This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.
Here are my thoughts on Deuteronomy 8:1-16.
Showing posts with label theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theology. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
May My Tongue Sing of Your Word
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, at 176 verses. It's crazy. The Psalm is fascinating for many reasons. It was written as an acrostic on the Hebrew alphabet. The first 8 verses start with the Hebrew letter 'Aleph,' the next 8 verses start with the Hebrew letter 'Beth,' etc. It's also very focused on one topic: God's word. The Psalmist sings of God's commands, precepts, way, law, decrees, etc.
So it's word play in lyric form about God's word. It's like a BC crossword puzzle poem! I love it.
Verse 171-172 says,
"May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous."
I love this idea: that we would sing of God's word, or even sing God's word. Is there anything more helpful to our spiritual formation than to learn to sing God's word? You probably can sing from memory songs you learned in grade school: music and rhyme are powerful tools for memorization. Plato once wrote, "Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its law."* Music is a powerful teacher.
That's why, in case you've ever wondered, we try to put songs through a rubric of questions to make sure it's worth our time singing on a Sunday. The basic question: "Is this song among the best for New Cov to sing?"
We look at 3 areas:**
1.Theological Strength - Are the lyrics true? Do they represent the Bible? Do they tell the story of Scripture well?
2.Lyrical Strength - Is the text well constructed? Is it poetic? Does it connect with our imagination? Does it inspire?
3.Musical Strength - Is it singable? Is the melody memorable? Does the tune fit the text well?
Some songs will be stronger in some areas and weaker in others. But this gives us a method of evaluating any songs we include to sing on a Sunday morning. The closer we get to putting the words of scripture in our praise, I think, the better opportunity we give God to form us into Christlikeness through worship.
* I've also seen this quote attributed to a contemporary of Plato, Damon of Athens, and to Andrew Fletcher, a Scottish philosopher of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
** I learned this method from a book called The Worship Architect by Rev. Dr. Constance M. Cherry. The book has been invaluable for me as a Pastor of Worship.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Edge of Heaven
One of the songs we sang Sunday morning was "Edge of Heaven," by River Valley Worship. I love the song, because it's a pretty great characterization of the time in which we find ourselves as the Church: Here we are, living on the edge of Heaven, clinging to Your holy presence, longing to be where You are. It got me thinking about something I first learned a few years ago. Scripture shows that we live in a tension, between the "already" and the "not yet."
It is true that we long for Jesus to return. We long to be with Him fully, face to face, as described in Revelation 21, when he will wipe every tear from our eyes (v. 4), for Jesus to reign eternally (22:5), and to reign with Him, for God to dwell among us (21:3), and for all the blessing that is promised to accompany God's reign on earth (all of ch. 21 & 22). In Jewish thinking, this was known as "the age to come," and as they watch and wait for the Messiah, they believe we are currently in "the present age," characterized by injustice, sin and death.
Since we proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, we have to look to his words to understand when we exist in God's story. Are we in the present age? We certainly see the effects of sin and death around us. But according to Jesus, we are also in the age to come:
- "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 4:17)
- "The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)
Paul grabs hold of this idea, too, proclaiming that in the resurrection of Jesus the kingdom has come:
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18)
The more we look, the more we see this idea supported: the kingdom of God has already come in Christ, and it is coming in its fullness. That's where we live: on this edge of Jesus' return, proclaiming that the kingdom is available to any who put their trust in Jesus.
This is a message of hope for us. We are no longer ruled by sin; we are blessed by grace. We are no longer alone; the Holy Spirit is with us. We are no longer afraid; we have the God of angel armies on our side. Nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:31-39).
And this is a message of hope for others. They can know God's kingdom right now, and we can share that with them. As you go through this week, look for opportunities to share the hope that you know in Christ: yes, Jesus is coming one day, but also yes, Jesus' kingdom is here!
Monday, January 15, 2018
Deus in adjutorium meum intende
I might not have pronounced it correctly Sunday, but hopefully I made some sense sharing this brief prayer with you. The Deus in adjutorium meum intende is a prayer based on the first line of Psalm 69, which translates to "O God, come to my assistance." The response, Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina, is a prayer based on the first line of Psalm 70, which translates to "O Lord, make haste to help me."
This early prayer was the introductory prayer for the Office of the Hours in a number of ancient prayer books. In a book called The Prymer: The Prayer Book of the Medieval Era Adapted for Contemporary Use, author Robert E. Webber simplifies the translated prayer to what we said Sunday morning:
God, be my help;
Hurry to help me!
It's remarkably simple, and when we focus on the words, and speak them with intention, we rightly orient ourselves in a place of humility. We express our need of God, and cry out to our best and truest Source of help.
It's also a reminder that the words of Scripture lead us in the most powerful prayers. Lately I've been reading Scripture (nearly) daily through the ReadScripture app. After reading through 3-5 chapters, the app directs me to "Move into a time of prayer and meditate on the following Psalm." I'm amazed how well the Psalms frequently fall into a fitting prayer for my day. Not every verse is perfect, of course; I don't typically pray for my enemies to be destroyed (Psalm 143:12). But consider how praying—or being led in prayer by—the following would help you know God's presence and worship him:
"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night..." (Psalm 92:1-2)
"Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy." (Psalm 86:1)
"Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry." (Psalm 88:1)
"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the 'gods' I will sing your praise." (Psalm 138:1)
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3)
Consider making the Psalms part of your prayer life. There's something beautiful about receiving God's word, and reflecting it back to Him in prayer.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Closing Words
The phrase, "what a time to be alive," is thrown around a bit cynically these days to point out how ridiculous the world around us has become, especially with the advancement of technology into sometimes worthless areas. For example: there's a video on Youtube that compiles several dozen movie clips. All of them are phone calls, probably from scenes you recognize. And they all have one thing in common: no one says "goodbye" before hanging up. Someone actually created this compilation. What a time to be alive.
The video brings up a good point, though. It is a little weird to hear and watch hangup after hangup without so much as a "see ya." (This phrase is used in one clip in the above compilation, granted.) It seems impersonal. Imagine yourself on the other end of these calls, some of which are between people who are obviously romantically involved. This is not the way to close a conversation.
Once I was made aware of this moment that's common to many movies, I can't help but see it all the time. And it interrupts the movie for me.
Which is why, when someone asked me about the way I close the worship service, I realized I had to make a change. A change for the better, of course. Most often, I will close the service during the final song by saying something like, "Have a wonderful week. You're dismissed." Someone pointed out that the word "dismissed" is most often used by teachers in a classroom. Suddenly, the phrase sounded awkward, out-of-place, even inappropriate.
The conversation with this person reminded me of something I know to be true, but which I forget too often: words are important. The background, current context, and delivery of words can really skew their meaning. Not only that, but if the worship service is a spiritually shaping event, then we owe it to ourselves to make sure we're using better words in the moments of the worship service, even the closing.
There's no blueprint for closing a worship service in the Bible. But there are many examples of closing words. And when we use these words in a worship service, we are pointing to the Bible, to its relevance. We are pointing to the truth of the gospel, to the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us. Consider these powerful closing words...
I'll make a confession that I've found true in my work, and I've learned is true for more pastors than I would have guessed... sometimes I spend so much time working on songs, and service order, and announcements, that I forget some of the most important words in the service: the opening, the prayers, the closing. All of these are opportunities to point us to God's word and remind us of God's presence.
The last words we say together should be words that affirm God's sending us into the world. Whether they speak grace and peace, or remind us of the Great Commission, or praise the God who sustains us, the words mark a transition back into the world around us. It's not just a time to slip on our coats and start to make lunch plans. It's a time to remembering with joy that God blesses us and goes with us.
The video brings up a good point, though. It is a little weird to hear and watch hangup after hangup without so much as a "see ya." (This phrase is used in one clip in the above compilation, granted.) It seems impersonal. Imagine yourself on the other end of these calls, some of which are between people who are obviously romantically involved. This is not the way to close a conversation.
Once I was made aware of this moment that's common to many movies, I can't help but see it all the time. And it interrupts the movie for me.
Which is why, when someone asked me about the way I close the worship service, I realized I had to make a change. A change for the better, of course. Most often, I will close the service during the final song by saying something like, "Have a wonderful week. You're dismissed." Someone pointed out that the word "dismissed" is most often used by teachers in a classroom. Suddenly, the phrase sounded awkward, out-of-place, even inappropriate.
The conversation with this person reminded me of something I know to be true, but which I forget too often: words are important. The background, current context, and delivery of words can really skew their meaning. Not only that, but if the worship service is a spiritually shaping event, then we owe it to ourselves to make sure we're using better words in the moments of the worship service, even the closing.
