Mega Churches

Countdown to when service begins.

Today I went to Bethel Church in San Jose, CA. I have often passed this church over the years and always drawn to it. I now regret not going to it before in the previous years I wanted to find a "home church". I did attend a singles group here many years ago. I was impressed with how friendly it felt and how nice everyone was. I was reluctant to attend service here because of the many scandals I have heard from mega churches over the years. It has always seemed like these type of churches were only about money and the people working at the church getting richer and the congregation getting poorer.

Huge from the outside

I got to the service about 15 minutes early. There are two services, one at 9:15 and one at 11:00. I went to the early one so I could do some secret shopping this afternoon. I had read on the internet that first timers should flash their lights at the parking attendants (that is how big it is) for special parking. There was a big sign with a guy standing next to it as I came in. I don't like being identified as a new comer so I didn't flash my lights. There was lots of parking so I thought there weren't going to be many people at the service, and it was early. I went in and there was lots of seating and not lots of people. I was comfortable. Five minutes before the service started a countdown started on the screens in front. By the time the service started the pews were full and there was a small band and a large choir on the stage. The music started and it felt good to be in a large church.

Lots going on

I had felt like religion wasn't as important to Christians in the smaller church. This was great, there was good music and there were a variety of different ages and races and ways of praising the Lord. The balcony had as much seating as the main floor and that was half full. The message was inspiring and people were taking notes. The last page of the bulletin was designed to take notes on. There was an outline on the sermon and spaces to fill in the blanks to help us follow the message. The minister wasn't as dynamic as I thought he would be, but that was good because it showed that the size of the church was because of the churches services to the congregation not just about the minister. The sermon was about CHANGE and I felt like they were speaking directly to me. It emphasized that sometimes you have to accept quick change and not always have to think about it. In the Bible it said a bright light came to Saul and all of a sudden his whole life was changed. He had no time to think about it, it was just changed.
I have been wondering if I could continue going to church after I start teaching on the weekends and this church has a lot of meetings during the week, and a thing on Sunday nights at 6:00pm.

Lots of screens to keep everyone informed

I won't abandon my search of different churches around the area, but I think I have found a way to continue going to church even if I work on Sundays!!

Acts 9:1-22

New International Version (NIV)

Saul’s Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.