Thread: Visiting SBC church for the first time this Lord's Day

I've spent my entire Christian life in the PCA and will be worshipping at an old country SBC church with a friend over the weekend. What to expect?

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

I was going to say that's an over generalization then i re-read the OP and ...

old country

... decided there's a 9.5 out of 10 chance you are right.

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

Stereotypes rule. It might be a Founders church. Most of them are not like that at all. But, statistically you would be spot on.

An overweight pastor with a thick drawl.
"Every head bowed and every eye closed..."
"I see that hand... I see that hand..."
A potluck with delicious food, if you're lucky.

Originally Posted by PactumServa72

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

I was going to say that's an over generalization then i re-read the OP and ...

old country

... decided there's a 9.5 out of 10 chance you are right.

Yeah, it was his inclusion of the phrase "old country" that generated that image.

Would you believe that around here there is an old country church that for some reason joined the PCA a while back... and it fits that bill to the t as well?

A-men!

An American flag, a Christian flag,

Most likely displayed in that order

I wonder how Ivan would would respond?

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

Minus the altar call and the "simplistic" preaching (depends on how you define it) sounds like a lot of Reformed churches I have been in (of course outside the RPCNA churches I have been to...)

Originally Posted by smhbbag

An American flag, a Christian flag,

Most likely displayed in that order

How bout that?! Just found the church on the web and grabbed this pic (attached)...

Originally Posted by Ezekiel16

Originally Posted by smhbbag

An American flag, a Christian flag,

Most likely displayed in that order

How bout that?! Just found the church on the web and grabbed this pic (attached)...

Told 'ya.

But I will say that this is a larger and nicer facility than I had imagined.

So it may be that the piano and/or choir WON'T be out of tune...

How bout that?! Just found the church on the web and grabbed this pic (attached)...

Seeing that is enough to make me physically ill.

I think the concept of a Christian flag is pretty silly and certainly unnecessary (at best), but if you're going to have it, you don't fly it below anything.

The caption is incomplete. It ought to say

"The Glory of the Lord........

......comes in second."

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

Told 'ya.

But I will say that this is a larger and nicer facility than I had imagined.

So it may be that the piano and/or choir WON'T be out of tune...

Yeah, I was told that it's a big church. Guess I'll have to post an update on the piano and choir.

My PCA church only has 50-60 members (which is a blessing IMO). The larger crowd is going to be a little different for me.

Originally Posted by raekwon

A potluck with delicious food, if you're lucky.

Raekwon is correct. Baptists, just like Presbyterians, know how to eat! They'll probably have a church cookbook full of all the ladies' best recipes. They usually cost between $8-$15. Make sure to get one. And another for me. I collect church cookbooks.

I do hear that the Baptist people fix a tasty potato salad.

Originally Posted by raekwon

"I see that hand... I see that hand..."

True,

Michael, I'm from Lawrenceville! Is the church you'll be visiting in that area--I may be able to be more specific about what to expect.

Originally Posted by Scottish Lass

Michael, I'm from Lawrenceville! Is the church you'll be visiting in that area--I may be able to be more specific about what to expect.

Hey, small world! Actually I'm going to be up in Forsyth County this weekend at Coal Mountain Baptist Church.

That said, I spend a awful lot of time at the stop light every day in front of the big First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville downtown. I think they program the light that way so everyone has to pause and check it out.

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

THAT is the first & third church I pastored. Perfect description.

Michael, we used to drive by that church on the way to a PCA church in Cherokee County (when we used to live in Cumming). It is only half mile or so from a local megachurch (a cookie-cutter megachurch, forget the name, but you can't miss it). I've never set foot inside, but it reminds me more of a small town First Baptist type church than strickly a rural church. But if I had to guess (knowing the area somewhat) it's likely to be a typical Arminian sermon you'll hear.

BTW, the governor's son has a church near there (meets in one of the local schools) and one of Andy Stanley's satellite churches meets not too far away as well.

I concur with Tim--It doesn't appear old-style to me, and the couple people I know that attend aren't old-fashioned rural dirt-scratchers but suburban types.

Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

An American flag, a Christian flag, revivalistic songs, an out of tune piano, an out of tune choir of old ladies, simplistic preaching, and an altar call.

Minus the altar call and the "simplistic" preaching (depends on how you define it) sounds like a lot of Reformed churches I have been in (of course outside the RPCNA churches I have been to...)

Thankfully, I've not personally been to a PCA church with any of those things. I guess I've only been to six or so, though.

Originally Posted by Ezekiel16

Originally Posted by smhbbag

An American flag, a Christian flag,

Most likely displayed in that order

How bout that?! Just found the church on the web and grabbed this pic (attached)...

ICK.

Thanks Tim. Gotcha. I heard it was pretty traditional. Wasn't expecting it to be reformed but your insight helps since I'm not real familiar with the area.

Originally Posted by smhbbag

How bout that?! Just found the church on the web and grabbed this pic (attached)...

Seeing that is enough to make me physically ill.

I think the concept of a Christian flag is pretty silly and certainly unnecessary (at best), but if you're going to have it, you don't fly it below anything.

The caption is incomplete. It ought to say

"The Glory of the Lord........

......comes in second."

Actually according to flag protocol it means that the U.S.A. is soverign over the church.

We will expect a full report right here.

Originally Posted by Ezekiel16

I've spent my entire Christian life in the PCA and will be worshipping at an old country SBC church with a friend over the weekend. What to expect?

The singing of hymns or contemporary praise songs with instrumental accompaniment.

I doubt that there will be any kind of responsive reading.

No praying of pre-written prayers.

A baby dedication depending upon the Sunday.