There's no blueprint for closing a worship service in the Bible. But there are many examples of closing words. And when we use these words in a worship service, we are pointing to the Bible, to its relevance. We are pointing to the truth of the gospel, to the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us. Consider these powerful closing words...
- Moses blessed the tribes of Israel before his death. (Deuteronomy 33:1-29)
- The last 5 Psalms end (and begin) with the same phrase: Praise the LORD. (Psalms 146, 147, 148, 149, 150)
- Jesus gave the great commission to his disciples before leaving them. (Matthew 28:16-20)
- In Mark's gospel, some manuscripts have Jesus giving a similar charge to his disciples. (Mark 16:15)
- Consider how Paul closed his letters. (Romans 16:25-27, 1 Corinthians 16:23, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Galatians 6:18, Ephesians 6:10-24, Philippians 4:23, for examples)
- Consider how Peter closed his letters. (1 Peter 5:10-11, 2 Peter 3:18)
- Consider Jude's closing praise. (Jude 24-25)
I'll make a confession that I've found true in my work, and I've learned is true for more pastors than I would have guessed... sometimes I spend so much time working on songs, and service order, and announcements, that I forget some of the most important words in the service: the opening, the prayers, the closing. All of these are opportunities to point us to God's word and remind us of God's presence.
The last words we say together should be words that affirm God's sending us into the world. Whether they speak grace and peace, or remind us of the Great Commission, or praise the God who sustains us, the words mark a transition back into the world around us. It's not just a time to slip on our coats and start to make lunch plans. It's a time to remembering with joy that God blesses us and goes with us.
Monday, October 23, 2017
The Gentle Whisper
There's a great encounter between Elijah and God in the book of 1 Kings that has always fascinated me. Elijah is fleeing for his life from King Ahab and Ahab's wife Jezebel. Elijah finds himself in the desert, nearly starved but for the providence of God. After 40 days and nights in the desert, Elijah rests in a cave, and the Bible tells us that the word of the LORD comes to him. God seems to ask Elijah about his purpose: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah responds by describing his zeal for God. God responds with this proposal:
"Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." (1 Kings 19:11)
So Elijah does this. And a great wind comes through. It was powerful enough to tear into the rocks and the mountain! Can you imagine? I picture weather reporters knocked down by hurricanes, but I still don't think that expresses the strength of the wind. It must have been awesome, and terrifying, to behold. Such a picture of God's power.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the wind." (v. 11)
Then an earthquake happens. Do you remember the small earthquake we had about a year ago? The epicenter was in Oklahoma, but it was felt as far north as Sioux City. I remember sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee. One moment everything was normal. The next moment I felt I was falling but I hadn't moved from my chair. The hanging light over the table wobbled. A cabinet door rattled. It was extremely disorienting. As minor as it was, it made me feel small and out of control.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the earthquake." (v. 11)
After the earthquake comes a fire. Growing up as the son of a Game & Parks Wildlife Biologist, I've had a few opportunities to be around for a "controlled burn." One in particular I remember. A fire break was plowed around a small field of dried invasive grasses and weeds. Men positioned themselves in a few places around the field to make sure the fire didn't escape, then a couple of men went around the edges with a small gas torch to light the grass. Slowly at first, the fire consumed a blade of dried grass, then a few, then a larger weed, then another, then it spread faster. Near the end, as the fires set in several places converged to the middle of the field, it formed a small fireball that rose quickly into the air. The heat was immense. I could hardly stand to be near it. Such is the intensity of fire up close, that you want to hide your face from it because you know it could consume you.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the fire." (v. 12)
After the awesome power of the wind, the overwhelming bigness of the earthquake, and the intensity of the fire, Elijah must have been shocked to hear a gentle whisper. On the other hand, what else might coax him out of the cave? Had God shouted to Elijah to come out, Elijah might have fainted of fear. No: it had to be a whisper, a reminder that although God is powerful, and mighty, and holy, God is also love.
I love the songs we sing at New Cov. I love the music we use to join our voices in worship of our God. When we make a joyful noise, with loud voices and clapping and shouting, I am blessed by the reminder that God is miraculous, and bigger than any of us or any problems we might face. And I am blessed to see Him working in our hearts and in our midst, even as we worship.
But other times, I am blessed by the gentle, unassuming sound of voices, acoustic instruments, and moments of silence. I am reminded that God drew near to us in Jesus, so that we could draw near to Him forever. I am reminded that God is near. We can raise our voices loud to shake heaven, but we don't need to, because God is present. He's a God of intimacy. A God who restores. A God who gives second chances. A God who wants you, and me, to have our comeback. And he's in the gentle whisper of each moment of every day. Make time and seek ways to listen for Him.
Amen.
"Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." (1 Kings 19:11)
So Elijah does this. And a great wind comes through. It was powerful enough to tear into the rocks and the mountain! Can you imagine? I picture weather reporters knocked down by hurricanes, but I still don't think that expresses the strength of the wind. It must have been awesome, and terrifying, to behold. Such a picture of God's power.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the wind." (v. 11)
Then an earthquake happens. Do you remember the small earthquake we had about a year ago? The epicenter was in Oklahoma, but it was felt as far north as Sioux City. I remember sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee. One moment everything was normal. The next moment I felt I was falling but I hadn't moved from my chair. The hanging light over the table wobbled. A cabinet door rattled. It was extremely disorienting. As minor as it was, it made me feel small and out of control.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the earthquake." (v. 11)
After the earthquake comes a fire. Growing up as the son of a Game & Parks Wildlife Biologist, I've had a few opportunities to be around for a "controlled burn." One in particular I remember. A fire break was plowed around a small field of dried invasive grasses and weeds. Men positioned themselves in a few places around the field to make sure the fire didn't escape, then a couple of men went around the edges with a small gas torch to light the grass. Slowly at first, the fire consumed a blade of dried grass, then a few, then a larger weed, then another, then it spread faster. Near the end, as the fires set in several places converged to the middle of the field, it formed a small fireball that rose quickly into the air. The heat was immense. I could hardly stand to be near it. Such is the intensity of fire up close, that you want to hide your face from it because you know it could consume you.
But, says the passage, "the LORD was not in the fire." (v. 12)
After the awesome power of the wind, the overwhelming bigness of the earthquake, and the intensity of the fire, Elijah must have been shocked to hear a gentle whisper. On the other hand, what else might coax him out of the cave? Had God shouted to Elijah to come out, Elijah might have fainted of fear. No: it had to be a whisper, a reminder that although God is powerful, and mighty, and holy, God is also love.
I love the songs we sing at New Cov. I love the music we use to join our voices in worship of our God. When we make a joyful noise, with loud voices and clapping and shouting, I am blessed by the reminder that God is miraculous, and bigger than any of us or any problems we might face. And I am blessed to see Him working in our hearts and in our midst, even as we worship.
But other times, I am blessed by the gentle, unassuming sound of voices, acoustic instruments, and moments of silence. I am reminded that God drew near to us in Jesus, so that we could draw near to Him forever. I am reminded that God is near. We can raise our voices loud to shake heaven, but we don't need to, because God is present. He's a God of intimacy. A God who restores. A God who gives second chances. A God who wants you, and me, to have our comeback. And he's in the gentle whisper of each moment of every day. Make time and seek ways to listen for Him.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
Make a Joyful Noise
Our all-in service this past Sunday was moving. Institutional church often drifts toward tradition and rote: we do things the same way over and over, and before long we do those things with little regard for the meaning therein. Words, actions, postures, symbols... whatever we use to worship can be full of meaning, or it can be devoid of life. It doesn't matter if our worship is "traditional" or "contemporary," "liturgical" or "emergent," or even "contemporvant" (ha ha). Any style of worship can be thriving and engaging, and any worship style can be lifeless and boring. Vitality in worship comes down to two things: God's revelation and our response. God's revelation is found in the resurrected Lord Jesus, our Messiah! You don't get closer to vitality than that. Our response is up to us. The exciting part of Sunday was seeing us respond in so many beautiful ways: from celebrating what God is doing in the hearts and homes of foster kids to hearing Alisanne's thoughts on Deuteronomy 33:12, from the peace of Psalm 3 to the joyful noise of instruments and singing.
Speaking of "joyful noise" (see Psalm 98 and 100 in the King James Version, by the way), I mentioned Sunday that many instruments referenced in the Bible are percussion or stringed. And it's true. Instruments specifically mentioned in the Bible include wind instruments: trumpets (see Exodus 19:16), flutes/pipes (try Matthew 9:23), horns a.k.a. shophars (like in Psalm 81:3); stringed instruments: harps (see Revelation 5:8), lyre (in Psalm 144:9), and general stringed instruments found in the introduction to several Psalms (4, 6, 54, 55, 6, 67, 76); and percussion instruments: tambourines/timbrels (referenced many times, including Judges 11:34), cymbals (check out 1 Chronicles 16:5), and sistrums (found only once in 2 Samuel 6:5). Some passages mention many of these instruments used together in worship, like 1 Chronicles 13:8. Other passages mention the use of choirs (1 Chronicles 15 and Nehemiah 12). In fact, music is mentioned over 1,100 times in the Bible! It was a crucial component of worship, expressed in a variety of ways that were culturally relevant.
