Moving toward God

The Life Group I lead on Sundays after worship is studying through the book, The Gospel Way Catechism by Trevin Wax and Thomas West.  It isn’t just a basic catechism where we learn doctrinal truths by rote, but instead a countercultural catechism from which we learn the same truths of age-old catechisms, but with an eye to how this impacts and challenges our culture today.  We also explore how to communicate these biblical truths to peers and those around us who have little or no knowledge, understanding or experience with biblical truth.

This past Sunday, we began a new section entitled, The People Of God.  We saw that everything is “of God” or “toward God,” yet today much of the church is God toward us or the ministry of the church toward us.  We have devolved into consumers of worship rather than worshippers of God — toward God.  We expect the music to move us, rather than glorify the Lord.  We expect the pastor to wow us rather than confront us with truth to move us toward God.  Just look at the involvement in prayer until “I have a need.” The list could go on and on.

In the midst of class, we pulled up and listened to Big Daddy Weave’s song, “An Audience of One.” You need to check it out; here is the chorus:

To my audience of One
You are Father and You are Son
As Your Spirit flows free
Let it find within me
A heart that beats to praise You
And now just to know You more
Has become my great reward
To see Your kingdom come
And Your will be doneI only desire to be Yours, Lord

We then began to talk about how to change our mindsets so that worship is about God, rather than us.  I mean, if you have a date with someone you love, I imagine you prepare (clean up, dress, etc.).  And so, we brainstormed about what we could do to approach worship with a mindset of meeting God and worship being about Him, rather than it is about me and what I want or feel I need. 

Here are a few ideas (from our class and me):

• Get to bed so that you are rested
• Show up early to share in the fellowship of others or to prepare your heart for worship
• Have concern about the words of the songs rather that the stirring of emotions
• Engage our ears, hearts and brains with the message of God’s Word
• Come prepared to participate in every area of worship — prayer, singing, giving, engaging with the worship, caring for others
• Open your Bible (whether paper or digital)
• Take notes of those things God impresses on your mind and heart
• Engage and interact with others at the close of service
• Go attend a Life Group where connections are made with the people of God so that you have opportunity to meet needs and when the occasion arises, others can meet yours.
• Lastly (though this is not an all-inclusive list), bring someone with you, and reach out to those you missed this Sunday.  If someone missed your family reunion, you would call them.  Do the same this week.

What do you need to change in order for your worship this Sunday to be different?

Pressing On…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor