Expert: Bruce Gourley - 6/18/2007

Question
QUESTION: What is the history of Sunday night church?  Especially in the Southern Baptist church.  When did we begin going back to church on Sunday night as well as Sunday morning? I think discipleship is involved, but I'd like to know more of the history behind it.

ANSWER: In rural areas during the 18th and 19th centuries, Sunday church typically began about 11 AM in order to allow farmers to take care of the morning chores, saddle up the horse and wagon (or buddy) and make the drive to the church. Because of the time involved in simply getting to church, Sunday morning services were typically followed by a church-wide lunch (often outdoors) and activities well into the afternoon or early evening (especially during the summer months). However, rural Baptist churches typically only met once a month, and oftentimes bad weather (even in the deep South) prevented the monthly meetings during the winter months.

Sunday evening meetings, however, did not actually develop until the advent of gas lamps, which allowed night lighting.  First in England, then spreading to America, Sunday evening meetings began in the cities, partly in an effort to offer a healthy alternative to other (secular) Sunday night activities. In Baptist life in America, in the late 19th century, some churches (again in the cities typically) began offering Sunday night meetings for young people in particular, meetings in which bible study and later "discipleship" training took place. The Baptist Young People's Union, forerunner to Training Union, Baptist Student Union and even formal "youth groups," evolved from the advent of evening church meetings.

In addition to gas lighting (and later electricity), modern transportation (the automobile) spurred the growth of Sunday night services, even in rural churches.

Many Baptist churches today are dropping Sunday night preaching in favor of discipleship classes, or other small group events, because Christians in 21st century America have such hectic schedules and would rather spend time at home with their family (or otherwise have family activities).

I hope this helps.

Bruce Gourley
www.brucegourley.com
www.centerforbaptiststudies.org
www.baptiststoday.org
www.baptistlife.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So it was more of a convenience or need in the beginning, than a scriptual mandate? Maybe even a tradition now. Do you think it's important to continue the "tradition"?

Answer
Kathy,

There is no scriptural mandate for Sunday evening church services. I would say, in summary, that Sunday night services in the (modern) church began in response to 1) advances in "technology" (lighting) that allowed people to do night activities in general, and 2) the growth of churches in cities, and 3) a perceived need within the church for more education concerning the Bible and the Christian faith.

Are Sunday night services important now? I think, in general, it is important that local church communities gather more than a mere one hour a week ... whatever the time of such an additional weekly gathering or gatherings might be. The body of Christ, the members in a local church, cannot get to know one another if they only spend one hour a week together, nor are individuals able to really learn more about the Bible and Christianity and following Christ. If this happens some other time than Sunday night, then I am all for it.

Bruce Gourley
www.brucegourley.com