November 29, 2007

• Naphtali News: Reflections on the Journey-Part 1: Some Observations & Sundry Thoughts

  
  

  
  Having left our church a little over two months ago, we find ourselves continuing on the journey of visiting various churches. This is the first of a series of posts about that journey.

  
  At the risk of sounding like one of those customers in line at the Drive-Through Church, here are some observations and sundry thoughts about our visits to various worship services over the past couple months:

  • I love it that I'm getting a sneak preview of heaven here as I am worshiping alongside others of a different kindred, tongue and nation than I. It makes me look forward to the day when all the redeemed, all the blood-washed ones from every kindred, tongue, people and nation, will be gathered together in one grand, glorious and never-ending worship service singing to the slain Lamb of God: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!

  • Excuse me, but did you know that the last book of the Bible is "Revelation," not "Revelations"?

  • Yes, the coffee was good liquid refreshment, but you do know that here in Madison coffee shops are a dime a dozen, so I'm not coming to Sunday worship primarily for the coffee. I can go to any number of places and get good coffee. One thing I'm coming here for is something my local coffee shop isn't offering on its menu, solid Gospel meat. Do you have any prime aged Gospel meat for me to chew on--some good ol' expository preaching--to go along with that tasty coffee of yours? Oh, yes, and may I please have a knife with that?

  • How wonderful that you shared a prayer request for another congregation in your bulletin! It was a sweet reminder of the unity Christ intends us to have in His Body and an answer to Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17.

  • For the most part, the videos and the like have been very good. I know we're in the 21st century and I don't mean to sound old-fashioned here, but no matter how you package it, the gospel of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ through the work of His Holy Spirit. Please don't forget that, and please keep in mind all we do should lift up Jesus Christ rather than distract or detract from Him and the message of His Gospel. (And one more thing about those videos--I'm just wondering how all the little kiddos you interview and ask questions of for your videos really feel about their faces being shown before hundreds of people at a Sunday morning service...You know those videos at which everyone ends up laughing...)

  • Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not really into hearing political commentary during my Sunday morning sermon. If I wanted something like that, I could revert to my pre-Christian college days when Sunday mornings meant staying in bed late and then reading the New York Times; or else I could have just stayed home and watched one of the Sunday morning news programs.

  • "Because He Lives" by the Gaithers. Wow! I hadn't heard or sung that one in a long, long time. Kind of like when I heard the Police's "Everything Little Thing She Does Is Magic" at the grocery store not long ago--I hadn't heard or sung that one in a long, long time either...

  • Yes, I see your congregation is growing, but if you don't mind me asking a couple questions: "What steps are you taking to make sure the people IN your growing congregation are growing?" and "How do you make sure people don't fall between the cracks?"

  • The song we've sung most often is "Blessed Be Your Name." (How appropriate since some Sunday afternoons I have felt like one walking in in a desert place, like one walking through the wilderness.)

  . . .
  
  Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
  Where Your streams of abundance flow
  Blessed be Your Name
  And blessed be Your Name when I'm found in the desert place
  Though I walk through the wilderness
  Blessed be Your Name

  Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
  And when the darkness closes in, Lord
  Still I will say
  Blessed be the Name of the Lord
  Blessed be Your Name
  Blessed be the Name of the Lord
  Blessed be Your glorious Name

  . . .
  
  You give and take away
  You give and take away
  My heart will choose to say
  Lord, blessed be Your Name

  • Worship team, thank you, I know you've put a lot of work into this morning. Please keep in mind that you're worshiping along with the rest of us and perhaps you won't appear to be so uptight about how you look to the congregation. I haven't come here for a performance but to worship the Lord. Just remember you're singing to Him first and foremost and the rest will fall into place.

  • It's great to see you again! It's wonderful to see a familiar face here. How long has it been since we worshiped together? Our kids were how old? What a blessing to see you again!

  • Yes, I do love contemporary music! I really do. But I'm wondering if you ever sing any hymns here? No, no I know you sing to Him--but I meant do you sing hymns? "Hymn"--it's a homonym of Him, spelled H-Y-M-N. Hymn.

  • It's great you're preaching about our need to be justified through Christ, but where's the rest of the gospel story: our need to be sanctified through Christ?

  • Thank you for suggesting we visit a congregation located a little closer to where we live, one you think we might like. I appreciate that you don't feel in competition with other congregations, especially since I can see you are fledgling here yourselves.

  • I know you love to see your friends worshiping here with you, but I must say that I found it a bit disconcerting that you were waving across the room to them while a portion of Isaiah 53 was being read...

  • Did I really hear you say "Eat your lunch" in your sermon? Wow! That takes me back to our first pastor at our previous church. He's the only other person I know who has ever used that phrase. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.

  • The music was good, but to tell you the truth, and please don't take this the wrong way, I really prefer live music to those prerecorded music trax you play to supplement your worship team. You may not have all the instruments to make a full ensemble, but have you considered you can still make a joyful noise to the LORD with the people, gifts and instruments God has given you?

  • Thank you welcoming me to worship along with you. Thank you for listening to me and understanding where I'm coming from: that I am still in process here and need a little more space and time before committing somewhere new. I really appreciate that--and I hope you understand that I'm just not even ready to sign that visitor registry--not yet anyhow...

  Thank You, good Shepherd, for giving Your life for the sheep. Thank You for calling my name, bringing me into Your fold and making me part of Your flock. Thank You, my Shepherd, that I can worship You freely and openly along with Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Thank You, my Shepherd, for gently leading, meeting and feeding me each week as I come to worship You along with Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Thank You, my Shepherd, for carrying, sustaining and strengthening me when I grow weak and weary. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

  
  I love my Shepherd's voice,

  His watchful eyes shall keep
  My wand'ring soul among
  The thousands of His sheep:
  He feeds His flock, He calls their names,
  His bosom bears the tender lambs.
  
  from "Jesus, My Great High Priest" (Isaac Watts)

  ---

  "Blessed Be Your Name," Matt and Beth Redman/© 2002 Thankyou Music.

  Lyrics are subject to US Copyright Laws and are the property of their respective authors, artists and labels. Commercial use prohibited.

  • 12:55 PM
  • Leave a comment