CHANGING CHURCH ATMOSPHERE – Rev. Frank Damazio

Intro: Atmosphere has the power to move my emotions, penetrate my thought processes and shape me during that moment.  Atmosphere is actually a very powerful force in our lives, our families, our society and our churches. 

A)  Understanding the Power of Atmosphere

Definition: The word “atmosphere” means a pervading or surrounding influence or spirit, general mood or social environment.  Atmosphere is affected by décor, music, art and spirits (Eph. 6:10-12).  Atmosphere may be affected by a carnal, confused mind, by demonic forces or evil or by the Holy Spirit of God.

The atmosphere of a barren church will be different from that of a church that is alive, growing and filled with signs of life.

A barren church atmosphere might be stale, stagnant, boring, confusing, judgmental, legalistic and out of touch with people.

A barren church atmosphere can be detected in every aspect of the church’s expressions, the worship, preaching, offering, prayer, pastoral departments, the youth, children and so on.

A church that has broken the bands of barrenness and is experiencing the life flow of God will see a change in its atmosphere.

The pastor-leader should take special interest in keeping the atmosphere conductive to a life flow of God. Scripture offers leaders several examples of a life-producing atmosphere: Example –

1.  God in the garden: An Atmosphere of Communion (Gen. 3:8; 18:17-33; Exod. 25:22; Num. 7:8,9)

2.  God on the Mountain. At Atmosphere of Faith (Gen. 22:13-19; 2 chron. 3:1; Rom. 4:20,21; Heb. 11:17-19; Jas. 2:21-23)

3.  God in Prison. At Atmosphere of Hope and Vision (gen. 37-41)

4.  God in the Secret Place. At Atmosphere of Awesomeness (Gen. 28:10-22; Exod. 2:14; 3:6)

5.  God in the House/Church. At Atmosphere of Worship (1 chron. 5:13,14)

6.  God in the Prayer Meeting. At Atmosphere of the Supernatural (Acts 2:1-4; 4:1-10)

7.  God in the corporate Gathering. An Atmosphere of Spiritual Awareness (1 Cor. 12:14) 

B)  Leaders Affect the Atmosphere

Question: Who is responsible for the atmosphere of a church?  The pastor and other influential leaders within the congregation.  The pastor’s perspective concerning God’s presence.  God’s promises, spiritual warfare, life, ministry and the Holy Spirit will contribute to establishing the spiritual atmosphere of the congregation.

Therefore, the pastor should approach every service with an:

Ø 1. Attitude of Faith: I expect God to so something great today                                                                                                                  

   2. I have an overflow of godly love to give out today

Ø 3. Attitude of Satisfaction: I bring to this service a sense of peace.

Ø 4. Attitude of Enjoyment: I love what I do, I love God and I enjoy the ministry and the church.

Ø 5. Attitude of Team: I desire gifts and ministries to function. I encourage participation, not control.

These attitudes are only a few that a leader is encouraged to develop and deposit into the church every time the church gathers. These attitudes will help to shape the other leaders and those people involved with the public church service.

C)  Atmosphere Affected by Legalism

Atmosphere change is absolutely necessary in moving a church toward harvesting lost people. It requires the change of spiritual attitude, perspective and passions in the church as a whole in all areas.

The climate change may need to take place in some traditions of the church.  Legalism, a rule-based rather than a relationship-based way of relating to God, creates a climate uninviting to spiritually dead people.

Legalism a rule-based rather than are a relationship-based way of relating to God. External legalism that requires

Spiritual atmosphere that makes people want to be in church. They are drawn to it.

D)  A church that has broken the bands of barrenness has:

Ø An atmosphere of open heavens, no spiritual hindrances.

Ø An atmosphere of unified expectancy, no business as usual service.

Ø An atmosphere of expecting supernatural surprises, no common, ordinary god to serve.

Ø An atmosphere where people are honoured and valued, no person is unimportant.

Ø An atmosphere of victory

Ø An atmosphere of offensive and aggressive Christianity. It either survival or revival.

Ø At atmosphere of giving liberally without selfishness and small thinking, no excuses or apologies.

Conclusion:

This life-producing, love-giving, grace-pumping atmosphere is what the church needs now to revive those who are barren and to produce the fruit of the end times harvest. Let’s more beyond barrenness by diagnosing our blockages, remedying our unhealthy attitudes and adjusting our impure motives so the birthing chambers of God’s celebration houses are bursting with new babes in Christ and healthy families to care for them.

 Lessons: In the Power of Atmosphere we have discovered that:

Ø The atmosphere of the church is the responsibility of the pastor-leader.

Ø Atmosphere is affected by decoration, music, art and spirits.

Ø Barren churches are often marked by legalism, an illegitimate form of control that requires unanimity, not unity.

Ø A barren church atmosphere can be detected in every aspect of the church’s expressions: the worship, preaching, offering, prayer, pastoral departments, the youth, children and so on. 

Ø A life-giving atmosphere is a grace climate. Grace heals the wounds, but does not condemn people for being wounded. Grace blesses without requirements, legalism has so many requirements that people cannot get blessed.

Ø The motive for obeying the laws of Christ under grace is gratitude because we have been blessed, rather than in order to be blessed.  And our motive is to bless others. 

Ø Churches that grow have an alive, spiritual atmosphere that makes people want to be there.  Both believers and nonbelievers respond to the love, grace, mercy and sincerity found there.

Evaluate our situation today. 

1)  What is the atmosphere of our church today? In what ways do we need to loosen up, love more and extend more grace and mercy to our people and congregation.

2)  Are there any areas in our church where legalism has crept in?  Where are we too controlling?  (In pulpit, finance, etc.) 

3)  Are we motivated by the blessings we have received, or by the blessings we hope to gain?

4)  Does the atmosphere of our church reflect an attitude of gratitude for what Christ has done?  What prevents us from fully surrendering our worship and praise to God?