Monday Morning Reflections on Worship

I try to spend Monday mornings reading, cleaning up and getting back on track after a Sunday of ministry.  In the course of the reading, I've come across two things I'd like to pass along.

The first is a posting from the First Things Blog called "The Secret of Appreciating Church." Churches and pastors often feel like we are under a glaring spotlight of evaluation each week.  Hunter Baker reminds us that church is community and part of what we "get out of it" relates to what we put into it.  "Community" is our middle name at Christ Covenant, and one of our mission pillars is a commitment to small group ministry.  This post brought me back to center.

The second is a parody video that is a good reminder for those of us who plan and lead worship.


The Secret of Appreciating Church

     Here’s what I found. If you go to a church — preferably a Bible-believing one close to where you live so you will be worshiping with your neighbors — and become part of the community, you will discover that church will become delightful to you.
     Don’t go with a consumer mindset. Don’t go thinking that you have to be entertained or amazingly taught or lifted into a higher plane by an ultra-talented worship team. Don’t sit back and judge the person teaching Sunday school as though you are Simon Cowell and the teacher is a performer. Pay attention. Look for opportunities to contribute. I am teaching now and have no illusions that I am a great authority on the gospel of John. I am grateful every time the other members of the class help me out.
     Just go, week in and week out, and get to know the people in your church. It may take a while, but eventually you will form relationships and the people in your church will become to you what the people in Intervarsity were to me. Then, when you go to church you will be going to a reunion that happens once or twice a week. It will be an occasion for joy.
     The secret of the church is not that it is some business to be run or a show designed to catch curious onlookers. The secret of the church is that is a community. It is a place where you belong and where people know you. In other words, it is a lot like the old bar on the television show Cheers. And it helps you to live the Christian life. In the church, you will become aware of what is going on in other people’s lives and they will learn about your life. You will pray with each other and minister to needs. Christianity is not meant to be practiced in isolation.
     So, stop shopping for a church. Stop sampling. Don’t fall for all the hype of a Disneyworld experience with a Christian aura around it. Don’t chase after a superstar preacher. You can hear that on your iPod. Feel free to contribute to that ministry. But find a church where you can be part of a community of people who know each other and will help one another live the Christian life, sometimes as helpers and sometimes by being in need and providing an opportunity for others to help.

Click here if you would like to read the entire post.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer

From my "You don't want to see how they make sausage, legislation or a worship service" file.  It's a parody - with all the risks of condescension that come with any parody - but serves as a good reminder for those of us who pursue our highest in leading God's people in worship.


"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.