Plaza Bible Church
November 11th, 2004Church Review
Scriptural View: 3/5
Beliefs: 3/5
Community: 2/5
Preaching: Topical
Worship: Contemporary
Service time: 10:00
Website Review
No Website
Review: I attended the Easter service at Plaza Bible Church in 2004. This church meets in downtown Orange right near the Orange Circle. Plaza Bible Church belongs to the Foursquare denomination (www.foursquare.org), a Pentecostal group born in the early 1900’s out of the Wesleyan Holiness Tradition.
The first thing ones sees as they are walking in the front doors of the church is a sign with a Scripture verse engraved on it: Philippians 4:19 “My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory.” The church building seats a few hundred and is decorated with elegant script messages painted on the side walls and a very real looking cross on the back wall behind the stage.
The time of worship in song was composed of contemporary Christian music led with guitar, drums, a piano, and three vocalists. The time of worship in the study of God’s Word consisted of the Pastor, Don Palmer talking about how Easter is a time of new beginnings. He began his sermon by sharing about how he did not start working on his sermon until the night before, but woke up early that morning to discover that his wife had put out Easter candy for his son which really inspired him for the day’s service. Pastor Don said it made him feel like God had something really special for everyone that day and that Jesus love on Easter was like His wife’s. He cried, then very passionately described the death and resurrection of Christ. The passage of Scripture Don referred to was John 21 which describes Jesus appearing to Peter after His resurrection. Then with a big smile he told everyone how we all can have a new beginning just like Peter.
There was a wide range of age groups present and everyone seemed to know each other very well. On the front steps of the platform there were several Easter lily plants they were giving away after the service.
I cannot recommend this church for their lack of solid exegetical preaching. Their denominational affiliation confesses core salvation beliefs but lacks theological depth and consistency. This is evident in their service which chiefly appeals to human emotion and experience rather than Scripture and reason.