This has a few suggestions on what to do to amp up your worship service. There is nothing like a bad sermon to ruin the rest of worship (no pressure guys!). While sermons are not the only part of worship - music and prayer certainly have important roles - the direct connection between the congregation and scripture comes usually through the sermon time. It is for this reason, sermons need to be engaging and interesting to the congregation.
Showing posts with label New Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Church. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
What This is Not and What is Good
Some people hate religion. I am not trying to convert them. I can't. It's a waste of everyone's time. I have my feelings on the subject of being outside of faith and/or faith community, but I cannot convince someone who hates religion that it is a good idea. I can only be myself, and if this has some impact on them, then wonderful. If not, it is their loss.
I am not apologetic. I both recognize the bad and the good of my faith and see myself as both separate (representing a new era) as well as growing out of a history of the Christian Church. I don't feel the need to go over things which have already been done and apologized for a thousand billion times.
Yes, some stuff sucked. If we go over that over and over again we'll all end up miserable and bitter. What a freaking stupid way to go through life! Those of you who enjoy focusing on all the bad things and magnifying them so it becomes impossible to see any good, you have my condolences and my pity. I can't be bothered. This is, of course, another type of narrow-mindedness (one which I would argue may be a special hell).
And for those who are skeptics, the problem we all know with skepticism, is you may also be wrong. This is a pointless and circuitous way of going through life (not to say you should never be skeptical, but to be so all the time and without allowing for another option is highly problematic).
So, here's the deal. I am not going to focus on past wrongs. I have already discussed them, it is done. I am now only interested in the positive direction of the future. This should occupy all our time and energy. Imagining a new and beautiful thing, what we in fact want, as opposed to the opposite.
I have found in my personal life that when I cut out those aspects, persons, feelings, and events which will bring me down and away from my goals amazing things happen. This is of course because all that remains are those good things. I think God wants what is good for us in life, as well as in the Church.
I am not apologetic. I both recognize the bad and the good of my faith and see myself as both separate (representing a new era) as well as growing out of a history of the Christian Church. I don't feel the need to go over things which have already been done and apologized for a thousand billion times.
Yes, some stuff sucked. If we go over that over and over again we'll all end up miserable and bitter. What a freaking stupid way to go through life! Those of you who enjoy focusing on all the bad things and magnifying them so it becomes impossible to see any good, you have my condolences and my pity. I can't be bothered. This is, of course, another type of narrow-mindedness (one which I would argue may be a special hell).
And for those who are skeptics, the problem we all know with skepticism, is you may also be wrong. This is a pointless and circuitous way of going through life (not to say you should never be skeptical, but to be so all the time and without allowing for another option is highly problematic).
So, here's the deal. I am not going to focus on past wrongs. I have already discussed them, it is done. I am now only interested in the positive direction of the future. This should occupy all our time and energy. Imagining a new and beautiful thing, what we in fact want, as opposed to the opposite.
I have found in my personal life that when I cut out those aspects, persons, feelings, and events which will bring me down and away from my goals amazing things happen. This is of course because all that remains are those good things. I think God wants what is good for us in life, as well as in the Church.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Music - Content!
This is all about the lyrics. To paraphrase the movie Music and Lyrics, the music draws you in but the lyrics are like getting to know someone...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Technology for the New Church and a Church Search Review
We went to Peoria Church of the Nazarene and this is a little review of what we experienced...which was a GREAT lead into one of the points necessary for the New Church - technological connectivity.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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