"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of like and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever . . . Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for they would be of no advantage to you." ~Hebrews 13:7-8, 17
So, went to church, yesterday, did you? What was the sermon about? Did you know that most people don't remember even 3 points of Sunday's sermon on Monday.
When you are at church are you just "there," mind wondering or are you inwardly criticizing the dominate soprano in the choir, rolling your eyes b/c the instruments were louder than the singers on the praise team, irritated that the pastor is preaching on "that" subject again? . . . or are you engaged in the worship and in the sermon.
If you are simply "there" or something keeps you from engaging in your worship or the sermon, consider where you are in all of this. Remember that old saying: "when you are pointing at someone, there are 3 others fingers pointing back to you."
Now, certainly, those things I mentioned CAN effect our worship & concentration, but if it happens on a regular basis then you need to consider talking to leadership about it, getting enough sleep, leaving . . . OR . . . dare I say it: PRAYER.
Do you pray for the life of your church body?
Do you pray for your pastor(s), your Sunday School teachers (children's, teens' & adults), your worship team?
Consider that your pastor(s) are not only under the Divine pressure of expressing the Word of God correctly & in a way that we can understand & apply it, & the praise team is not up front for your entertainment ~ they are there to bring you to the very Throne of God. God inhabits the praises of His people. (Ps. 22:3) God told Joshua to, literally, have the praise team march in front of the Israelites before they defeated Jericho. Maybe that's why worship is usually before the pastor opens His Bible & the Word of God is preached, to get us ready to receive & to prepare for the spiritual battles we will face in the coming week.
Please don't take the preparation & hard work of those who serve you for granted. Being "up front" is a calling to God's service that requires time, work & prayer . . . from everyone.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Thanks for sharing the scriptures and also the thoughts on how you truly worship on Sunday. It was a good reminder to stay alert and give attention to those the are speaking and really pray for the spirit to enlighten your mind with how you can use what they say in your own life. As I get older and now don't have children it is easier to do that. I always try to stay in tune with the sacrament and the meeting. The big word is do it!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!
Fantastic post! And so true!
ReplyDeleteThis week the sermon we heard was about how so many think of Christianity as a list of "don't do's" but we should realize that the Bible is God's plan for out "Best" life. If we focus on living by the Word, we won't want to settle for our "wishlist" we will want to live the life God created for us. Lyrics to song were quoted that say "it's like playing gameboy in the Grand Canyon or playing in a puddle when we could be swimming in the ocean..." Sometimes we settle for doing the things we think we want to do, and we miss out on the grandness of God...
Sorry for the long comment ;)
After last Sunday, I wondered if I fell into that camp of complainers. I had wanted to speak to the pastor for a while about 20 minute hymn introductions, but the Lord prevented me. Praise God! I prayed, and He made a time for it when I was filled with meekness and a quiet spirit. The pastor heard my heart and was receptive. We were in Romans 14, so the verse (13)'resolve this that you don't cause your brother to stumble' was in the text. The Lord provided the segue and helped me not to attack but exhort with truth in love. Praise God!
ReplyDeleteKim, thank you for the challenge to engage in our church bodies with a gentle and quiet spirit, for it is of great value in the sight our Lord!
I enjoy your blog. We must be about the same age (as I read about the hippie chick. I graduated nursing school in 74). Homeschooling did change all that! I accepted Jesus at 31 :)