I often wonder at times why we bother to do anything. I mean, why do we do what we do? Is it something that is required or is it something we enjoy or is it just because we don't stop and think?
Take this thing we call "worship". In today's setting it is often referring to the music portion of a religious service. Some even go as far as saying it is a lifestyle (I'm in this camp.). So why do we worship (do) the way we do and why is it so hard to let this thing just die a natural death?
As some of you know I am reading a book titled "Transformational Church". I am learning and relearning some things. Not bad for an old dog huh ? I would like to go where angels fear to tread and mention some things about our modern day worship settings and experiences. Mind you now; I am in the midst of finding our way through and along this long journey.
I will try to list page numbers so those who would like to can read it for themselves.
page 148 Transformational churches actively embrace Jesus through music.
From here on our Transformational churches will be referred to as TCs
page 149 TCs have such a love for 'god that they know worship is a manner of living and not a mode of church programming.
page 150 In a TC people arrive with expectancy and leave with excitement
page 154 Corporate gatherings should push people beyond mere observation of religious activities to an experience with the gospel. When people attend worship, are they simply observing a show or being transformed by God?
page 154 and 155 Worship serves to connect us with Christ and equip us for ministry. Little of substance will be done in the name of a God we have never experienced. True worship allows us to experience God at a deeper level. When you experience God on a deeper level, personal and corporate mission will always follow.
page 156 Worship is the volitional act of engaging and speaking publicly about the work of God. Worship is not music but includes it. Style does not determine the message of Christ. WORSHIP IS A MATTER OF THE HEART.
page 157 When worship becomes an issue of style instead of heart, then there's a problem.
Reducing worship to a focus on style removes God as the reason for gathering.
page 159 Remember, worship is an issue of the heart. And from the biblical record, we find no such thing as Christian music, only christian lyrics.
page 162 TCs find a way for people to avoid debates about place, style, and method.
page 164 Worship must never be about me but about God and His glory.
In corporate gatherings we are never called to lead worship but to lead people into the presence of
God.
Worship is a spiritual discipline that communicates a biblical meaning in a cultural form.
Worship from your unity and choose music out of your mission.
page 166 Research confirms the fact that growing churches tend to be more contemporary in worship style than traditional.
Worship is to be understood by those in need of transformation.
page 167 The message of the Messiah should always be "seeker comprehensible".
The challenge might be for your congregation to move out of their church "comfort zone" to speak the language of people in your community who need Christ.
Well I think you get the picture by now. This worship thing is way more than my preferences. In fact
if I even remotely try to introduce my preference/s I am not really worshipping.
IT IS ALL A HEART ISSUE !!! When we get our heart in tune with Jesus; style and method doesn't matter. When are we going to lay aside this nonsense and get busy reaching the world around us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The old ways are just that OLD ! Do they have a place YES!
What is being asked here is that you me they us all everyone lay aside the personal preference/s and do our best to reach those who are in need of a Savior. We will all of eternity to quibble over the 1st and 3rd beat is devil music thingy. Really now......................................
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
What does it look like when God is at work? Is it flashy and loud? Does it draw attention to itself or focus on the unusual? Would you even notice if God was working right next to you? Most of us have difficulty seeing where God is working for any number of reasons.
When God works and we see it; that is our invitation to join Him there. Joining Him requires our obedience and action. To obey and act we must (more often than not) make adjustments in our lives. These adjustments could be emotional, spiritual, and or physical. Sometimes it is all three !
Today at our worship service we saw God working. God moved our hearts and revealed where He is working at NHBC. When asked where God was working this past week; three individuals shared their experiences. It was powerful and moving. What I noticed was that it was three of the newest folks in our body. It made some of old timers uncomfortable to see and hear about God intervening in their personal lives.
Why would that make us uncomfortable or make us sit us and take notice? Maybe we have forgotten what it is like to have God intervene in our lives; maybe we take it for granted, maybe we just need to rejoice with those who rejoice.
I have my ideas and convictions about what happen today; what about you ? Care to share?
When God works and we see it; that is our invitation to join Him there. Joining Him requires our obedience and action. To obey and act we must (more often than not) make adjustments in our lives. These adjustments could be emotional, spiritual, and or physical. Sometimes it is all three !