It is unlikely that the preacher will say something like this at the end of the service: "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine His face upon you."

Originally Posted by Ezekiel16

I've spent my entire Christian life in the PCA and will be worshipping at an old country SBC church with a friend over the weekend. What to expect?

Expect and pray for the blessing of God upon the word preached. If it is a founders church you should here the doctrines of grace put forth. pray and expect that in the providence of God, there will be a word in season for you.
If the church is not as faithful to the word,then the list of bad things in this thread will be inflicted upon you, and you will lament the sad decline in some of the churches in the day we live in.

Originally Posted by Iconoclast

Expect and pray for the blessing of God upon the word preached. If it is a founders church you should here the doctrines of grace put forth. pray and expect that in the providence of God, there will be a word in season for you.(

I will, sir.

From all appearances from the church's website it is not a Founders-friendly church. Also, Southern Baptist churches in various parts of our country are very different. I'll be quite frank: I wouldn't expect much. I might be very wrong but I don't think so. I sense that this would not be a church that I'd be comfortable being a member, but for a one Sunday visit it may a good experience. The pastor says on the website that they are a King James based church.

I suspect you will find them to be very traditional, friendly, and warm. However, I think most of the comments above are pretty accurate. Other than that, enjoy, Michael!

I'll let you know, Ivan! I'm somewhat disappointed that I never made it to that Founders church outside of Memphis we discussed about on my road trip some years ago.

Anyhow, it seems like bizzaro world these days! You're drinking Guinness and I'll be sitting in an SBC pew this Sunday. Who'da thunk it?

Originally Posted by Ezekiel16

I'll let you know, Ivan! I'm somewhat disappointed that I never made it to that Founders church outside of Memphis we discussed about on my road trip some years ago.

Anyhow, it seems like bizzaro world these days! You're drinking Guinness and I'll be sitting in an SBC pew this Sunday. Who'da thunk it?

LOL Well, I drank two Guinness and I probably won't be drinking many more for quite some time. I drink eight to ten beers A YEAR! lol

I imagine you have a Founders church somewhere near you. I'm not that familiar with the Atlanta area. BTW, the Memphis church Michael is talking about is South Woods Baptist Church, from which we have several PB members.

South Woods...I remember now. And yes, I'm sure we have plenty of Founders churches in these parts. I'll make it to one of them one day, if not for the sake of getting to worship with my Baptist brethren. Probably will make it to Maranatha first if I ever get the chance to see my sister in Chicago. I don't seem to stray from Brookwood...well ever unless I'm traveling. But I'm visiting a friend this weekend and hoping for the best.

Michael, here's a list of Founders-friendly churches in Georgia: Founders Ministries | Founders-Friendly Churches in GA

Thanks Ivan! This one is minutes from my house:

Fellowship Community Church
2209 Sunny Hill Rd
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: 770 289-8525
Church affiliation: Southern Baptist Convention
Church confession: 2nd London Baptist Confession (1689)
Contact: Scott Morgan, Pastor
We are a Calvinistic Southern Baptist Church who holds to the 1689 London Baptist Confession. We are currently meeting for worship on Sundays at 6pm at Christ Reformed Church Building. We also have ...

Okay, then you live right where I grew up--my father still lives off Prospect and Old Peachtree. We've worshipped a few times at the Presbyterian church on Sunny Hill--it was Heritage, I think, and now it's Christ Reformed, where the church you list meets.
You drive a long way to Brookwood!!

Well, not quite that close. Although I do know the area where your father lives fairly well. I live in the Simonton/New Hope Rd. area. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to Brookwood but that's mostly because of our lovely traffic here. It'd be about 10-15 minutes to Sunny Hill Rd, maybe a little more if things are clogged around hwy316.

I've actually never been to Heritage/Christ Reformed. I know their pastor, Robert Truelove, used to be on the PB and we tried to connect a couple times but things never materialized.

Ah, the lovely traffic!

Originally Posted by Gomarus

We will expect a full report right here.

Ok, where to begin...

First, let me say that the folks were indeed very warm and inviting. Many had been at that particular church for their entire lives. They seemed to be a very attentive bunch and plenty were beaming with a zeal for God.

The service itself felt very loose. Not much was prepared ahead of time. Even the hymns were sort of impromptu. There were a lot of elbow jokes as segues from one portion of worship to the next. There were two songs that were 'solos' led by a couple ladies. One had to do with the rapture.

The oddest part was when everything stopped for someone to present an award to an elderly deacon for "being such a good deacon" (sort of like a lifetime deacon achievement award with a plaque and everything). It took a sizable amount of time and involved a couple speeches. There was a lot of weeping.

The sermon was brief and very loosely based on Luke 10. Basically the pastor wanted everyone to know that just as we have licenses for various things such as driving or operating a business, we as Christians had license to rejoice in Christ. There was little theological substance served though. Just wanted people to be excited about salvation (which I was!).

There was NO altar call at the end! I'd never seen one before and I'd heard that this church had one every week. But apparently the deacon achievement award pushed things a little long so...oh well.

I don't want to sound as if I'm looking down my nose at these nice folks, but overall I just wish that they were fed more spiritually. It seemed almost like what I'd expect a "kid's service" to be like at some larger churches, only the sanctuary here was packed with adults. I got the sense that most of these folks had never been fed spiritual meat in their lives. There was a ton of zeal but only an ounce or two of substance.

I realize that this is by no means indicative of all Baptist churches. It's not a Founders church and is far from Reformed. I'm a Presbyterian and could probably find much worse in the PCUSA. These folks were God fearing brothers and sisters in Christ though and I was glad that I attended. I only left with a heavy heart and longing that they were given more. Much more.