interaction in church?
Yes! I know it's a novel concept for many who have been trained to say nothing during the gathering, or whose congregation size inhibits interaction. But whether you don't do it by lack-of-convenience or some type of conviction, the Scripture is clear.
Talk to each other, teach each other... preaching is not and should not (biblically) be the work of only one person...
(regardless of what Chris P says in the comments here!)
Let's take a look, shall we?
Instruct one another-"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." (Rom. 15:14)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19)
Teach one another- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Col. 3:16)
Admonish one another (Col. 3:16)
Encourage each other (1 Thess. 4:18)
Build each other up (1 Thess. 5:11)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24)
Confess your sins to each other (James 5:16)
So- is the biblical model really that one person do all the talking? Is it possible that when Paul tells Timothy to preach the Word, it might move beyond something like a monologue? Is it even possible that a Church coming out a Jewish midrashic culture, following a Jesus who asked questions and waited for answers, and Paul who actually reasoned with people, would value someone who never gave anyone else a chance to talk? I'm sure even Paul learned his lesson.
No, the Scriptures make it pretty clear. We are to teach each other. And yes, some have the gift and get to do it more than others. Some even have the role of the teacher in the community- does that mean they do all the teaching? Or is it possible that if they are a good teacher, they don't have to do all the talking? Perhaps through questions and dialogue they can assure that the community is taught from the Word in a variety of voices, ways, and means... seems a little closer to what Paul had envisioned, especially in 1 Corinthians.
"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." Paul's either right or wrong... I vote for right! :)
Talk to each other, teach each other... preaching is not and should not (biblically) be the work of only one person...
(regardless of what Chris P says in the comments here!)
Let's take a look, shall we?
Instruct one another-"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." (Rom. 15:14)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19)
Teach one another- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Col. 3:16)
Admonish one another (Col. 3:16)
Encourage each other (1 Thess. 4:18)
Build each other up (1 Thess. 5:11)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24)
Confess your sins to each other (James 5:16)
So- is the biblical model really that one person do all the talking? Is it possible that when Paul tells Timothy to preach the Word, it might move beyond something like a monologue? Is it even possible that a Church coming out a Jewish midrashic culture, following a Jesus who asked questions and waited for answers, and Paul who actually reasoned with people, would value someone who never gave anyone else a chance to talk? I'm sure even Paul learned his lesson.
No, the Scriptures make it pretty clear. We are to teach each other. And yes, some have the gift and get to do it more than others. Some even have the role of the teacher in the community- does that mean they do all the teaching? Or is it possible that if they are a good teacher, they don't have to do all the talking? Perhaps through questions and dialogue they can assure that the community is taught from the Word in a variety of voices, ways, and means... seems a little closer to what Paul had envisioned, especially in 1 Corinthians.
"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." Paul's either right or wrong... I vote for right! :)
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