A couple comes to your service. they seem like very nice people who are very interested in finding out what the church has to offer. You welcome them with open arms.
In getting to know them you find out.
1. They do not Know God
2. They are not saved
also, you find a very troubling thing (according to the law) they are not married, but have been living together for 6 months.
so,, what would your church do??
they would be welcomed both at the door and from the pulpit every service.
as visitors, they would be asked to refrain from taking part in communion, and to speak to the pastor after the service if they had any questions.
they would probably struggle to understand the Service Book
they would hear and (possibly? i don't know since i don't know them
) take part in the opening hymn.
then they would hear the Old Testament reading.
they would probably struggle with the liturgy some more
then they would hear a Gospel reading, which may form the basis for the sermon.
then another hymn.
then some more from the liturgy.
then they would, with the congregation, all read the Epistle lesson for the day, which may form the basis of the sermon.
then they would hear the Sermon.
FIRST they would hear THE LAW.
they may or may not be convicted, depending on the sermon
then they would hear the Gospel.
they may or may not receive it.
if it was communion service they would (or might not) confess their sins, along with the entire congregation.
they would recite the Lord's prayer and likely the Apostle's Creed.
then they would remain seated as members took the Lord's Table.
and so it would go...until the day came they heard directly from the WORD their lifestyle was sin.
sooner or later, the WORD will speak to it.
having eventually been convicted by the Word, they would either seek to resolve it by meeting with the Pastor for counsel, or probably not come back, since the sermons are always Law & then Gospel.
sooner or later there is a krisis.
people either submit to the pronouncement of Law and receive the Gospel and align themselves to it, or they drift away.
that's how my church would deal with it.