Today at our worship service we saw God working. God moved our hearts and revealed where He is working at NHBC. When asked where God was working this past week; three individuals shared their experiences. It was powerful and moving. What I noticed was that it was three of the newest folks in our body. It made some of old timers uncomfortable to see and hear about God intervening in their personal lives.
Why would that make us uncomfortable or make us sit us and take notice? Maybe we have forgotten what it is like to have God intervene in our lives; maybe we take it for granted, maybe we just need to rejoice with those who rejoice.
I have my ideas and convictions about what happen today; what about you ? Care to share?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
USING WHAT'S AVAILABLE !
This blogging thing is really a useful tool providing one knows how to use it! We send out notices that we have a blog and ask folks to read it and become members. Then we write jot down put into print our thoughts, mind sets.
So how different is that from what we are suppose to be doing with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We spend enormous amount of time on various media playing games, keeping up with each other, research (that what I call just surfing the net) and even do our personal business on line.
Have we ever thought of utilizing the chat rooms and the various media outlets to spread the Gospel to those far and wide? Is it possible... YES !! Have I done it? Oh yes !! And yes I have led people to the saving knowledge of Jesus over the Internet; they were from other countries too. My last endeavor over this medium was to lead my grandson to saving faith in Jesus via text over our phones.
Is it cheapening the Gospel or somehow not the "authorized" way of witnessing? NOPE !!! It is utilizing anything and everything to get the Gospel out there. We (the modern church) have this notion that if build it they will come.... only in the movies my dear friends. The best and most effective (not efficient) way of spreading the Gospel is to be a living breathing billboard for Jesus ! Yes, your lifestyle is the most important and the most seen/read/observed/monitored/explored and whatever else you might think of. When people ask what makes you weird (they don't say different anymore) then you can take the opportunity and tell them the story of Jesus and present His salvation to them for them to choose.
So the next time you get a friend request or so and so is searching for you. Or even if you go into some chat rooms. Spread the Good News of the Savior who dies for you and them! Tell 'em bout this Jesus and don't be afraid to say what needs to be said. After all; they can't see ya BUT they can hear ya now !
So how different is that from what we are suppose to be doing with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We spend enormous amount of time on various media playing games, keeping up with each other, research (that what I call just surfing the net) and even do our personal business on line.
Have we ever thought of utilizing the chat rooms and the various media outlets to spread the Gospel to those far and wide? Is it possible... YES !! Have I done it? Oh yes !! And yes I have led people to the saving knowledge of Jesus over the Internet; they were from other countries too. My last endeavor over this medium was to lead my grandson to saving faith in Jesus via text over our phones.
Is it cheapening the Gospel or somehow not the "authorized" way of witnessing? NOPE !!! It is utilizing anything and everything to get the Gospel out there. We (the modern church) have this notion that if build it they will come.... only in the movies my dear friends. The best and most effective (not efficient) way of spreading the Gospel is to be a living breathing billboard for Jesus ! Yes, your lifestyle is the most important and the most seen/read/observed/monitored/explored and whatever else you might think of. When people ask what makes you weird (they don't say different anymore) then you can take the opportunity and tell them the story of Jesus and present His salvation to them for them to choose.
So the next time you get a friend request or so and so is searching for you. Or even if you go into some chat rooms. Spread the Good News of the Savior who dies for you and them! Tell 'em bout this Jesus and don't be afraid to say what needs to be said. After all; they can't see ya BUT they can hear ya now !
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I am reading a great book entitled " Transformational Church" by Ed Stetzer and
Thomas Rainer. It is a book about how churches must be "transformational" and just not the usual business as normal attitude. Here are few one liners that give you a taste of the book...
"Churches do not change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change."
"Too many churches attempt to gain hope and strength from the sentimentality of a bygone era of ministry success."
"The first lesson these churches (Transformational) must (re)learn is to rely on God's empowered mission than personal preferences of the congregation."
This is awesome stuff....
What are your thoughts on these quotes?
Pastor Dan
Thomas Rainer. It is a book about how churches must be "transformational" and just not the usual business as normal attitude. Here are few one liners that give you a taste of the book...
"Churches do not change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change."
"Too many churches attempt to gain hope and strength from the sentimentality of a bygone era of ministry success."
"The first lesson these churches (Transformational) must (re)learn is to rely on God's empowered mission than personal preferences of the congregation."
This is awesome stuff....
What are your thoughts on these quotes?
Pastor Dan
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