Ordinary-100 Words

Ordinary.

Lately, I’ve been wrapping my mind around that word.

What I once accepted as ordinary is no longer enough for me.

Maybe it is an age-thing or maybe it’s a maturing-thing. Or, could it be what I’ve viewed as acceptable shouldn’t be accepted as the norm?

Do I have a specific area this applies to? Well, no. I’m thinking about work. And church. And music. And worship. I’m thinking about how I work with other people. And, how I relate to other people.

Nothing about life should be ordinary. Ordinary lends itself to becoming boring.

Who really wants boring?

Boring Worship--100 Words--Part 5

[Today, I conclude a mini-series on boring worship. When I began this series, I didn’t know how many blogs I would write on this subject. I think, for now, five is enough—oh no, don’t think that I believe I’ve covered it all. At this point, I’ll just put a semi-colon down and will come back to it again another day. Thanks for reading! As always, your comments are welcome.]

Boring worship.

Today’s Friday. But, Sunday’s coming.

Is that a good thing? Or something to dread?

With every fiber of my being I want to say that approaching Sunday with a good attitude is a great thing.

But, how often do we approach Sunday with dread? Be honest. Not excited about worship service? Afraid that this Sunday will be no different from last Sunday or the Sunday before that.

Oh God! I cry out to You.

May none of us approach Sunday with dread or despair!

May worship break out before Sunday begin.

May worship break out now. In me.

Boring Worship--100 Words--Part 4

[Today, I continue a mini-series on worship. Truthfully, I don't know how many blogs I will write about this subject. Maybe four, maybe more. I'll just let my heart and mind be my guide. As always, your comments are welcome.]

Boring worship.

Why am I struggling so much with this?

I’m not sure.

Maybe it’s age. Or, I want something better for my son than I’ve known.

But, it’s more than that. It’s about the audacity that believers have to limit the praise due God.

Lead worship in almost any church and go five minutes over the normal quitting time. See what happens. Watches beep. People close their Bible. A murmur begins. There’s an uncomfortable shuffling of feet and chairs.

Five minutes! We can’t worship for five more minutes? We can’t await the moving of the Spirit?

How dare us!

Boring Worship--100 Words--Part 3

[Today, I continue a mini-series on worship. Truthfully, I don't know how many blogs I will write about this subject. Maybe three, maybe more. I'll just let my heart and mind be my guide. As always, your comments are welcome.]

Boring worship.

Boring worship can be found in Baptist churches. Methodist churches. Non-denominational churches.

Boring worship can be found in new churches. Centuries old churches.

Boring worship can happen in churches where a lot of screaming and yelling takes place.

It can happen in churches where the liturgy wouldn’t allow screaming to take place.

Boring worship happens.

When you put lipstick on a pig, you have decorated pork chops and bacon. Nothing more.

I don’t care what clerical lipstick you put on worship, if it’s not about worshipping Jesus Christ as Savior, you have nothing more than a cheap show.

Boring Worship--100 Words--Part 2

[Today, I continue a mini-series on worship. Truthfully, I don't know how many blogs I will write about this subject. Maybe two, maybe more. I'll just let my heart and mind be my guide. As always, your comments are welcome.]

Boring worship.

Boring worship is not caused by a pipe organ rattling chandeliers and stained glass windows.

Nor is it caused by drums deafening everyone on the front row, or 20th row.

It is not caused by sermons being read by a pastor who never makes eye contact.

Nor it is caused by sermons carried by satellite to a distance campus site.

Boring worship is more of an attitude. Worshippers gathered to praise one another instead of the King of kings. It comes when the focus isn’t upon the appropriate Personhood of God.

Boring worship is caused by apathetic worshippers.

Boring Worship--100 Words--Part 1

[Today, I begin a mini-series on worship. Truthfully, I don't know how many blogs I will write about this subject. Maybe two, maybe more. I'll just let my heart and mind be my guide. As always, your comments are welcome.]

Boring worship.

That’s an oxymoron if I have ever heard one.

It shouldn’t exist.

It shouldn’t be accepted.

Not by ministers, nor church members.

In a Christian church, we often talk about the “gospel.” In simplest terms, the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ—His birth, life, death, resurrection.

When believers gather for worship, we gather in celebration of that gospel.

What can be boring about that? How can we make it boring?

Yet, somehow we do just that.

I’m not pointing fingers. I’m just exhausted with it.

I’m ready for a revolution in worship.

How about you?

Searching for the Meaning of Worship

What is the state of worship today? What is the state of worship at your church? How about with you personally?

