Demise of Sunday Night Worship?
Traditions come and go. One such tradition in American churches is the Sunday evening worship service. It’s unclear when the tradition started, but records indicate that churches have been holding evening services for well over 100 years.
Over the past 50 years, however, there has been a steady decline in terms of Sunday evening attendances. Even in strong, thriving churches, the numbers of Christians returning for Sunday night worship are typically less than 50% of those attending morning services. To make matters worse, following the COVID-19 pandemic many congregations have permanently discontinued evening services.
Sadly, some Christians are relieved that they no longer need to feel guilty about missing Sunday night worship while enjoying other activities. More than a few parents rejoice that they can relax on Sunday nights while their children play or watch TV. Some preachers are thankful because their study and lesson preparation has been reduced by 40 to 50%.
Meanwhile, Christians that cannot attend Sunday morning services miss out on worshipping God with their brethren. Believers that look forward to attending every service are likewise deprived of worshipping God on Sunday nights. Visitors to the area are dismayed to find vacant parking lots and locked doors.
Unless more Christians take Matthew 6:33 seriously (“Seek first the kingdom of God”), Sunday evening services may become the exception, rather than the rule. Or may eventually no longer occur at all.
So, what guidance does God give us concerning the “demise” of Sunday evening worship? “…let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much THE MORE as you see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25).
Returning to worship God on Sunday nights is not always easy or convenient, but I have never regretted doing so. How about you?
Live for the Lord in 2024!
Dennis
Traditions come and go. One such tradition in American churches is the Sunday evening worship service. It’s unclear when the tradition started, but records indicate that churches have been holding evening services for well over 100 years.
Over the past 50 years, however, there has been a steady decline in terms of Sunday evening attendances. Even in strong, thriving churches, the numbers of Christians returning for Sunday night worship are typically less than 50% of those attending morning services. To make matters worse, following the COVID-19 pandemic many congregations have permanently discontinued evening services.
Sadly, some Christians are relieved that they no longer need to feel guilty about missing Sunday night worship while enjoying other activities. More than a few parents rejoice that they can relax on Sunday nights while their children play or watch TV. Some preachers are thankful because their study and lesson preparation has been reduced by 40 to 50%.
Meanwhile, Christians that cannot attend Sunday morning services miss out on worshipping God with their brethren. Believers that look forward to attending every service are likewise deprived of worshipping God on Sunday nights. Visitors to the area are dismayed to find vacant parking lots and locked doors.
Unless more Christians take Matthew 6:33 seriously (“Seek first the kingdom of God”), Sunday evening services may become the exception, rather than the rule. Or may eventually no longer occur at all.
So, what guidance does God give us concerning the “demise” of Sunday evening worship? “…let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much THE MORE as you see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25).
Returning to worship God on Sunday nights is not always easy or convenient, but I have never regretted doing so. How about you?
Live for the Lord in 2024!
Dennis
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