Here's a question for us: are the instruments listed prescriptive, or descriptive? If the Bible is prescriptive in this, then we should only be using instruments found to be used in worship in the Bible. But I don't think that's the case. These instruments are found in scripture because they were instruments of the time. Being bound to this list of instruments for true worship to exist is legalistic and confining; Jesus came to set us free. Instead, I think the Bible is descriptive: these instruments describe the form of worship. So what do they describe?
Well, worship was often loud. It was clanging. It involved motion and dance. Timbrels must be hit! Lyres must be strummed! Shophars must resound! When God's people gathered, they made some noise.
Worship was organized and rehearsed by those leading, but it also involved everyone. Some people took up instruments spontaneously (like Miriam in Exodus 15). But other times choirs were formed to lead singing, and skilled musicians were recruited to play. But their task was to prompt. True worship involves everyone. It is the work of (all) the people, not a select few.
Worship was most often celebratory, as we can tell by the context of the passages mentioned above. It celebrated something God was doing or had done. Of course, worship can also be lament, or prayer, or silence. All of these are still responses to God. Most often, though, worship in the Bible celebrates.
Our instruments may have changed a bit in the past 2,000-4,000 years, and we might not be gathering in a temple or tabernacle since Jesus fulfilled the Israelite system of worship, but we can still loudly praise God. We still want everyone to come, no matter age or background. We still want to celebrate what God is doing around us, and what He has done through Jesus, retelling God's story over and over again until He returns. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth!
Speaking of "joyful noise" (see Psalm 98 and 100 in the King James Version, by the way), I mentioned Sunday that many instruments referenced in the Bible are percussion or stringed. And it's true. Instruments specifically mentioned in the Bible include wind instruments: trumpets (see Exodus 19:16), flutes/pipes (try Matthew 9:23), horns a.k.a. shophars (like in Psalm 81:3); stringed instruments: harps (see Revelation 5:8), lyre (in Psalm 144:9), and general stringed instruments found in the introduction to several Psalms (4, 6, 54, 55, 6, 67, 76); and percussion instruments: tambourines/timbrels (referenced many times, including Judges 11:34), cymbals (check out 1 Chronicles 16:5), and sistrums (found only once in 2 Samuel 6:5). Some passages mention many of these instruments used together in worship, like 1 Chronicles 13:8. Other passages mention the use of choirs (1 Chronicles 15 and Nehemiah 12). In fact, music is mentioned over 1,100 times in the Bible! It was a crucial component of worship, expressed in a variety of ways that were culturally relevant.
Here's a question for us: are the instruments listed prescriptive, or descriptive? If the Bible is prescriptive in this, then we should only be using instruments found to be used in worship in the Bible. But I don't think that's the case. These instruments are found in scripture because they were instruments of the time. Being bound to this list of instruments for true worship to exist is legalistic and confining; Jesus came to set us free. Instead, I think the Bible is descriptive: these instruments describe the form of worship. So what do they describe?
Well, worship was often loud. It was clanging. It involved motion and dance. Timbrels must be hit! Lyres must be strummed! Shophars must resound! When God's people gathered, they made some noise.
Worship was organized and rehearsed by those leading, but it also involved everyone. Some people took up instruments spontaneously (like Miriam in Exodus 15). But other times choirs were formed to lead singing, and skilled musicians were recruited to play. But their task was to prompt. True worship involves everyone. It is the work of (all) the people, not a select few.
Worship was most often celebratory, as we can tell by the context of the passages mentioned above. It celebrated something God was doing or had done. Of course, worship can also be lament, or prayer, or silence. All of these are still responses to God. Most often, though, worship in the Bible celebrates.
Our instruments may have changed a bit in the past 2,000-4,000 years, and we might not be gathering in a temple or tabernacle since Jesus fulfilled the Israelite system of worship, but we can still loudly praise God. We still want everyone to come, no matter age or background. We still want to celebrate what God is doing around us, and what He has done through Jesus, retelling God's story over and over again until He returns. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth!
Monday, July 31, 2017
How Marvelous
The Lord's Supper is a powerful sign act of worship. It was initiated by Christ just before his crucifixion, and it is practiced regularly in Christian churches worldwide to this day. I would argue that it is the most spiritually formational thing we can do to remember who we are in Christ. It tells the story of God better than any single moment in the worship service. Consider all that the Lord's Supper communicates...
It remembers how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Jesus first broke the bread and raised the cup as part of the Passover meal (see Luke 22:7-14). The Passover was celebrated annually by Jews, including Jesus. It's no coincidence that Jesus used this moment to initiate communion. It represents how God saves, whether from the oppressive Egyptians, or from the bondage of sin.
It represents grace. When Jesus said the cup is the new covenant in his blood (Matthew 26:28), he replaced all the covenants made before. In God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, mankind was charged with fulfilling their end of the covenant agreement. But in Jesus, we are freed from sin entirely by the obedience of Jesus. In Jesus, we are covered by God's grace.
It shows forth Jesus' presence. In Luke 24, the disciples, who have walked the road with the resurrected Jesus and invited him to dinner with them, only realize it's actually Jesus when he breaks the bread (v. 31). The bread and the cup powerfully remind us that Jesus is with us.
It looks with hope to the end of God's story. Jesus says in Matthew 26:29 and Luke 22:16 that he won't eat the Passover again until it finds fulfillment in God's Kingdom. There will come a day when we will sit with Jesus, face to face, and enjoy a celebration feast—a wedding feast—because Jesus has returned, the Kingdom has come in its fullness, and death and sin will be things of the past. What joy! What peace! What freedom to live eternally in perfect communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!
In addition to these, the Lord's Supper represents the crucifixion, the sacrificial system of Israelite worship, the priesthood of Christ, the subversive act of following Jesus, the unity of believers, and on and on and on...
The Lord's Supper is the ultimate telling of God's story. No matter how often we celebrate it, the Lord's Supper can be a fresh reminder of all that Jesus has done and continues to do in us and in our midst.
It remembers how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Jesus first broke the bread and raised the cup as part of the Passover meal (see Luke 22:7-14). The Passover was celebrated annually by Jews, including Jesus. It's no coincidence that Jesus used this moment to initiate communion. It represents how God saves, whether from the oppressive Egyptians, or from the bondage of sin.
It represents grace. When Jesus said the cup is the new covenant in his blood (Matthew 26:28), he replaced all the covenants made before. In God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, mankind was charged with fulfilling their end of the covenant agreement. But in Jesus, we are freed from sin entirely by the obedience of Jesus. In Jesus, we are covered by God's grace.
It shows forth Jesus' presence. In Luke 24, the disciples, who have walked the road with the resurrected Jesus and invited him to dinner with them, only realize it's actually Jesus when he breaks the bread (v. 31). The bread and the cup powerfully remind us that Jesus is with us.
It looks with hope to the end of God's story. Jesus says in Matthew 26:29 and Luke 22:16 that he won't eat the Passover again until it finds fulfillment in God's Kingdom. There will come a day when we will sit with Jesus, face to face, and enjoy a celebration feast—a wedding feast—because Jesus has returned, the Kingdom has come in its fullness, and death and sin will be things of the past. What joy! What peace! What freedom to live eternally in perfect communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!
In addition to these, the Lord's Supper represents the crucifixion, the sacrificial system of Israelite worship, the priesthood of Christ, the subversive act of following Jesus, the unity of believers, and on and on and on...
The Lord's Supper is the ultimate telling of God's story. No matter how often we celebrate it, the Lord's Supper can be a fresh reminder of all that Jesus has done and continues to do in us and in our midst.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Functions of Congregational Song (3/3)
James wrote to the young church, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." Faith leads to action. So, some congregational songs are meant to call us to action.
The songs of God's people can be found throughout God's story, and they continue to be a vital part of worship. These songs not only give verse and melody to our response to God, they also instruct and develop us as followers of Christ. There are five ways congregational songs shape our worship and shape our hearts. I was first introduced to this idea by Dr. Constance Cherry's book The Worship Architect. In it, she writes that songs in a worship service can be: Prayer, Exhortation (encouragement), Praise, Proclamation and Call-to-action. The last two Sunday's blogs (here and here) focused on the first three functions. Today I'll focus on Proclamation and Call-to-action.
