Skip to main content

real worship, real people // Tuesday E-Devotion

“God is causing people to recognize the need for orthodox Christian doctrine coupled with an honest, heartfelt relationship with the Lord. Churches all across North America have vibrant, culturally relevant worship combined with a strong emphasis on theology. I see this so frequently as I travel that I can not help but recognize this is not just a coincidence. God is working in a powerful and sovereign way in His Church.” (quote from Tom Kraeuter, worship leader, http://www.training-resources.org)

I have heard many people say in the last three months that our style of worship at the new church is refreshing and encouraging. For a long, long time I have been reading some of the best people in the field of worship to see what trends work and to gain ideas to use in the church. The article I quoted above is just one place I have heard some of the same things.

People are looking for folks who are real. One of our core values at The Community Fellowship is authenticity and it speaks to the fact that being fake turns people off and away from God. We seek to be real. We seek to make our worship real. Being real is not easy, but I believe it is God’s call on our lives.

There are two facets of worship that are critical to be part of every service: focus on God and clear message.

Hebrews 4:16 (nlt) --- So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

1 Corinthians 14:25 (nlt) --- As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

Real worship will lead people to spend time with God and to want to live for Him each day. How can you make worship real and lead others to worship? What in your life seems fake to others and keeps others from being able to worship?

Philippians 4:8 (msg) --- Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!