Expert: Brian Thompson - 5/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: hey
i am doing as assignment on the assemblies of god and i can't seem to find any info on the net.
what are the rituals that the assemblies of god have? do they have any or are they just the ones that any person that reads in the bible?
and also
there beliefs?
what are they? so far i have the 16 fundamentals, and how they follow 4 of them the most, and how all the believers receive the baptism in the holy spirt but i need a lot more
do you think you will be able to help me with this???
thanks alot

ANSWER: I will be happy to answer specific questions for you. As to rituals the Communion, Marriage, Baptism.

at typical AoG service where I live might comprise Song Service,Communion,Church Announcements,Tithes and Offerings,Sermon, Alter Call or Prayer.

The AoG are pentecostal so this means we believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in addition to the usual Christian beliefs.  This is not mandatory but an expectation that all believers will progress in understanding and seek it. We believe that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are available in this age as in any other.The focus is on Jesus Christ and not on any other personage. Because we believe in the gifts there is an expectation that signs and wonders will accompany the preaching of the word and so prophecy, healings, powerful prayer ministry are common place. Baptism are full emersion and so takes place outside the Church unless it is appropriately equiped

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QUESTION: thankyou for that it was a great help to get me started...
but i need to know more about the rituals they take place in and do?? do they have any??



ANSWER: Rituals is the wrong word to describe a baptism, the communion or even marriage, there is no set form although the words used might have been drawn from a form somewhere and the elements are those generally expected.

For example; the communion might be preceded by a short devotion in which the congregation's thoughts are drawn to a particular aspect of Jesus ministry or death, or purpose, the emblems are given out and taken together or the congregation might all come to a central table. There is no prescribed ritual. There is bread and there is fruit juice, the emblems of Jesus flesh and blood, that is as close as it gets to ritual excepting that the emblems used won't change

a Devotion might or might not take place accompaning the offering, it is up to the pastor in what way the proceedings are organised, just as it is whether an offering bag is passed or the congregation come forth.

The song service is typically led by a worship leader accompanied by musicians and perhaps singers. It's possible this may be interrupted by the pastor to minister should he be led to do so or the intended order changed should the Spirit lead the meeting into more intense worship. Sometimes the worship may progress into singing in tongues. Prophecy might come forth at the end of the song service as the Spirit moves those present.

The alter call typically follows a sermon,which can be 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter duration, at this time those wanting to respond for prayer come forward. The prayer may or may not be accompanied by signs or a personal prophecy. If there are a large number of respondents a ministry team may assist the pastor

You need to understand that we are led by the Holy Spirit and therefore try as much as possible not to inhibit what the Spirit might do in ministry whilst maintaining some order in the proceedings so as to complete the service within the two, or two and half hours, which might be alloted. If the service is too highly organised, it can inhibit the Spirit of God which is undesirable, nor do we confine ourselves to a set litegy.

If you are researching the AoG why don't you simply attend one of their worship services. We are wonderful Christian people who will welcome you

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QUESTION: oh ok then so they dont have a so called ritual but they count the baptism to be one..
and is that it
thank you so much for ur help...
is there any thing else taht is really important about the assemblies of god that i should put into my asignment

Answer
As I said ritual is really the wrong word, yes cerimonies are rituals in the sense they have some form but not in the same sense as mainline churches. I think the appropriate word might be traditions as a pentecostal church can be just as traditional as a mainline church in some matters

What else should you say well we are a prayerful people seeking God in regard to all matters in our daily lives, most of us have strong testimonies of how God has moved in our lives and there is an expectation of answered prayer.

I think you might look at structure, the AoG is really an association of like minded Churches rather that a church with a hierarchical structure so there is really a lot of independence on the part of individual pastors. There is oversight as all pastors submit themselves to others but this is more a voluntary submission than it is one imposed from a rigid structure. An AoG Church may also have a cell structure where people meet during the week in homes or elsewhere for prayer, Bible study or just fellowship. This facilitates community outreach as well as providing a more intimate time of worship and ministry. Children are often ministered to in separate services structured to their age and needs running parallel to the worship service. Church size often imposes it's own structure, mega churches, as some AoG churches are, are structured very differently to smaller congregations. Logistics unfortunately sometimes determine the duration and timing of services and so a cell structure becomes more important