For too many people, worship has been captured by a tourist mind set. Let me explain that. For these people, worship is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. We go as convenient, by our schedule, according to what fits our needs, desires, and wants. We simply “tour” what takes place.

For others, worship is just a weekly jaunt to church—no real meaning to it, just more of a ritual, something you have to do. It’s Sunday, you are supposed to be in church. If you aren’t, the devil will get you!

For others, worship means an occasional visit to a special service—Easter, Christmas, a holiday celebration, a special musical, etc. You know, large crowds, unfamiliar faces coming to soak up the specialness of the moment and season.

Some people, with a bent for Christian entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies, and conferences. These people go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so, somehow, expand their otherwise humdrum lives.

Isn’t it sad that we will try anything—until something else comes along?

Do any of those descriptions of worship describe your attitude toward worship? Your church’s attitudes?

A look at the original language of the Bible and the origin of the word in English helps us understand the meaning of worship. The primary Hebrew word for worship is Shachah—which means “to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.”

There are three Greek words that describe worship. First, Proskuneo—meaning “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand, to fawn or crouch to, homage (do reverence to, adore): worship.” That word occurs 59 times in the New Testament. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their feet.

Secondly, Sebomai—“to reverence, hold in awe.” This word is used 10 times in the New Testament.

Thirdly, Latreuo—“to render religious service of homage.” This word is used 21 times in the New Testament.

The word in the English language literally means to ascribe worth to something.

As you think about going to a service of worship today, whether you have yet to go or already been, do those words describe what you anticipate taking place or what took place? Or, was the activity of a worship service just that, an activity?

I hope you will spend some time in thinking about the genuine meaning of worship, both individually and corporately. I will be praying for you as you do.

Putting First Things First

God is the first priority of the church.

Not people.

Not ministry.

Not growth.

Not success.

Not buildings.

God alone must hold absolute priority in the church.

In your church.

In my church.

But, I wonder, is that true? Will that be true today as we gather today for worship in the four-walled buildings we call a church building? Or, will other things garner first place in what we do? Will the focus be on the pastor? On music? On candles, stained glass, organs, pianos? On projection screens, bands, choirs, hymnals? Our small group class? Our friends? Our family?

Unfortunately, the standard found in the Bible, of God being the priority in worship, doesn’t always receive much attention in our people-centered, growth-dominated, success-oriented American church today.

From our preaching, our meeting together, our writing, our lifestyle, our conversations, and everything else we do, it often appears that today’s church is preoccupied with other matters. Unfortunately, God doesn’t always hold priority for us nor our church.

How shameful is that!
The priority of God is not an option in Scripture. The priority of God cannot be anything but the very heart of a Christ follower and today’s church. If our church expects to be all that it is intended to be, God must be first. If our church is to accomplish its great mission in the world, God must be priority. If our church is to be salt and light, it must recover the priority of God.

Listen. The greatest need we have today is not to do what we’ve always done in worship. Nor is the greatest need to create something that has never been tried before. Our church’s greatest need today is to make God priority of our worship and our entire life.

So, where does the priority of God rank for you? Your church? Your friends?

I'm Wondering About Worship Today

I wonder about many things. Like, why do we call a penny a penny? Where did that name come from? And, oh, why should we never end a sentence with a preposition? Where did that rule come from? I think I know the answer—some 11th grade English teacher! And, for all of you English teachers, if you don’t know how to spell a word, how in the heck are you going to look it up in a dictionary? That one has always troubled me!

But, today, I’m wondering about worship. Especially, I am thinking about the difference we could make if we prayed for what took place on this special day.

I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would be in such awe of God’s power, authority, love, wisdom, and grace that they truly worshiped Him today. Deuteronomy 10:17, 20 says, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes . . . Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.”

I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would pray that everyone present in worship will know Jesus Christ as Savior and will grow to know Him better and better. 1 Corinthians 2:2 says, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would pray that the Word of God will be declared with clarity, boldness, love, and power. Ephesians 6:19–20 says, “Pray, also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I’ll fearlessly make known the mysteries of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would pray that no distractions will keep God’s people from focusing on Him and being fully open to the blessings He wants to bring into their lives. Colossians 4:3 says, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would pray that all worship leaders—preacher/teacher, instrumentalists, vocalists, sound technicians, ushers, and greeters—will rely on and be used of the Lord. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

And finally, I wonder what would happen if Christ followers would pray that worshipers will apply the biblical truths and principles they hear and be encouraged, uplifted, challenged, and rebuked. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

I pray you will experience these six things today…and every Sunday as you gather for worship!