Proclamation - Songs that proclaim a truth about God or about faith in Christ are proclamation songs. On Sunday we sang "This I Believe." The song has a subtitle "(The Creed)" because it closely resembles the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed, both of which proclaim what we believe as followers of Christ:
I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is Three-in-One
I believe in the Resurrection, that we will rise again
For I believe in the name of Jesus
Proclamation songs tell God's story. They also teach us God's story. They are an important part of our spiritual development.
Call-to-action - We closed the service on Sunday singing "Burn Like A Star," a song by the Irish band Rend Collective. It is a great example of a call-to-action, as are many songs by Rend Collective. A call-to-action song prompts us to do something. It might draw our attention to an injustice that needs to be corrected. It might help us focus on sharing Jesus with the world or with our neighbor. There are a variety of ways a call-to-action can call us to action; the common theme always relates to James 2:14-26, where James talks about a faith demonstrated in works or deeds.
Interestingly, I've had a hard time finding contemporary call-to-action songs for us to sing. A few examples would be "Build Your Kingdom Here," "Changed," "The Time Has Come," and perhaps "Take My Life," though that one is more of a prayer song.
I use an online planning tool called Planning Center Online, and one feature lets me look at the top songs used each week by all churches using Planning Center. Looking through this list of songs each week, I've noted that the most used contemporary worship songs seem most focused on Prayer (singing to God), Praise (exalting God) and Proclamation (singing about God). Songs of Exhortation (encouraging each other) and especially Call-to-action are less sung. Why is this the case?
Perhaps it is because we are more prone to focus inward as a society today than we were in the past. We are obsessed with learning our own personality traits, strengths, weaknesses. We are interested in finding inner peace. We workout to improve our self-image, our self-esteem, our self-worth. The Internet and data connectivity give us more opportunity to stare at a screen, instead of looking around at the world. Social apps tend to be more about expressing ourselves than socializing with others. We are told, "treat yourself," and "have it your way," and to "trust no one" besides ourselves.
And so, in worship today we see trends toward a worship service that helps the individual focus on God. Low lighting helps us block out the "distractions" of other believers around us. Songs use singular pronouns (I, me, my) more frequently than plural pronouns (we, us, our). If we're not careful, our relationship with God can give us tunnel vision. It can be a sort of faith without deeds, which James calls "dead." We might feel a closeness and intimacy with God, but we keep it to ourselves.
That's why call-to-action songs are so important. They should point our hearts outward and remind us that God has called us to be more than just a happy and healthy Christ-follower. As Tim reminded us on Sunday, we are to be salt. We are to be light. We are to live a faith that "makes its dwelling" in the neighborhoods around us.
When Sunday comes around, pay attention to the song God has given you. What is God's call-to-action for you? For your family? For your small group? For our church?
The songs of God's people can be found throughout God's story, and they continue to be a vital part of worship. These songs not only give verse and melody to our response to God, they also instruct and develop us as followers of Christ. There are five ways congregational songs shape our worship and shape our hearts. I was first introduced to this idea by Dr. Constance Cherry's book The Worship Architect. In it, she writes that songs in a worship service can be: Prayer, Exhortation (encouragement), Praise, Proclamation and Call-to-action. The last two Sunday's blogs (here and here) focused on the first three functions. Today I'll focus on Proclamation and Call-to-action.
Proclamation - Songs that proclaim a truth about God or about faith in Christ are proclamation songs. On Sunday we sang "This I Believe." The song has a subtitle "(The Creed)" because it closely resembles the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed, both of which proclaim what we believe as followers of Christ:
I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is Three-in-One
I believe in the Resurrection, that we will rise again
For I believe in the name of Jesus
Proclamation songs tell God's story. They also teach us God's story. They are an important part of our spiritual development.
Call-to-action - We closed the service on Sunday singing "Burn Like A Star," a song by the Irish band Rend Collective. It is a great example of a call-to-action, as are many songs by Rend Collective. A call-to-action song prompts us to do something. It might draw our attention to an injustice that needs to be corrected. It might help us focus on sharing Jesus with the world or with our neighbor. There are a variety of ways a call-to-action can call us to action; the common theme always relates to James 2:14-26, where James talks about a faith demonstrated in works or deeds.
Interestingly, I've had a hard time finding contemporary call-to-action songs for us to sing. A few examples would be "Build Your Kingdom Here," "Changed," "The Time Has Come," and perhaps "Take My Life," though that one is more of a prayer song.
I use an online planning tool called Planning Center Online, and one feature lets me look at the top songs used each week by all churches using Planning Center. Looking through this list of songs each week, I've noted that the most used contemporary worship songs seem most focused on Prayer (singing to God), Praise (exalting God) and Proclamation (singing about God). Songs of Exhortation (encouraging each other) and especially Call-to-action are less sung. Why is this the case?
Perhaps it is because we are more prone to focus inward as a society today than we were in the past. We are obsessed with learning our own personality traits, strengths, weaknesses. We are interested in finding inner peace. We workout to improve our self-image, our self-esteem, our self-worth. The Internet and data connectivity give us more opportunity to stare at a screen, instead of looking around at the world. Social apps tend to be more about expressing ourselves than socializing with others. We are told, "treat yourself," and "have it your way," and to "trust no one" besides ourselves.
And so, in worship today we see trends toward a worship service that helps the individual focus on God. Low lighting helps us block out the "distractions" of other believers around us. Songs use singular pronouns (I, me, my) more frequently than plural pronouns (we, us, our). If we're not careful, our relationship with God can give us tunnel vision. It can be a sort of faith without deeds, which James calls "dead." We might feel a closeness and intimacy with God, but we keep it to ourselves.
That's why call-to-action songs are so important. They should point our hearts outward and remind us that God has called us to be more than just a happy and healthy Christ-follower. As Tim reminded us on Sunday, we are to be salt. We are to be light. We are to live a faith that "makes its dwelling" in the neighborhoods around us.
When Sunday comes around, pay attention to the song God has given you. What is God's call-to-action for you? For your family? For your small group? For our church?
Monday, May 15, 2017
Functions of Congregational Song (2/3)
"We Lift You Up" is a clear example of a song of praise. And it happens to draw a lot from scripture. What a concept, right? This week I will talk about how congregational songs help us praise God, and I will address the importance of confession.
Last week I began discussing five functions of congregational song. There are several reasons we sing to God: to demonstrate our unity with other believers, to join the angels worshipping around God's throne, and because it is a huge part of Biblical worship. But reasons aren't always the same as functions. Each song we sing serves a function or purpose. Dr. Constance Cherry, in her book The Worship Architect, outlines five functions of congregational song: Prayer, Exhortation (encouragement), Praise, Proclamation and Call-to-action. Last week we sang a couple songs of Prayer and Exhortation. This week I'd like to talk about songs of Praise.
Praise - Songs of praise point our hearts to God. Often these songs explore the characteristics of God: his abounding love; his power; his majesty; the awesome wonder of his creation. They give glory to God for his mighty works, for all that He has done (and continues to do). Praise songs might focus on God's triune nature (Father, Spirit, Son) or focus on the character of Jesus Christ specifically. You'll find many Psalms that are a great model for this type of song. Look at the beginning of Psalm 103:
"Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits —"
David, who wrote this Psalm, calls the singer to worship God for "all his benefits," all the things God has done and continues to do. David goes on to sing of God's forgiveness of our sins, God's redemption, his providence, his righteousness, his justice, his compassion. He goes on and on, and so can we!
On Sunday we sang "We Lift You Up," a song written by Glenn Packiam. The song draws many of its lyrics from Psalm 71. See if you can see how God is praised in the following lines (and I'll include references to Psalm 71 where they happen):
Who is like You, O Lord, God of heaven, God of earth? (71:19)
There is none who compares with your majesty and love
From the days of my youth, You have led me in your way (71:5,17)
Now I'll shout out your truth today
You are awesome in praise, doing miracles today (71:8)
I will come and proclaim all your mighty deeds of old (71:15-16)
We lift You up, we lift You up
For all to see your glory
Arise, O Lord, and shine on us
'Until our generation sees Your glory fall (71:18)
I'd encourage you to read Psalm 71 and think about the following: how does David's Psalm of praise speak to those around him? What is at least one benefit of us singing songs of Praise?
The Value of Confession
On Sunday we said a prayer of confession, something we don't do very often. But I feel like it's an important aspect of worship and Christian life, and I'd encourage you to make it a part of your daily prayer.
You might ask, "Why? That just makes me feel bad about the things I've done wrong. Does God want me to dwell in my guilt?" My response is, "Absolutely not!" God wants us to live in the freedom of grace. Confession of our sins is part of living in that freedom.
Theologian and teacher John MacArthur writes in The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness of two types of forgiveness: judicial and parental.
