After the Sunday worship service, believers would gather in pairs or groups of three to approach the pastor to share their reflections on the sermon, seek guidance, and request prayers for specific concerns. Sometimes, they would spontaneously form small groups to share with one another.
Recently, I attended a Sunday service at a church in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. After the service, I also participated in several conversations among believers. The initial topic of discussion was the organization and challenges of Christian youth relationship events. One male Christian shared that the recent relationship events were not much different from regular blind dates, where participants introduced themselves on stage and exchanged contact information. A female member called C (pseudonym for safety) shared that there were more older female unmarried women than male ones in the church, and she felt hesitant to compete for limited resources. Another female believer named A (pseudonym) mentioned that after participating in dating events, most female Christians were reluctant to proactively add the contact information of male members. Even if they did, the communication would be brief and seldom continued. The third Christian woman named B (pseudonym) shared that she did get the contact information of male ones after attending relationship events but encountered difficulties in communication and interaction, which caused her to quickly withdraw from further contact.
During the discussion, each person realized the need for older, unmarried believers to align themselves with God's Word and reduce personal judgments. On the other hand, they also recognized the importance of a marital mediator, who should provide privacy protection, faith-based guidance, and interpersonal counseling.
In subsequent conversations, they delved into the profound and perplexing topic of whether Christians should visit graves, kneel, and burn incense during the Qingming Festival. They also discussed how to handle malicious bullying from non-believing colleagues in the workplace and the concepts of forgiveness and apology in interpersonal relationships. Through these discussions, they gained a deeper understanding of the significance of spiritual rebirth, baptism, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as well as the importance of self-discovery, understanding others, and fulfilling the Great Commission.
It is evident that the spontaneous post-worship discussions among Christians are beneficial, as they deepen their understanding of the sermon heard and promote the application of biblical teachings in their daily lives. Furthermore, it is crucial for them to explore and resolve doubts, seek clarification, and pray for one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
