The last few weeks have been extremely challenging and also exciting for me as I know they have been for some of you. I know God is doing great things to deepen our walk in this time. I am very lucky being a seminary student because this semester I am taking Old Testament. I have had the opportunity to read Psalms all the way to Jeremiah (which is where I am currently studying). So I have not had to go without independent scripture reading. I never have had time to read any books other than the ones assigned by the seminary, so eliminating Christian book reading has not been too hard. The thing that I have had the hardest time with is not being able to listen to Christian music. I love to sing and to worship God through music especially when I am driving in my car. I know that the other people beside me have no idea if I am singing to a CD or singing all alone. However, it feels very different to sing in the car without music. The last week I have found myself craving more and more the old familiar music. I am so grateful for the ability to listen to music that glorifies God openly and freely. Wednesday nights the kids have been talking with missionaries about the need to tell the world about Jesus. We have heard from missionaries from China, Indonesia, Japan and Honduras. I think about how so many people around the world do not have the freedoms that we as Americans have to worship God openly. Also, they do not have the ability to drive to their nearest Wal-Mart and buy the latest and greatest worship CD. It makes me very grateful to have abundant resources.
I have found that throughout this experiment the most dramatic thing I have seen change in my life is prayer. I have found myself praying out loud to God more often and with more passion than ever before. I have been very surprised how different my daily time with God has become. My prayers and praise of God have grown. I find myself connecting to God in a very different deeper way.
I know that one of Randal’s goals of this experiment was for us to rely on each other more so than ever before. He asked us to fellowship weekly and to talk with each other about how we are doing spiritually. He asked us to turn to each other in times of need and pray for each other. I feel as though our ingrained sense of individuality has kept us from doing this as much as we should. I would challenge each of you to break down the walls that separate our church body. Reach out to other church members that you have not yet built relationships with and take time to get to know them and their families. Mark Dever defines church membership as “a formal commitment to love and be loved by those Christians we live around, whom we regularly interact with, whom we desire to hold accountable, and to whom we are held accountable. A certain assembly has accepted the responsibility to teach us, to lead us, to love us, to care for us, and to correct us when we need it. ” How do you feel we are doing in this area? How has the Early Church Experiment affected your daily lives? Please feel free to openly dialogue about what this experiment has meant to you. You may find that it deepens the impact of this experiment on us, our relationships as a body and our relationships to God.
Fight the good fight!
Stephanie
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
SIMPLE WORSHIP
As many of you know, I am about to finish up a master's degree in worship from Dallas Baptist in May. Throughout my three years in the program (yes, three years), I have been working to broaden my understanding of biblical worship. One of my favorite aspects of the program has been studying how the church has worshipped throughout history. So, when Randal presented this "early Church experiment" to the staff, I was extremely intrigued by the possibilities it held for our worship times together.
The more I have read about early church worship, the more I found two specific elements at its center: simplicity and an overall "togetherness". Their worship was humble in nature, simplistic, and very corporate.
Over the past two Sundays, I have LOVED stripping everything down. I prefer strong, passionate worship accompanied by a full band. However, I am finding through this experiment that God can be worshipped just as passionately without all the technology, and without all the instruments. When we took away everything, we were clearly able to hear one, unified voice of praise to God. There is something truly powerful about hearing just our voices lifted up. We have understood that we are not singing alone, but that we are singing as ONE. We have had to rely on one another to make the music beautiful, not just amplified instruments.
Since we no longer have the words on the screen, the only lyrics I have had, have been the lyrics stored deep within me. Without my Bible, I have had to draw from the well of Scripture that I have stored over my years. Though uncertain of how I would respond without my Bible, I had to answer the question..."What do I have within me?" Over all my years in the church (28), all the Bible studies...if I have not internalized enough Scripture to draw from for a month, then I have missed something! Come to find out, I have discovered a wealth of Scripture to meditate on and a wealth of songs that I have committed to my heart.
Taking the Lord's Supper from one loaf last week symbolized the "togetherness" that we so desperately need in today's worship. Being able to lay hands on and pray for men and women who have committed to serve, brought unity as well. We are ONE body, and I love how we are growing to understand that worship at Meadowridge is not just about our own personal time with God. We are sharing our collective hearts with God! So, I will continue to share Scripture with you and encourage as many of you as I possibly can. Many of you have encouraged me over the past few weeks and I admit to you that I need that. I am truly praying that this simplicity and "togetherness" will continue, even after the switches are flipped back on!
