Who is the church service for ( believers or nonbelievers? Or Both)

[MedicBravo]

I would say both.
In the few movies where it's depicted, a lost person will be near one and hear the people. Usually the person, goes in the first time or later having been in that limbo spot with their belief and they should/shout not go.
IMO, it's why churches should never close unless they have to b/c of some variable they can't change like severe weather. A person can have an emotional crisis or break at any time of day or night. Many seek solace in a church even if it's just once.

 

[Garee]

Interesting thoughts. I didn't take the OP to mean that non-believers should be excluded from services, just that services should be prepared with believers in mind. If one of my friends asked to come to church with me, I wouldn't dream of saying no.

Where you land on this would affect the way a church worships together too. For example, a service that makes a priority of unbelievers could not easily celebrate the Lord's Supper. My church very often invites everybody in the congregation to pray together in small groups of three or four -- that's fine if there's one or two people coming into the service as observers, but would it would get awkward with many unbelievers in the room.

If we know that there will be more visitors from outside (a baptism or a baby dedication for example) then we tend to be more careful explaining what is going on in the service.

As for preaching the gospel, I've attended church for over 40 years and I still need to be reminded of the truth and glory of the gospel very regularly.

Yes it is like our daily bread a learning curve all the days of our lives . Confidence personified in the unseen glory of God who works in his born again children ( Christians) Children of light as reflection of his unseen power .

Philpians 1:6-7 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.