Focus on Worship: Sunday….In His Presence

On more than one occasion this week, I had people make some reference to the fact that it ‘was almost Friday.’

 

“At least tomorrow’s Friday”

“Is it Friday yet?” (Asked on Monday!!)

“The week’s half over…Friday’s comin’”

(…and this morning:  Finally, it’s Friday!)

I know there’s a ton of reasons why people long for it to be Friday (They get to be in the presence of their friends at the party or at the bar.  They cling to the shallow victory that work is done for a few days.  Friday somehow means that responsibility is over and they don’t have to answer to anyone, sleep, ), but with the prevalence of this question over the last few days, it dawned on me that I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say:

 

“Sunday’s coming”

“I can’t wait for Sunday”

“Is it Sunday yet?”

(OK, there’s the Monster Truck Rally guy:  Sunday, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!! But that doesn’t count).

 

The point is this:  The world wants it to be Friday for a slough of reasons, but do we, as Christ followers look forward to Sunday with the same enthusiasm?  Do we, as worship leaders look forward to Sunday as that time when we lead God’s people into his presence?  Are we praying that God will flood the meeting place with his presence?  Do we long to be in the presence of the Holy One?…..as always, I’m asking you these questions but I’m really asking myself these questions.

I think this topic was generally on my mind after listening to our worship set for this Sunday.

Every week, I put the songs for Sunday on my ipod, in order, and will listen to them during my devotional time, or my commute, or sometimes while I’m working.  This practice started as a way to simply learn the songs, but it has become about preparing for Sunday.  God continues to use this time to point out lyrics that I believe he wants to have an impact…words that we sing and need to sincerely and earnestly mean.

Check out these lyrics:

“Here I am….I’ve come to find you”  (You, you are God – Gateway Worship)

 “I’m reaching for you, I’m singing to you”  (Reaching for You – Lincoln Brewster)

 “You are my world, you are my God” (Hillsong)

And Finally:

 “Lord hear our song…your children worship…as we sing your praise would You make this a place for Your glory to dwell” (Jared Anderson)

 Sunday worship should be about meeting with God and asking him to make our sanctuary and place where his glory will dwell.

Is it Sunday yet?

Are We Irrelevant?

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted.   Too long.   It goes this way, I suppose.  Life events tend to dictate when we can write (or sleep for that matter) 

Anyway JP Troglio wrote a post over at I Hate Church that would be worth a few minutes of your time.  It got me to thinking about a question that many have asked before…..is the church in America becoming irrelevant?

I don’t mean irrelevant from the stand point of the culture and being ‘cool’ enough to reach this generation (the emerging churches clearly have this portion covered…to a fault).  I’m talking about significantly impacting the world around us.  I think we’re failing.  I think we’re content with being insignificant.  I think we like the safety of our friends and family around us on Sunday and we don’t want to get our hands dirty.  We don’t want to be uncomfortable.  I think (as JP points out) that we want big numbers because it makes our “club’ look good and it makes us look like we have our act together and that we are having an impact, but sadly, we’re missing the point.  It’s not about the performance….it’s not about the show or the rush to the doughnut table after service.  It’s not about the songs we’re singing or the sermon series or where we worship, for that matter. It’s about introducing people to God and letting him work.

Folks, it’s time we start getting real about the Gospel and taking it to the people and stop being so worried about what people may think about us.  Yes…I’m writing this as much for me as I am anyone who cares to stop by and read this.   If we cared about people the way that God cared about us, I think we would daily have to fall on our face in worship at the work God was doing.  It would be our natural response. 

I’m going back to work now….but I don’t think I’m done writing on this subject.   More to follow.