Judicial forgiveness is found in the atonement of our sins accomplished by Jesus Christ in his death on the cross. It is a one-time thing, done for us. When Jesus died, He died for all of our sins. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we come under grace: there is no condemnation for our sin. We are judged to be forgiven, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. Why, then, do we need to keep confessing?
It's important to note that in 1 John 1:9, which begins, "If we confess our sins..." the confession John writes about is ongoing. It's something we need to keep doing. Likewise, the forgiveness that comes in that verse: "... he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins..." is ongoing. This is the parental forgiveness. God, our Father, forgives us when we confess. Confession of our sins is important because it sets things right in our relationship with God. And it's part of the sanctification process God is carrying out in us.
When we carry around unconfessed sins, we are in essence hiding from God, like Adam and Eve in the Garden. Until we confess those sins to God, our relationship with God is, in a sense, broken. We're still free from condemnation of our sin, but we are not free of the consequences of sin. We suffer feelings of guilt, shame and other consequences of our sins. Confession might require some humility and remorse, but it's a necessary step in drawing near to God. And since He is our loving Father, "he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's the freedom of grace, and the way we become more like Jesus day by day.
Last week I began discussing five functions of congregational song. There are several reasons we sing to God: to demonstrate our unity with other believers, to join the angels worshipping around God's throne, and because it is a huge part of Biblical worship. But reasons aren't always the same as functions. Each song we sing serves a function or purpose. Dr. Constance Cherry, in her book The Worship Architect, outlines five functions of congregational song: Prayer, Exhortation (encouragement), Praise, Proclamation and Call-to-action. Last week we sang a couple songs of Prayer and Exhortation. This week I'd like to talk about songs of Praise.
Praise - Songs of praise point our hearts to God. Often these songs explore the characteristics of God: his abounding love; his power; his majesty; the awesome wonder of his creation. They give glory to God for his mighty works, for all that He has done (and continues to do). Praise songs might focus on God's triune nature (Father, Spirit, Son) or focus on the character of Jesus Christ specifically. You'll find many Psalms that are a great model for this type of song. Look at the beginning of Psalm 103:
"Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits —"
David, who wrote this Psalm, calls the singer to worship God for "all his benefits," all the things God has done and continues to do. David goes on to sing of God's forgiveness of our sins, God's redemption, his providence, his righteousness, his justice, his compassion. He goes on and on, and so can we!
On Sunday we sang "We Lift You Up," a song written by Glenn Packiam. The song draws many of its lyrics from Psalm 71. See if you can see how God is praised in the following lines (and I'll include references to Psalm 71 where they happen):
Who is like You, O Lord, God of heaven, God of earth? (71:19)
There is none who compares with your majesty and love
From the days of my youth, You have led me in your way (71:5,17)
Now I'll shout out your truth today
You are awesome in praise, doing miracles today (71:8)
I will come and proclaim all your mighty deeds of old (71:15-16)
We lift You up, we lift You up
For all to see your glory
Arise, O Lord, and shine on us
'Until our generation sees Your glory fall (71:18)
I'd encourage you to read Psalm 71 and think about the following: how does David's Psalm of praise speak to those around him? What is at least one benefit of us singing songs of Praise?
The Value of Confession
On Sunday we said a prayer of confession, something we don't do very often. But I feel like it's an important aspect of worship and Christian life, and I'd encourage you to make it a part of your daily prayer.
You might ask, "Why? That just makes me feel bad about the things I've done wrong. Does God want me to dwell in my guilt?" My response is, "Absolutely not!" God wants us to live in the freedom of grace. Confession of our sins is part of living in that freedom.
Theologian and teacher John MacArthur writes in The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness of two types of forgiveness: judicial and parental.
Judicial forgiveness is found in the atonement of our sins accomplished by Jesus Christ in his death on the cross. It is a one-time thing, done for us. When Jesus died, He died for all of our sins. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we come under grace: there is no condemnation for our sin. We are judged to be forgiven, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. Why, then, do we need to keep confessing?
It's important to note that in 1 John 1:9, which begins, "If we confess our sins..." the confession John writes about is ongoing. It's something we need to keep doing. Likewise, the forgiveness that comes in that verse: "... he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins..." is ongoing. This is the parental forgiveness. God, our Father, forgives us when we confess. Confession of our sins is important because it sets things right in our relationship with God. And it's part of the sanctification process God is carrying out in us.
When we carry around unconfessed sins, we are in essence hiding from God, like Adam and Eve in the Garden. Until we confess those sins to God, our relationship with God is, in a sense, broken. We're still free from condemnation of our sin, but we are not free of the consequences of sin. We suffer feelings of guilt, shame and other consequences of our sins. Confession might require some humility and remorse, but it's a necessary step in drawing near to God. And since He is our loving Father, "he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's the freedom of grace, and the way we become more like Jesus day by day.
Monday, May 08, 2017
Functions of Congregational Song (1/3)
There's something powerful about a congregation singing together, hands lifted high, eyes closed, hearts open to God's Spirit. What's more, the songs we sing give us a chance to proclaim, pray, praise, encourage, and commit together.
When I started leading worship at New Cov, I led a team once per month. And I considered it my chance to pick my favorite songs. The Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts at the time, Bill, would recommend a song or two sometimes, but for the most part it was up to me. Which I loved! I'd pick a fast song to start, maybe a mid-tempo song or two, and then a slow and prayerful song right before the message. If I could get a couple songs in the same key back-to-back, I'd figure out a way to transition between the two.
When I became the Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts, I often resorted to the same pattern. Or if we wanted to shake things up, I'd plan a fast song, a slow song or two, then another fast song to really get the energy up!
Over time, though, I started to wonder why I focused so much on tempo and flow when selecting songs. Was that the most important thing? Picking my favorite tunes for the congregation? Building energy? Having a seamless transition between two songs? Manufacturing moments of energy and prayerful attention?
There had to be better reasons to sing one song and not another. This line of questions was one of the reasons I began pursuing a Masters, then Doctor of Worship Studies degree. And one of my professors, Dr. Constance Cherry, literally wrote the book on the functions of congregational song. She has found five functions of song, and in the next few weeks I'll outline each of them with an example from Sunday morning. The five functions of congregational songs are: Proclamation, Prayer, Praise, Exhortation and Call-to-action. This week I'd like to talk about Prayer and Exhortation.
Prayer - As Dr. Cherry writes, prayer songs are the easiest to spot because they are sung to God. Where a song like "Jesus Messiah" sings mostly about Jesus, prayer songs address the Father, the Son and/or the Holy Spirit. Prayer songs are often full of emotion. They might lament and ask God to intercede. They can be songs confessing sin and asking forgiveness. They can be full of adoration, telling God how wonderful He is, or giving God glory for his character or saving works. A great example this past Sunday is "No Longer Slaves." Almost the entire song speaks directly to God. You could start the song like you would any prayer:
Prayer songs feel intimate and that's the point: we have an intimate relationship with the God of the universe, which is pretty amazing. These songs give us a voice to express our hearts to the One who formed them within us.
Exhortation - If prayer songs are about the vertical relationship (me and God), exhortation songs are about the horizontal relationship (me and you). These songs let us encourage each other. (We rarely if ever use the word "exhort," but it basically means "strongly encourage".) Some encourage us to a pursue Jesus more deeply or completely. Others, like "New Doxology," let us encourage each other (and all of creation) to give praise to God! Think of the first verse, but add "Let's all..." to each line:
This is a wonderfully mind-expanding and outward-focusing chorus! We remember that we dwell in the midst of all of creation, we remember the angels in heaven, and we exhort them to sing with us, praising God who blesses and sustains us! And in doing so, we are ourselves praising God.
What is your song today? Are you in a place where you are praying for God to intercede, lamenting to Him, thanking Him? Or is the song in your heart one of encouraging others to look to God? I'll cover a couple more of these song functions next week.
When I started leading worship at New Cov, I led a team once per month. And I considered it my chance to pick my favorite songs. The Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts at the time, Bill, would recommend a song or two sometimes, but for the most part it was up to me. Which I loved! I'd pick a fast song to start, maybe a mid-tempo song or two, and then a slow and prayerful song right before the message. If I could get a couple songs in the same key back-to-back, I'd figure out a way to transition between the two.
When I became the Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts, I often resorted to the same pattern. Or if we wanted to shake things up, I'd plan a fast song, a slow song or two, then another fast song to really get the energy up!
Over time, though, I started to wonder why I focused so much on tempo and flow when selecting songs. Was that the most important thing? Picking my favorite tunes for the congregation? Building energy? Having a seamless transition between two songs? Manufacturing moments of energy and prayerful attention?
