Amazement Was Enough (Mt. 17:4)

Read Matthew 17:4.

Peter is often disparaged for offering to make booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.  Peter's supposed motive was that he just had to say something since that was his track record. His hasty words were ill-timed, irresponsible or inappropriate.  That very well might be the case here.

What if there was another motive?  What if Peter's motive wasn't to interrupt Jesus' conversation with Moses and Elijah?  What if Peter's motive was to shield himself, James and John from the glory?  After all, this was an intense situation!  Jesus was present, the giver of the Law was present and a great prophet was present.  Glory radiated from Jesus.  Peter knew that he was out of his league.

The silence of the three disciples, to this point, was prompted by awe and fear.  They knew something was required from them but didn't know what.  Come to find out, they had already demonstrated the proper response.

Don't offer activity in place of awe.  Don't offer to cut down trees when you need to fall on your knees.  Don't ruin a glorious moment by speaking.  There are times in worship when the most appropriate response is to say and do nothing.  "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene..."  Amazement is enough.

My Thoughts Inexactly (02/20/16)

NOTES:

1. The subject of this episode is reverence.
2. We live in an informal culture.  We want people to relax and feel at home.  Have we gotten too relaxed in church?
3. Is God still the Guest of Honor in His own House?
4. The Holy Spirit is powerful, yet He allows Himself to be grieved easily.
5. To reverence the Holy Spirit, let us minimize distractions so we can maximize attention.
6. What might happen if the Holy Spirit believed that we believe He is the Guest of Honor?

Challenges & Conversations (02/16/16)

To enjoy a ballgame at the park, you have to see it.  You can't see it when your line of sight is obstructed repeatedly.

That awkward moment when the person in seat 8 in the middle of the row stands up and squeezes past 7 people to get to the stairs.  You know that what squeezed in front of you to exit your row must squeeze in front of you to re-enter.  Then you will get distracted a second time.

If that scenario happened once during the ballgame, you would be fortunate. Fan movement, however, is both inevitable and continual.  It is likely that every person in your row will get up at least once.  Okay, you're a patient fan.  You can handle that.  Some people get up twice. You're starting to feel a bit agitated.  Then there are the "special few." They should've stayed home, since they have no clue what's happening on the field and they have no sense of courtesy to their fellow fans.  Of course, this is America. These present-yet-wandering ticket holders have the right to walk around, get in your way, or miss most of the game.  The problem is that they are starting to ruin the game for you.

I'm concerned that church services are going the way of baseball games.  What movement in and out of the sanctuary!  Do you realize what a distraction you are when you stand up, walk out and walk back in?  If you insist on being highly mobile, how come you don't sit in the back?  Does the Guest of Honor no longer matter?  I mean, you seem quite comfortable randomly getting up and walking out on Him.

The culprit is lack of reverence.  You sing to the King, welcome the King, and say that you want the King to remain.  Then you can easily get up and walk out on Him?  Usually that is during His time to speak to you (a.k.a. the sermon).  Obviously, our understanding of "King" is flawed.

If Jesus were really King in your life and that is what you truly believed, there is no way you would miss even one minute away from Him.  May the fear of the Lord return to His people!  Then and only then will the needless, distracting movement cease.

Challenges & Conversations (12/1/15)

photo: http://tinyurl.com/znyltoh

Technology -- I guess there is no escaping it.  While there is no escape, that doesn't mean a technological free-for-all should happen in church.

Movie theaters, which are in the entertainment business, do a better job of regulating hand-held technology than the church, which is in the souls business.  For instance, if your phone goes off during a movie, there is a high probability an usher might ask you to leave.  (I don't know -- I can't remember the last time one went off there.  I know this -- I don't want my phone going off!)  If your phone goes off during a church service, however, there is a high probability no one will do anything.

Back to the movie theater.  There the big screen instructs you that you shouldn't be looking at your little screen.  Perhaps during each movie a few violate that, but for the most part people comply. How I wish that were true in church!

Church is not the place to be looking at your little screen.  This is true especially during the altar time.  No kidding -- I'm wrapping up last Sunday's service with an altar call after a brief explanation of the gospel.  In the back row someone was playing a video game!  His hands were just below chin level.  He wasn't even trying to hide it!

Okay, I realize many have no church background and might not know how to behave there. You want to know something?  The greatest offenders aren't un-churched people.  They might not be familiar with what we do and why we do it, but they know better than to draw attention to themselves or do anything that is disrespectful.  The greatest offenders are regular attendees!

So I'm wondering why everyone around the offender lets it continue.  I'm wondering why we wait until the pastor has no choice but to address the issue publicly.  I'm wondering why we're more concerned about not offending a person than we are about offending our holy God.  I'm wondering why many people think this isn't a big deal.

Challenges & Conversations (10/27/15)

The most important person in the building on Sunday morning is not the pastor.  Everyone says, "Amen."  It's true.  I'm right there with you.

The most important person in the building on Sunday morning is not you.  Perhaps a few less are joining the "amen."  Okay let's keep going.

The most important person in the building on Sunday morning is not the guest.  Guests should be valued, yes, but there is someone else who is more esteemed.

The most important person in the building on Sunday morning is Jesus.  Let all God's people say, "Amen."

Now that we agree, here comes the right hook.  If Jesus is the most important person in the building, then why all the irreverence?

It starts with the people who are late habitually. Service begins at 10:30 and they arrive at 10:40 or 10:45. Like clockwork. Every week. There is the issue about Sunday School stragglers. That last cup of coffee means there is a stream of people into the sanctuary once service begins. It doesn't stop there.  Movement while the Bible is being read -- are you serious? It's not as if we're reading from the newspaper!  Movement during prayer -- really?  You must think God and you are equals.  Movement during the preaching of God's Word -- your life is that well ordered that you don't need to hear His truth?  Let's not even discuss the rustling of candy wrappers -- during the entire service!  Oh, and those side conversations that you have with those nearby -- sound carries in the sanctuary. I haven't forgotten about the cell phones.  Neither has anyone else who cringes when yours keeps going off.

Might it be that our culture of informality is out of control?  Has parking lot behavior become sufficient for the sanctuary?  Are we more concerned about greeting one another than we are meeting with Jesus?  Is that call on the phone more important than the call to the altar? If Jesus is all of Who we sing Him to be, hope Him to be, know Him to be, and preach Him to be, then how can such irreverence continue?

What one adjustment will you make to increase reverence in your life?