Seeker-Sensitive Churches
This refers to the method of conducting a Sunday morning church service where all the events surrounding the service are tailored with the unchurched in mind.
The goal of this model is to attempt to make the “seeker” feel comfortable by making the service understandable and enjoyable. In this sense, the church is attempting to build a bridge with the unbeliever with the ultimate goal that they will hear the Gospel and be saved. Often times they fail by sacrificing the word of God a value of entertainment.
The preaching model in the seeker churches follows suit. Every sermon is simply another way to to entertain the unchurched instead of presenting a clear and precise gospel message. Sadly, deeper learning, fellowship, and discipleship are encouraged but are not normally part of the Sunday service. Often times instead, he luke warm feel-good message is presented instead of an actual biblical aligned sermon.
Opponents of the seeker model will argue, rightly biblical evidence and support, that the Sunday service is not meant to be for the unbelievers, but for believers. This is the correct New Testament view on how church is supposed to be conducted. Those in favor of the seeker sensitive model argue that church as we know it today needs to be relevant to attract new believers. This argument goes in contrary to what Scripture teaches, the church does not need to conform to society but society to the church.
There is a wide range within the spectrum of how seeker-sensitive a church might be. One end might be thought of as “seeker-friendly” and the other “seeker-driven.” Rick Warren and Bill Hybels are often thought of as the modern day “fathers” of this model.
It is important to remember that while the unbeliever is welcomed in the church to hear the biblical message being preached. The purpose of the church is not to entertain the unbeliever but instead to first follow the Great Commission by honoring God and Christ. Second to uplift and edify the Saints by the worship of Jesus Christ our Savior.
The goal of this model is to attempt to make the “seeker” feel comfortable by making the service understandable and enjoyable. In this sense, the church is attempting to build a bridge with the unbeliever with the ultimate goal that they will hear the Gospel and be saved. Often times they fail by sacrificing the word of God a value of entertainment.
The preaching model in the seeker churches follows suit. Every sermon is simply another way to to entertain the unchurched instead of presenting a clear and precise gospel message. Sadly, deeper learning, fellowship, and discipleship are encouraged but are not normally part of the Sunday service. Often times instead, he luke warm feel-good message is presented instead of an actual biblical aligned sermon.
Opponents of the seeker model will argue, rightly biblical evidence and support, that the Sunday service is not meant to be for the unbelievers, but for believers. This is the correct New Testament view on how church is supposed to be conducted. Those in favor of the seeker sensitive model argue that church as we know it today needs to be relevant to attract new believers. This argument goes in contrary to what Scripture teaches, the church does not need to conform to society but society to the church.
There is a wide range within the spectrum of how seeker-sensitive a church might be. One end might be thought of as “seeker-friendly” and the other “seeker-driven.” Rick Warren and Bill Hybels are often thought of as the modern day “fathers” of this model.
It is important to remember that while the unbeliever is welcomed in the church to hear the biblical message being preached. The purpose of the church is not to entertain the unbeliever but instead to first follow the Great Commission by honoring God and Christ. Second to uplift and edify the Saints by the worship of Jesus Christ our Savior.