There had to be better reasons to sing one song and not another. This line of questions was one of the reasons I began pursuing a Masters, then Doctor of Worship Studies degree. And one of my professors, Dr. Constance Cherry, literally wrote the book on the functions of congregational song. She has found five functions of song, and in the next few weeks I'll outline each of them with an example from Sunday morning. The five functions of congregational songs are: Proclamation, Prayer, Praise, Exhortation and Call-to-action. This week I'd like to talk about Prayer and Exhortation.
Prayer - As Dr. Cherry writes, prayer songs are the easiest to spot because they are sung to God. Where a song like "Jesus Messiah" sings mostly about Jesus, prayer songs address the Father, the Son and/or the Holy Spirit. Prayer songs are often full of emotion. They might lament and ask God to intercede. They can be songs confessing sin and asking forgiveness. They can be full of adoration, telling God how wonderful He is, or giving God glory for his character or saving works. A great example this past Sunday is "No Longer Slaves." Almost the entire song speaks directly to God. You could start the song like you would any prayer:
"[Father in Heaven...]
You unravel me with a melody.
You surround me with a song of deliverance from my enemies until all my fears are gone.
I'm no longer a slave to fear: I am a child of God."
You unravel me with a melody.
You surround me with a song of deliverance from my enemies until all my fears are gone.
I'm no longer a slave to fear: I am a child of God."
Prayer songs feel intimate and that's the point: we have an intimate relationship with the God of the universe, which is pretty amazing. These songs give us a voice to express our hearts to the One who formed them within us.
Exhortation - If prayer songs are about the vertical relationship (me and God), exhortation songs are about the horizontal relationship (me and you). These songs let us encourage each other. (We rarely if ever use the word "exhort," but it basically means "strongly encourage".) Some encourage us to a pursue Jesus more deeply or completely. Others, like "New Doxology," let us encourage each other (and all of creation) to give praise to God! Think of the first verse, but add "Let's all..." to each line:
"[Let us] praise God from Whom all blessings flow
[Let us] praise Him, all creatures here below
[Let us] praise Him above, ye heavenly host
[Let us] praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"
[Let us] praise Him, all creatures here below
[Let us] praise Him above, ye heavenly host
[Let us] praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"
This is a wonderfully mind-expanding and outward-focusing chorus! We remember that we dwell in the midst of all of creation, we remember the angels in heaven, and we exhort them to sing with us, praising God who blesses and sustains us! And in doing so, we are ourselves praising God.
What is your song today? Are you in a place where you are praying for God to intercede, lamenting to Him, thanking Him? Or is the song in your heart one of encouraging others to look to God? I'll cover a couple more of these song functions next week.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Prayer Tools (2/2)
Continuing where I left off last week, I want to share another prayer model that has helped me make prayer a bigger part of my daily routine. It's all about balance.
Once a year, I and some friends from high school and college years get together for a trip out of town. It's a chance to get out of town, reconnect with the guys, do something fun, play cards and games, etc. Oh... and eat a bunch of less-than-healthy food.
I'm not sure how or why the annual menu developed the way it did, but most years you will find the following items dominating the food budget for the weekend: Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Cheetos, frozen eclair pastry desserts, Oreos, oven pizzas, burgers or steaks, bratwurst, eggs, breakfast sausage, and pancake mix. Some years we'll get stuff for Philly sandwiches. Wives usually send along some homemade cookies. Shockingly scarce on the weekend menu: fruit and vegetables. And the result is, I usually come home feeling a little ill, excited to eat a good salad and detox from sugar and meat for a while. It didn't used to bother me in my twenties or early thirties. These days, though...
My point is this: in many areas of life, there's a healthy balance to be found between different options. A balanced diet... a balance of work and rest... a balance between reading for enjoyment and reading for enrichment... a balance of time with others and time alone...
I think this applies in how we pray, too. Our prayer time can be a dynamic, multifaceted, thriving conversation with God. Or it can feel dull, bland, unbalanced. One tool that has helped me think through a balanced approach to prayer is the ACTS prayer model.
The ACTS prayer model is easy to remember, because it uses the title of a well-known book of the Bible as an acronym for four components of a balanced prayer. They are as follows:
A: Adoration - Spend time in praise of God. I think this is the best way to start prayer, personally, because it frames the conversation: God is good. He blesses and cares for us in countless ways. He has created all that is around us. When I start prayer time adoring God in response to all of this, I am less likely to treat God like a genie who gives me what I want whenever I want it, or a malevolent being intent on putting me in my place or punishing me for my sins. It helps me remember who God really is.
C: Confession - Spend time confessing to God. Remember that confession isn't about feeling guilty before God: it's about acknowledging how much we need him! It's about getting stuff out in the open, clearing the air, so to speak. The strongest relationships are built on open and honest communication: we need to confess to God when we've messed up, so He can remind us that He loves us no matter what!
T: Thanksgiving - Spend time thanking God for the ways He is answering your prayers or simply surprising you with blessings. For the food on the table, the roof over your head, the friendships or relationships that sustain you, the breath in your lungs... whatever is bringing you joy or sustaining you, thank God for it. He's the giver of all good things.
S: Supplication - Finally, ask God for help. Whatever you need, you can ask Him to meet that need. Then ask God to help those around you. This, of course, works best when you are actively asking friends and family members, "How can I pray for you?" Create a list, and use this time of your prayer to go through that list.
One thing I've noticed is missing from the ACTS prayer: listening. I've found it so helpful in my prayer time to just pause and be silent. Sometimes the Holy Spirit brings to my mind other reasons to adore, confess, thanks, or supplicate. That's another balance: speaking to and listening to God in prayer.
My prayer is that God would show His presence to you as you pray.
Once a year, I and some friends from high school and college years get together for a trip out of town. It's a chance to get out of town, reconnect with the guys, do something fun, play cards and games, etc. Oh... and eat a bunch of less-than-healthy food.
I'm not sure how or why the annual menu developed the way it did, but most years you will find the following items dominating the food budget for the weekend: Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Cheetos, frozen eclair pastry desserts, Oreos, oven pizzas, burgers or steaks, bratwurst, eggs, breakfast sausage, and pancake mix. Some years we'll get stuff for Philly sandwiches. Wives usually send along some homemade cookies. Shockingly scarce on the weekend menu: fruit and vegetables. And the result is, I usually come home feeling a little ill, excited to eat a good salad and detox from sugar and meat for a while. It didn't used to bother me in my twenties or early thirties. These days, though...
My point is this: in many areas of life, there's a healthy balance to be found between different options. A balanced diet... a balance of work and rest... a balance between reading for enjoyment and reading for enrichment... a balance of time with others and time alone...
I think this applies in how we pray, too. Our prayer time can be a dynamic, multifaceted, thriving conversation with God. Or it can feel dull, bland, unbalanced. One tool that has helped me think through a balanced approach to prayer is the ACTS prayer model.
The ACTS prayer model is easy to remember, because it uses the title of a well-known book of the Bible as an acronym for four components of a balanced prayer. They are as follows:
A: Adoration - Spend time in praise of God. I think this is the best way to start prayer, personally, because it frames the conversation: God is good. He blesses and cares for us in countless ways. He has created all that is around us. When I start prayer time adoring God in response to all of this, I am less likely to treat God like a genie who gives me what I want whenever I want it, or a malevolent being intent on putting me in my place or punishing me for my sins. It helps me remember who God really is.
C: Confession - Spend time confessing to God. Remember that confession isn't about feeling guilty before God: it's about acknowledging how much we need him! It's about getting stuff out in the open, clearing the air, so to speak. The strongest relationships are built on open and honest communication: we need to confess to God when we've messed up, so He can remind us that He loves us no matter what!
T: Thanksgiving - Spend time thanking God for the ways He is answering your prayers or simply surprising you with blessings. For the food on the table, the roof over your head, the friendships or relationships that sustain you, the breath in your lungs... whatever is bringing you joy or sustaining you, thank God for it. He's the giver of all good things.
S: Supplication - Finally, ask God for help. Whatever you need, you can ask Him to meet that need. Then ask God to help those around you. This, of course, works best when you are actively asking friends and family members, "How can I pray for you?" Create a list, and use this time of your prayer to go through that list.
One thing I've noticed is missing from the ACTS prayer: listening. I've found it so helpful in my prayer time to just pause and be silent. Sometimes the Holy Spirit brings to my mind other reasons to adore, confess, thanks, or supplicate. That's another balance: speaking to and listening to God in prayer.
My prayer is that God would show His presence to you as you pray.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Prayer Tools (1/2)
Sometimes prayer feels like a foreign language to me. But that doesn't mean I can't learn it. And just like there are plenty of language tools, there are plenty of ways to learn the language of prayer.
