Sunday is Not Game Day

This is a continuation of a series this week about why Project Church isn’t your typical church plant.  Check out yesterday’s post in case you missed it.

Difference #2 - It’s not about Sunday

My friends in ministry like to refer to their weekend services as, “game day.”  I can see where they are coming from.  In general, it is a pastor’s primary opportunity to speak to their entire church and to maybe reach someone who far from God.  To my pastor friends, every Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and I admire that passion and commitment.

But this brings up the question: What is the playing field?

For the typical church plant, Sunday is game day and church is the playing field. The rest of the week is spent trying to make Sunday great.  Trying to get people to the big show.  The people of the church will often follow the leadership and make Sunday the big day of their week too (and primary means of worship).

But I’m afraid that if we church planters (and pastors) focus all of our attention on our weekly gathering,  we’ll send the signal that it’s all about Sunday.

It’s not.  It’s about every day (including Sunday).

For years people have gone to church on Sunday, put their church face on, and then lived a completely different lifestyle the rest of the week.  The church has often fed that ugly monster by doing the same thing.  The result is a bunch of hypocrites whose lives look no different than the unchurched person next door.

But what if the church changes the signals it gave? Instead of making Sunday the big day what if we made every day the big day?  How would that affect our structures, our leadership, our budgets, our ministries?

I don’t have all the answers to those questions but I can tell you this: For Project Church, the playing field isn’t the church service, it’s the real life relationships beyond the weekly gathering.  That’s where the rubber meets the road.

Relationship with Jesus. Relationship with spouse. Relationship with kids. Relationship with friends and family. Relationship with peers. Relationship with neighbors. Relationship with the world. Relationship with one another. I could go on but you get my point.

Relationships are the playing field- not the big show.

Sunday is not game day- every day is.

Worship is a lifestyle- not an event.

We can’t just say it with our words- we need to lead it with our church.

Tomorrow, I’ll share some thoughts on destinations and journeys.

Tags: Church, Church Planting, missional church, pastors

12 Comments to Sunday is Not Game Day

Shaun
Tue, August 19, 2008

Jason,

I’m thinking really hard about what you are saying here man. If we base how we do things on how Jesus did things, I am pretty sure Sunday wouldn’t be the main thing.

Looking forward to other comments on here as well.

-Shaun

steveharrison
Tue, August 19, 2008

Good word! Getting hit hard today…here, with the post over at swerve…and even though I have not read the book yet, I think Batterson speaks to this in Wild Goose Chase about living dangerously…for me it all boils down to do I really believe and am I passionate about what I say I believe in…asking the Lord to continue to break my heart with what breaks His heart!

J.R. Lee
Tue, August 19, 2008

Since every day is GameDay - than that would include Sunday. It’s definitely a both/and type situation rather than an either/or.

Go after it Jason.

Courtney
Tue, August 19, 2008

Amen!!

Chris Reeder
Tue, August 19, 2008

Love it man! So true!!!

Jason
Tue, August 19, 2008

@Shaun- Can’t go wrong with the pattern of Jesus can you? God’s big in you Shaun!

@Steve - I’m with you Steve. I often pray that God will break my heart.

@JR - Absolutely! That’s what I meant when I wrote, “Sunday is not game day- every day is.” Thanks for all of your encouragement my friend.

@Courtney -

@Chris - Thanks dude!

Greg Simmons
Tue, August 19, 2008

Great stuff. This is a very valid point that way too many churches choose to avoid.

I guess anything beyond Sunday invades too much on people’s lives.

blendahtom
Tue, August 19, 2008

Jason,

I think this goes to what Matt was preaching about in this sermon. We need to be stong w/ context..

http://theresurgence.com/matt_chandler_2008-02-26_video_tnc_preaching_the_gospel_in_the_center_of_the_evangelical_world

Jason
Tue, August 19, 2008

@Greg - Thanks the comment Greg. Perhaps the greatest measure of success isn’t Sundays or daily church programs/meetings/etc. It’s how we live our lives in relationship with others- beginning with Jesus.

@blendatom - A man after my own heart. I dig Matt Chandler.

Jason Salamun @ Thinking in Progress dot com » The Core Task of the Church
Wed, August 20, 2008

[...] Sunday is Not Game Day [...]

Greg Simmons
Wed, August 20, 2008

@Jason Exactly. So…what WERE those two commandments Jesus gave? Simple paraphrase:

1. Love God
2. Love Others

Sean
Wed, August 20, 2008

Hey Bro,

Awesome point…I TOTALLY AGREE with you. The great hope of the gospel is not a well executed, polished production on Sunday.

It’s about Christ Followers going out into their cities EVERYDAY and living the good news to their neighbors. It’s about being friends. It’s about being a part of what’s happening. It’s about relationships.

Great post!

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