control

Without a doubt I think that the Holy Spirit should be allowed to direct the flow of a Service. Otherwise, its not God in control of a Service, but, us. God has reciently awakened a realization in me that, in order for us to experience all that God has for us, we have to let go of the need to control situations,people, our lives, etc.. Things seem to work SO much better when that happens .
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Is it possible that God uses liturgy and form as a conduit for the Spirit to work? I agree that the Spirit must be in control, but could we look at the Spirit being in control of the planning and not simply the execution?
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God (Holy Spirit) must be in control. I also think that failing to prepare, plan, and even schedule a worship experience after a lot of prayer signals that we have chosen not to give God our best efforts. I believe that God uses Godly Pastors and teams to allow God to control the experience through the planning and preparation they put into it.
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I attended a private Catholic school and church for a few years as a child before later becoming Baptist and then Charismatic/ Pentecostal (I still get these two terms mixed up sometimes) ending up at interdenominational, nondenominational, then Assemblies of God churches. I love AOG doctrine, but really miss two nondenominational churches I attended in the past. Being in a new location, I’m not aware of any “safe” ones in my current area, so I currently attend an AOG church. Safe doctrine is more important to me than anything.

I've always been especially drawn to worship and altar call times, so I will always especially love this part of Sunday service. Enjoy hearing preaching, but appreciate “teaching” more, so I especially enjoy specific classes held on Sunday night or morning or on the weekday. Must admit my life experience noticing the most, seemingly tangible, presence of God has been: (1) in prayer meetings with intermittent praise and worship, (2) altar call segments at end of church service, or (3) during praise and worship.

My understanding has been, first and foremost, the pastor (the head, after God) sets the order of the service times. So he is the one who should authorize how long each segment flows. Obviously, the pastor must be not only in close sync with the Holy Spirit, but the worship leader/team, to know how to orchestrate the congregation into worship before the Lord. It all works together. Some are able do this very well, some not so well. Some are very restrictive re time, others, barely at all. Perhaps reaching the balance comes from the pastor prayerfully seeking God’s discernment on leading service this way. I’m thinking with each new Sunday, God might sometimes emphasize more or less time on each segment, depending upon what He feels is necessary for that Sunday. Leaders and congregation alike need to learn to discern how God is moving and be respectful. It might mean we might get out later sometimes, and for people who have multiple services, this could be a problem with parking/traffic, etc. So, what’s left to do? What about services being split to allow for more quality time on each. Praise and worship with tithe & offering time on Sundays. Sermon and prayer on Wednesday or Fridays, maybe? Sounds crazy, but what can you do to get more quality time with God in each segment?

amen

no we don't and that makes me sad. we are so privileged

We always need to let God be God and let Him do what He wants to do in our services and gatherings… that said, I think we need to guard ourselves on both ends of the spectrum… some are guilty of not allowing God to move at all, and others are guilty (sometimes) of trying to "keep it going" long after God is finished moving in a service.

It's an excellent question and it's so easy to argue points on either side. How to find balance is a question all church leaders needs to ask.
Every pastor would want God to have complete control, while at the same time, understanding the need for a structure to facilitate the moving of the Spirit and the help and growth of the people is also important.

Every organization, no matter the size, needs some kind of structure (otherwise it's not organized and it wouldn't accomplish anything nor would it be able to help it's members) but the real question is this: "How easily could you give up your program for something completely different, unplanned and probably messy?"

If that question is hard to answer…you've got a problem. God is a God of order and not chaos and He is just as glorified in a structure as he is in a burning bush, but if you don't give Him the freedom the choose, you've got bigger issues at stake.

Remembe Epeshians 4:12. The five-fold is placed for a reason if you read further.

Not sure what it means to “allow” God to take charge of something. God IS in charge. If he doesn’t want the church service to end, then it won’t — no matter what He has to do to keep it going. Never forget that God is in control of everything. Just because the church service ends, doesn’t mean that God has stopped what he started; maybe you just aren’t seeing it.

Good grief! Meant to say "…won't happen inside the walls…" That's what I get for not proof reading.

very true

Everyone needs to read the 1rst & 2nd century church fathers, and Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna.
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haha

well of course;)