On Sunday I led a prayer confessing sin, remembering Jesus' sacrifice that led to our forgiveness, and asking God to embolden us to walk in faith and share the news of Jesus Christ with the world. I put it between "What A Beautiful Name," which outlines Jesus' ministry and passion; and "You Make Me Brave," which thanks God for the boldness his Spirit gives. I wrote the prayer out ahead of time, primarily because when I'm leading a group of people to pray, I want to think carefully about what I say ahead of time, because I realize that my prayer is also teaching others how to pray.
That's how I learned to pray, too: from others. Of course, I grew up in a context with only pre-written prayers. They were ornate and beautifully written, and I learned a lot of theology from them. They gave me, I think, a healthy reverence for God, and a sense of awe that through Jesus I can approach the throne. Unfortunately, I think they also gave me an idea that there are special words or language used in prayer. In truth, the words matter less than the heart behind the prayer. But I'm still learning this truth.
Apparently I have this in common with the Jesus' disciples, because prayer was an issue for them, too. During one of his times of teaching, Jesus gave the disciples a model for prayer that we usually call "The Lord's Prayer" or "The Disciples' Prayer" (see Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:2-4).
Over the next couple weeks I'll share some tools I've heard that have helped me to pray. Let me start with the concepts I see in the Lord's Prayer. If we want to use the Lord's Prayer as a model, we might try the following in our prayer:
Praise God (v. 9) - Tell the Father He's awesome. Tell Him you loved the sunset He created last night. Tell Him He's everything you need, that He's better than anything you've encountered. Thank Him for the good things you've seen Him give you lately. Read a Psalm of praise (try Psalms 146 thru 150). Think and speak on God's love, goodness, might, peace, etc.
Submit to God (v. 10) - Acknowledge you want Him to lead. Invite God to bring his kingdom into the aspects of your life that need reformation.
Ask God (part 1) (v. 11) - Ask God to meet your needs. God is not a genie, of course, but He wants to give us good things and for us to see how He provides for our needs. So if something's on your heart, if you need something from God, tell him.
Ask God (part 2) (v. 12-13) - Ask God to protect you from temptation and the schemes of the devil. Confess your sins. Remember that Jesus has forgiven, and so try to forgive others. If you need help forgiving, ask God for that, too.
Next week I'll talk about an acronym that I've found helpful in praying. Also: make plans to attend our viewing of War Room next Friday night, March 31. It'll be worth your time, I guarantee, as it's all about the impact and importance of prayer.
On Sunday I led a prayer confessing sin, remembering Jesus' sacrifice that led to our forgiveness, and asking God to embolden us to walk in faith and share the news of Jesus Christ with the world. I put it between "What A Beautiful Name," which outlines Jesus' ministry and passion; and "You Make Me Brave," which thanks God for the boldness his Spirit gives. I wrote the prayer out ahead of time, primarily because when I'm leading a group of people to pray, I want to think carefully about what I say ahead of time, because I realize that my prayer is also teaching others how to pray.
That's how I learned to pray, too: from others. Of course, I grew up in a context with only pre-written prayers. They were ornate and beautifully written, and I learned a lot of theology from them. They gave me, I think, a healthy reverence for God, and a sense of awe that through Jesus I can approach the throne. Unfortunately, I think they also gave me an idea that there are special words or language used in prayer. In truth, the words matter less than the heart behind the prayer. But I'm still learning this truth.
Apparently I have this in common with the Jesus' disciples, because prayer was an issue for them, too. During one of his times of teaching, Jesus gave the disciples a model for prayer that we usually call "The Lord's Prayer" or "The Disciples' Prayer" (see Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:2-4).
Over the next couple weeks I'll share some tools I've heard that have helped me to pray. Let me start with the concepts I see in the Lord's Prayer. If we want to use the Lord's Prayer as a model, we might try the following in our prayer:
Praise God (v. 9) - Tell the Father He's awesome. Tell Him you loved the sunset He created last night. Tell Him He's everything you need, that He's better than anything you've encountered. Thank Him for the good things you've seen Him give you lately. Read a Psalm of praise (try Psalms 146 thru 150). Think and speak on God's love, goodness, might, peace, etc.
Submit to God (v. 10) - Acknowledge you want Him to lead. Invite God to bring his kingdom into the aspects of your life that need reformation.
Ask God (part 1) (v. 11) - Ask God to meet your needs. God is not a genie, of course, but He wants to give us good things and for us to see how He provides for our needs. So if something's on your heart, if you need something from God, tell him.
Ask God (part 2) (v. 12-13) - Ask God to protect you from temptation and the schemes of the devil. Confess your sins. Remember that Jesus has forgiven, and so try to forgive others. If you need help forgiving, ask God for that, too.
Next week I'll talk about an acronym that I've found helpful in praying. Also: make plans to attend our viewing of War Room next Friday night, March 31. It'll be worth your time, I guarantee, as it's all about the impact and importance of prayer.
Monday, February 06, 2017
Jesus Is Our Worship
Love, as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, is found in the context of relationship. Worship, as described by many passages in the Bible, is a relationship found only through Jesus.
Sunday morning I presented an analogy: the progression of themes in our songs is like entering the tabernacle or temple of the Old Testament. In the worship system of the Israelites, the tabernacle and the temple represented the dwelling place of God. Both the mobile tabernacle and the permanent temple had a similar layout, so let's talk about the tabernacle. It was portable, so God's presence travelled with God's people. Its walls were fabric, and it had several ceremonial furnishings. Anyone ceremonially clean could enter through the one set of gates into the outer court, an open air space about 150' by 75'. Priests alone could enter the holy place, which was draped on top and on sides by thick curtains. Within this space was another curtain which separated the holy place from the most holy place. Only the high priest (and only on certain occasions) could enter the most holy place, which housed the ark of the covenant and other items important to Israelite history and worship, and was where the Spirit of God would dwell. The reason for the separation was mankind was sinful, and God was holy. Mankind could not bear to be in God's presence.
Through ceremony and sacrifice, God was giving them a chance to be holy, to draw near to his Presence. Still, one can see a difficulty right away: only the ceremonially clean could get to the outer court; only priest could enter the holy place; only the high priest could enter the most holy place. And even in this, Israel repeatedly fell into sin and fell short.
What does this have to do with our worship today? The answer, any child in Sunday school would venture to guess, is Jesus. If we jump to the New Testament, we see a number of interesting passages that tell us Jesus is the cornerstone of worship and relationship with God. He stands in place of the tabernacle and temple, so relationship with the most holy God is possible. Consider these passages...
Jesus is why we are able to gather and sing. We no longer have to wait in the outer courts because we are marred by sin. Through Jesus, we can enter the most holy place: we can be face to face with the God who loves us. When we sing on Sundays, remember our freedom from sin. Remember the privilege it is to commune with the Creator of us all. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, who lived, and died, and rose again to live in us. Approach God's throne daily, knowing that Jesus has made the way, and Jesus is the way.
Sunday morning I presented an analogy: the progression of themes in our songs is like entering the tabernacle or temple of the Old Testament. In the worship system of the Israelites, the tabernacle and the temple represented the dwelling place of God. Both the mobile tabernacle and the permanent temple had a similar layout, so let's talk about the tabernacle. It was portable, so God's presence travelled with God's people. Its walls were fabric, and it had several ceremonial furnishings. Anyone ceremonially clean could enter through the one set of gates into the outer court, an open air space about 150' by 75'. Priests alone could enter the holy place, which was draped on top and on sides by thick curtains. Within this space was another curtain which separated the holy place from the most holy place. Only the high priest (and only on certain occasions) could enter the most holy place, which housed the ark of the covenant and other items important to Israelite history and worship, and was where the Spirit of God would dwell. The reason for the separation was mankind was sinful, and God was holy. Mankind could not bear to be in God's presence.
Through ceremony and sacrifice, God was giving them a chance to be holy, to draw near to his Presence. Still, one can see a difficulty right away: only the ceremonially clean could get to the outer court; only priest could enter the holy place; only the high priest could enter the most holy place. And even in this, Israel repeatedly fell into sin and fell short.
What does this have to do with our worship today? The answer, any child in Sunday school would venture to guess, is Jesus. If we jump to the New Testament, we see a number of interesting passages that tell us Jesus is the cornerstone of worship and relationship with God. He stands in place of the tabernacle and temple, so relationship with the most holy God is possible. Consider these passages...
- Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45 - When Jesus died, the temple curtain (which separated the most holy place from the holy place) ripped in two from top to bottom. That which separated mankind from the holiness of God is literally removed.
- Hebrews 2:17 - Jesus was fully human to become our high priest, who enters the most holy place—and the presence of God—on our behalf.
- Hebrews 4:14-15 - Jesus still intercedes for us in heaven. He's able to do this because he was completely without sin. He is perfect where previous high priests failed.
