographic.
While I went to worship, I did take notice of how their church is different than ours. Here are three things I am thankful for about our church after visiting another church.
1. I am thankful for our own church building.
This church seemed to be renting out an old cathedral. The architecture was awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, they had to set up and take down their sound equipment. As a music leader, I understand the tediousness of this task. A lack of air conditioning also was noticeable during the heat wave last week.
2. I am thankful for our music ministries.
This church had some great musicians and even wrote their own songs. I enjoyed singing along to “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty” and “Man Of Sorrows.” I am grateful for the song selection at our church. I am grateful for our emphasis on congregational singing. And I am grateful for the style of music we play.
3. I am thankful for our gifted preachers.
There was a big difference between the preaching at this church and the preaching that we get at our church. Our preachers are expositors. And while the preacher at this church exuded charisma, there was a lack of clarity on the text.
Next week I will write about some things I would like to see at our church after visiting another church. Jess and I talked about this topic in a recent episode of the SVRGN podcast.
While it may seem that I am being critical, I am only noticing what I observed. It’s worth pointing out that we are all on the same team. May we glorify Jesus Christ in this city.
Read Visiting Another Church (Part 2) here.