-Steven
The more I have read about early church worship, the more I found two specific elements at its center: simplicity and an overall "togetherness". Their worship was humble in nature, simplistic, and very corporate.
Over the past two Sundays, I have LOVED stripping everything down. I prefer strong, passionate worship accompanied by a full band. However, I am finding through this experiment that God can be worshipped just as passionately without all the technology, and without all the instruments. When we took away everything, we were clearly able to hear one, unified voice of praise to God. There is something truly powerful about hearing just our voices lifted up. We have understood that we are not singing alone, but that we are singing as ONE. We have had to rely on one another to make the music beautiful, not just amplified instruments.
Since we no longer have the words on the screen, the only lyrics I have had, have been the lyrics stored deep within me. Without my Bible, I have had to draw from the well of Scripture that I have stored over my years. Though uncertain of how I would respond without my Bible, I had to answer the question..."What do I have within me?" Over all my years in the church (28), all the Bible studies...if I have not internalized enough Scripture to draw from for a month, then I have missed something! Come to find out, I have discovered a wealth of Scripture to meditate on and a wealth of songs that I have committed to my heart.
Taking the Lord's Supper from one loaf last week symbolized the "togetherness" that we so desperately need in today's worship. Being able to lay hands on and pray for men and women who have committed to serve, brought unity as well. We are ONE body, and I love how we are growing to understand that worship at Meadowridge is not just about our own personal time with God. We are sharing our collective hearts with God! So, I will continue to share Scripture with you and encourage as many of you as I possibly can. Many of you have encouraged me over the past few weeks and I admit to you that I need that. I am truly praying that this simplicity and "togetherness" will continue, even after the switches are flipped back on!
-Steven
Monday, March 2, 2009
What am I learning? Slowing down!!
Two full weeks into the experiment, and I am learning much. The one thing I am learning most, however, is to slow down! Some of you may struggle with this, and some may think it is crazy, but I am in too big of a hurry when it comes to spiritual learning and growing.
Maybe part of it is personality, and maybe part of it comes from going to Bible college and seminary, but I read the Bible way too much for information rather than transformation. Know how that works? I read and try to understand the Bible-- and then once I have the information-- the point-- I am moving on to the next devo, Bible study, subject, topic. But getting the information is only the first step (and an important one). It is important to accurately interpret and know what the Bible says. But once I have that, it is time to slow way down and do a lot of meditating and reflection.
I need to ask, "what does this principle/truth mean for me?" And then, what may be more difficult for me, I need to not be ready to move on after I think I have an answer. God may be wanting to say much more to me than just the initial few words. Perhaps I need to spend a few days, sometimes even weeks, making sure I have all God wants to teach me about that topic, and that I have really applied it in all the ways God desires. Have I really worked through in what specific ways I have applied the information and how I will go about doing it.
I honestly don't think I have done a good job of this the last several years. Seminary teaches you to study hard, and it should. The emphasis is on knowledge. I am not faulting seminary here-- their job is to teach Greek and Hebrew and History and Theology. But then I finished my masters and Ph.D. and found the same emphasis in the church world. I would go to conferences and they would have bookstores full or all the latest (or not so late) books that I needed to read to be a better minister/pastor/leader. Speakers would talk about all the incredible books they have been reading and how if I was really going to be a leader I needed to read all these books too. I am not the fastest reader, but to read all these books- how could I have the time to do anything else?
Seinfeld said it best (though I don't think I would heartily recommend the sitcom). It is like we put books on our shelves like they are trophies. We want people to see how much information we have stored in our minds.
But, all that information does not change me. Yes, I know, and I have preached often that we are transformed by the renewing of the mind (found in Romans, but since we are doing the early church experiment, and they didn't have chapter and verse divisions, you will have to find it there somewhere later. I can only tell you that it falls somewhere after chapter 11 and before chapter 13). But I don't think it was just about cramming information into our minds.
I am not knocking all those great books, but Peter and Paul didn't have them. The early church fathers didn't have them. So maybe I don't either. I am certainly no Peter or Paul, but the same Holy Spirit resides within me.
So, I think one thing that is changing in me is that you will see me jumping less from one study to another and spending more time meditating on what I already know, but need to apply much better.
Thoughts?