- Hebrews 6:19-20 - Not only does Jesus enter God's presence for us, he makes a way for us to enter God's presence. In Christ we are holy. We put on his righteousness.
Jesus is why we are able to gather and sing. We no longer have to wait in the outer courts because we are marred by sin. Through Jesus, we can enter the most holy place: we can be face to face with the God who loves us. When we sing on Sundays, remember our freedom from sin. Remember the privilege it is to commune with the Creator of us all. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, who lived, and died, and rose again to live in us. Approach God's throne daily, knowing that Jesus has made the way, and Jesus is the way.
Monday, January 16, 2017
Galatians 2:20
What was your take on Sunday's message, and Tim's four challenges to New Cov in 2017? I can tell you that, this time last year, one of the challenges would have filled me with a sense of guilt and frustration. Let me explain my reaction, and why I don't feel the same now about this particular challenge.
As a follower of Jesus, one of my least favorite questions to be asked has been, "What are you reading in your quiet times?" It brings to mind glaringly the discipline of Scripture reading. I have struggled with consistency in this discipline, sometimes going through periods of barely reading the Bible at all. Definitely not daily. I knew I was pushing aside something important. I just didn't know how to change my pattern.
This past Sunday, one of Tim's challenges was that we commit to daily time with Jesus in Bible reading. I've heard that challenge before, and in the past I've wilted inwardly, knowing I'm not doing it. This time was different, though, for two reasons: new perspective, and new patterns.
I took a sabbatical break in June. My family went on a road trip. We camped, we visited friends and some amazing places... we broke the usual pattern. The very first morning on the road, our family read a devotional together that reminded me that God loves me no matter what. Something about the simple words, and the first person voice (it was written as God speaking to us) broke through to me. In front of my family, I got weepy remembering God's incredible, unfailing, unchanging love for me and all the ways He moves and works in and around me constantly. He loves me even when I'm not reading the Bible every day.
Then I attended the Exchanged Life Ministries conference we hosted in August. That was a paradigm shift for me. I believed that my closeness to God depended on me. What I learned was my closeness to God was never the issue. The issue for a growing Christ-follower is to allow God's Spirit within you to lead, and to put to death selfishness. We are crucified with Christ: it is no longer us, but Christ living in us (Gal 2:20). This freedom—that God loves me no matter what, and that I can choose to follow the Spirit instead of the flesh—interrupted the mistaken thinking that my walk with Christ is all up to me. It's up to God working in me, and me choosing to let Him work.
Disciplines—time alone in Bible reading, tithing, corporate worship, prayer, service—are not means for salvation. The work of salvation is complete, finished when Jesus died on the cross. Instead, spiritual disciplines are part of our sanctification—a process for growing and knowing Christ more so that we become more like him.
These new perspectives on freedom in Christ led to new patterns. In July I started a year Bible reading plan, through the Bible app on my phone. The M'Cheyne Reading Plan reads through about 4 chapters per day. In a year, I'll have gone through the Old Testament once, the Psalms and New Testament twice. I'm a few days behind right now, but I've spent many more days reading God's word these past 6 months than not. And in the process God has changed my heart, opened my eyes to His work around me, and given me reason to praise Him! Plus, it has kept me grounded on these truths: God loves me no matter what, and I can choose to follow the Spirit instead of the flesh.
If you struggle in this area, I want to echo Tim and invite you to give one of the New Cov pastors a call. Any of us would be happy to talk with you about a Bible reading plan that fits you. I could go on and on about this, because I've seen how God is using this discipline to speak, to strengthen, and ultimately, to sanctify me. Hallelujah: praise be to God.
As a follower of Jesus, one of my least favorite questions to be asked has been, "What are you reading in your quiet times?" It brings to mind glaringly the discipline of Scripture reading. I have struggled with consistency in this discipline, sometimes going through periods of barely reading the Bible at all. Definitely not daily. I knew I was pushing aside something important. I just didn't know how to change my pattern.
This past Sunday, one of Tim's challenges was that we commit to daily time with Jesus in Bible reading. I've heard that challenge before, and in the past I've wilted inwardly, knowing I'm not doing it. This time was different, though, for two reasons: new perspective, and new patterns.
I took a sabbatical break in June. My family went on a road trip. We camped, we visited friends and some amazing places... we broke the usual pattern. The very first morning on the road, our family read a devotional together that reminded me that God loves me no matter what. Something about the simple words, and the first person voice (it was written as God speaking to us) broke through to me. In front of my family, I got weepy remembering God's incredible, unfailing, unchanging love for me and all the ways He moves and works in and around me constantly. He loves me even when I'm not reading the Bible every day.
Then I attended the Exchanged Life Ministries conference we hosted in August. That was a paradigm shift for me. I believed that my closeness to God depended on me. What I learned was my closeness to God was never the issue. The issue for a growing Christ-follower is to allow God's Spirit within you to lead, and to put to death selfishness. We are crucified with Christ: it is no longer us, but Christ living in us (Gal 2:20). This freedom—that God loves me no matter what, and that I can choose to follow the Spirit instead of the flesh—interrupted the mistaken thinking that my walk with Christ is all up to me. It's up to God working in me, and me choosing to let Him work.
Disciplines—time alone in Bible reading, tithing, corporate worship, prayer, service—are not means for salvation. The work of salvation is complete, finished when Jesus died on the cross. Instead, spiritual disciplines are part of our sanctification—a process for growing and knowing Christ more so that we become more like him.
These new perspectives on freedom in Christ led to new patterns. In July I started a year Bible reading plan, through the Bible app on my phone. The M'Cheyne Reading Plan reads through about 4 chapters per day. In a year, I'll have gone through the Old Testament once, the Psalms and New Testament twice. I'm a few days behind right now, but I've spent many more days reading God's word these past 6 months than not. And in the process God has changed my heart, opened my eyes to His work around me, and given me reason to praise Him! Plus, it has kept me grounded on these truths: God loves me no matter what, and I can choose to follow the Spirit instead of the flesh.
If you struggle in this area, I want to echo Tim and invite you to give one of the New Cov pastors a call. Any of us would be happy to talk with you about a Bible reading plan that fits you. I could go on and on about this, because I've seen how God is using this discipline to speak, to strengthen, and ultimately, to sanctify me. Hallelujah: praise be to God.
Monday, January 09, 2017
Praise Songs and Hymns
The difference between a contemporary praise song and a hymn is like the difference between a mountain stream and Niagara Falls. Neither is better than the other, both deliver something we need, and both are beautiful for different reasons.
As a pastor of worship, I am very concerned with the words we sing. I look through lyrics for scriptural references and truth, but also ambiguous ideas and falsities, too. Because in the context of worship, lyrics are more than just words that sound good to music: they become praises, prayers, proclamations, laments, exhortations, and calls to action. For example, as I mentioned Sunday morning, the first song we sang was a praise, and the second was a prayer. These songs stick in our head, and we find ourselves singing them as we go through our week. They become our theology. We had better make sure those lyrics on repeat in our brain are true and consistent with God's word to us.
Then there's the number of scriptural references or theological ideas in a song. And here's a big difference between contemporary songs and hymns. Contemporary songs tend to have fewer theological ideas expressed than some of the classic hymns. Take two of the songs from Sunday for an example. From "King of Heaven," I can parse out 15 unique Scriptural ideas/references (email me if you want the list). Compare that to "The Church's One Foundation," which has at least 30 Scriptural ideas/references (and that's only in the verses we sang... there are more)! After services I was talking with some members of the team, and we discussed that the hymn has almost too many ideas to comprehend and reflect upon. It's so much to try to think through. Every time I hear the hymn, a new idea strikes me.
So which is better?
Neither. Both help us worship.
I've had the words to "The Church's One Foundation" memorized since I was around 10, because we sang it so much growing up. And as I've grown, I've learned more of the meaning of what I'm singing. Like a waterfall, hymns bring a deluge of ideas roaring at us. Hymns feel old because of the harmonies used, so they can inspire awe and remind us of the great history of the church.
By contrast, "King of Heaven" is easy to learn and sing. By the middle of the first time I heard it, I could sing along and begin to internalize the truths presented. Like a mountain stream whose water is refreshing and clear, contemporary songs use contemporary language to help us access deep spiritual truth easily. They remind us that the church has new songs to sing of our God.
But both contemporary songs and hymns have in common the water of the streams or the falls: both forms of song put to music the truth of God. At New Cov we will always try to strike a balance between easy-to-access praise songs, and harder-to-process hymns, because sometimes we need a simple nugget to replay in our heart through the week, and sometimes we need to wonder, to dig, to seek God's word. May you find God this week as He brings to your heart songs and Scripture.
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