I wonder

Come March, we will have been in NC for a year. It is amazing how quickly time passes when you reflect back. It seldom moves as quickly when you look forward. I suspect that is the nature of time. Anyway, we still have not found a church we call "home".  I cannot tell you how frustrating that is.

Currently, or at least the past three weeks, we have been attending an Evangelical Free church.  It operates in a manner like no other church we've attended, so it is taking some adjustment in our thinking. Outside of the fact that they have four different worship leaders so you really never know what to expect from Sunday to Sunday (I like consistency), they also do not have a Sunday Bible Study program. They have "Care Groups".  I'm not sure I care for "Care Groups".

Care Groups are small clusters of folks who gather after the morning worship to discuss the Pastor's sermon. Of course, by the implication of their name, they are also designed to build a "caring" community among the people in those groups. Similar to what might happen in a small group, Bible Study group or Sunday School.

Here is my dilemma. I am not sure what the objective of the discussion is. It is not as though there is a deeper look into the passages the pastor used - he just started a series on the Book of Revelation - rather they discuss some questions suggested by the pastor.  So it is primarily a discussion group. It's perhaps a little too free when you simply throw out different ideas, with no clear objective in mind. At least, that is my feeling about it.

We like the people, they are extremely friendly. We like the pastor, he is low key and of course a graduate of TEDS, my alma mater. However, we are struggling with this format.

I wonder if that really matters. Is it my rigid expectations for the familiar that causes me to hesitate? Is it the fear that we won't be engaged by the preaching or the "teaching"?  They do have a Wednesday night service for Bible Study three weeks of the month and prayer the other week. Of course, the chances that a large percentage of the congregation attends Wednesday may be questionable. I suppose we will need to attend to find out.

Should these kind of things interrupt or prevent my worship of God?  I wonder about that.  What is my motive or intent when it comes to worship? I wonder about that.  I have had a plenty of opportunities to examine this the past eleven months. I am not sure I have a conclusion and I wonder about that. Nevertheless, I am learning a great deal about the forms of worship and the methodology of different churches when it comes to studying God's Word and growing disciples. Of course, I wonder about that also.

Even so.... "Come Lord Jesus".