Maybe part of it is personality, and maybe part of it comes from going to Bible college and seminary, but I read the Bible way too much for information rather than transformation. Know how that works? I read and try to understand the Bible-- and then once I have the information-- the point-- I am moving on to the next devo, Bible study, subject, topic. But getting the information is only the first step (and an important one). It is important to accurately interpret and know what the Bible says. But once I have that, it is time to slow way down and do a lot of meditating and reflection.
I need to ask, "what does this principle/truth mean for me?" And then, what may be more difficult for me, I need to not be ready to move on after I think I have an answer. God may be wanting to say much more to me than just the initial few words. Perhaps I need to spend a few days, sometimes even weeks, making sure I have all God wants to teach me about that topic, and that I have really applied it in all the ways God desires. Have I really worked through in what specific ways I have applied the information and how I will go about doing it.
I honestly don't think I have done a good job of this the last several years. Seminary teaches you to study hard, and it should. The emphasis is on knowledge. I am not faulting seminary here-- their job is to teach Greek and Hebrew and History and Theology. But then I finished my masters and Ph.D. and found the same emphasis in the church world. I would go to conferences and they would have bookstores full or all the latest (or not so late) books that I needed to read to be a better minister/pastor/leader. Speakers would talk about all the incredible books they have been reading and how if I was really going to be a leader I needed to read all these books too. I am not the fastest reader, but to read all these books- how could I have the time to do anything else?
Seinfeld said it best (though I don't think I would heartily recommend the sitcom). It is like we put books on our shelves like they are trophies. We want people to see how much information we have stored in our minds.
But, all that information does not change me. Yes, I know, and I have preached often that we are transformed by the renewing of the mind (found in Romans, but since we are doing the early church experiment, and they didn't have chapter and verse divisions, you will have to find it there somewhere later. I can only tell you that it falls somewhere after chapter 11 and before chapter 13). But I don't think it was just about cramming information into our minds.
I am not knocking all those great books, but Peter and Paul didn't have them. The early church fathers didn't have them. So maybe I don't either. I am certainly no Peter or Paul, but the same Holy Spirit resides within me.
So, I think one thing that is changing in me is that you will see me jumping less from one study to another and spending more time meditating on what I already know, but need to apply much better.
Thoughts?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The first two days
Things were different from the start-- no music on the drive home from church. I did notice that I was more reflective and prayerful than I would have been if I would have had music. I think when I have music sometimes it is simply noise that allows my mind to go into neutral.
Monday I realized how hard it is in our culture to get away from some Christian stuff. I was in Subway at lunch meeting with someone when I realized Chris Tomlin was playing in the background. I don't know if that was cheating or not. I tried to ignore it!
Just wondering how the first few days are going for others. I think God is showing me things, but I am not sure how to put it into words yet. Sure, sounds weird for a preacher to not have words, but that is where I am right now.
Any thoughts you want to share? Post em in the response section.
Monday I realized how hard it is in our culture to get away from some Christian stuff. I was in Subway at lunch meeting with someone when I realized Chris Tomlin was playing in the background. I don't know if that was cheating or not. I tried to ignore it!
Just wondering how the first few days are going for others. I think God is showing me things, but I am not sure how to put it into words yet. Sure, sounds weird for a preacher to not have words, but that is where I am right now.
Any thoughts you want to share? Post em in the response section.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Turning in the Bibles
So--today we turned in our Bibles. Bet you never had a commitment service like that at church! No personal copies of the Bible for the next four weeks. I guess some people might think we have lost our minds. Maybe we might get kicked out of some our denomination or be considered not evangelical anymore.
The truth is, however, I am excited about what God will show us over the next few weeks. Don't forget-- we are not going to neglect the word of God over these weeks, but rather we are to meditate daily on the word of God we know from memory and listen to the voice of God. Slow down. Dwell on the same verses all week! No new verse everyday. Allow God to drill down into your life and show you all He wants to show you from one passage.
Here's to a very different first week!
Randal
The truth is, however, I am excited about what God will show us over the next few weeks. Don't forget-- we are not going to neglect the word of God over these weeks, but rather we are to meditate daily on the word of God we know from memory and listen to the voice of God. Slow down. Dwell on the same verses all week! No new verse everyday. Allow God to drill down into your life and show you all He wants to show you from one passage.
Here's to a very different first week!
Randal
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