The sanctuary is filled with people, the stage is set, the lights dim, and the band begins to play. The Sunday morning service is a well-rehearsed production, with every element carefully choreographed to create an experience. But for all the polish, the question remains: where is the presence of God? Too often, the modern church service has become nothing more than a dog and pony show, a spectacle designed to entertain and engage, but failing to connect people with the divine in a meaningful way.
The Spectacle of Sunday Morning
Many Sunday morning congregations have evolved into something akin to a theatrical performance. From the worship band’s carefully curated setlist to the pastor’s meticulously prepared sermon, every element is designed to keep the congregation’s attention. This isn’t inherently wrong—after all, excellence in worship and teaching is important. But when the focus shifts from genuine spiritual encounter to creating a seamless show, something vital is lost.
The church was never meant to be a stage show. When the early Christians gathered, it wasn’t in grand cathedrals with professional musicians and polished speakers. They met in homes, shared meals, prayed, and read the Scriptures together. Their gatherings were raw, unfiltered, and deeply relational. The emphasis was on community and the presence of God, not on entertainment or performance.
The Absence of God’s Presence
One of the most tragic consequences of the shift towards entertainment-driven church services is the absence of the tangible presence of God. When church becomes a show, people may leave feeling emotionally stirred or intellectually stimulated, but they often miss the deeper spiritual connection that comes from encountering God in an authentic, communal setting.
The early church understood that the presence of God wasn’t something to be manufactured or manipulated. It was something to be sought, something that came naturally when believers gathered in simplicity and sincerity. In Acts 2:42-47, we see a picture of the early church devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. And as they did these things, “awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43, ESV). The presence of God was evident because the focus was on Him, not on putting on a show.
The Rise of the Organic Church
In response to the increasing commercialization and entertainment-driven approach of many modern churches, there has been a growing movement towards what is known as the “organic church.” This model of church seeks to return to the simplicity and relational nature of the early Christian communities. The organic church isn’t about programs or performances; it’s about people—people who are committed to living out their faith in everyday life, in real and meaningful ways.
The organic church model emphasizes small, intimate gatherings where every member is encouraged to participate. There is no professional clergy or hierarchical structure; instead, leadership is fluid and shared among the community. Worship is simple, often involving just a few songs or spontaneous prayer. The focus is on discipleship and missional living—on being the church rather than just doing church.
The Call to Missional Community
Alongside the organic church movement is a call to missional community. This concept is rooted in the idea that the church is not just a gathering of believers, but a sent people—sent into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus. A missional community is one that intentionally lives out the gospel in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools. It’s a community that understands that the church is not a building or a service, but a movement of people empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring transformation to every sphere of life.
Missional communities often meet in homes, parks, coffee shops—anywhere that life happens. Their gatherings are flexible and organic, adapting to the needs and rhythms of the community. The goal is not to draw people into a church building on Sunday morning, but to bring the presence of God into the places where people are already living and working.
Returning to What Matters
The church has lost its way when it prioritizes production over presence, performance over people, and entertainment over encounter. It’s time to return to what matters—genuine community, authentic worship, and missional living. The organic church and missional community models offer a way forward, a way that is closer to the heart of what the church was always meant to be.
This isn’t to say that Sunday morning services are inherently bad or wrong. There is value in corporate worship and teaching. But when those services become the main or only expression of church life, something is missing. We need to reclaim the simplicity and relational focus of the early church. We need to move away from the dog and pony show and towards a model of church that prioritizes God’s presence and mission in the world.
Embracing the Organic and Missional Church
If you find yourself disillusioned with the Sunday morning experience, take heart—there is another way. The organic church and missional community models invite you to be part of something real, something that goes beyond the walls of a building and the structure of a service. They call you to be the church, not just attend it.
By embracing these models, we can rediscover the joy of living in community with other believers, the power of worshiping in spirit and truth, and the purpose of living out our faith in everyday life. It’s time to move beyond the show and into the reality of what it means to be the body of Christ. It’s time to return to the organic and missional church.