Church Was Great! Let's Not Talk About It
From Colin Marshall:
We've just heard the Word read and proclaimed, sung the praises of our great God, and petitioned him for mercy in our time of need. And then we spend our time afterward talking about last night's movie, the game, the hobby, the state of the nation, or whatever. Anything but the great truths of the gospel we've just heard and by which we're saved. Why do we do this?
"Drive-thru church" doesn't help. We have six other commitments on Sunday, so we aim to get through church as efficiently as possible on the way to the next thing. Some of us have just never thought about having conversations about the sermon (apart from pestering the preacher about something). Others know it's crazy to talk about everything but God, yet they still feel uncomfortable striking up "spiritual" conversations. We've never been in a context where this is normal. Sometimes, perhaps too often, we leave the service with no sense of engaging with God by Word and Spirit, and so we have nothing to say to anyone.
For still more, the underlying problem is our consumer view of church---an unsurprising consequences of "what's in it for me" contemporary Western culture. "Church is put on for me by the professionals and their teams," we assume. With this mindset, engaging in spiritually encouraging conversations certainly won't be on the agenda.
Ironically, those with a serving mindset---the antithesis of consumerism---can also find it difficult to get into "God talk" at church. The busyness of serving can keep us from stopping to encourage others and can let us feel we've done enough by helping to organize things.
Why We Meet
But why should we use our conversations at church to encourage one another in the faith? Because that is the reason why we meet.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Heb. 3:13)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:24-25)
The church gathers God's people to hear his Word, respond in obedience, and use our gifts and abilities to strengthen one another in the faith. All believers are involved in building Christ's church. Therefore, we shouldn't see ourselves merely as part of an organization called "St. Hubert's Church," but as servants of God's people, eager to meet the needs of others even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone.
Not the Only Ones
I love our heritage of expository preaching delivered by godly, studious, articulate pastors. But somehow we've inadvertently communicated that they're the only ones (plus a few others on the stage, perhaps) who do the work of encouraging and building. If that's your assumption, read the New Testament (e.g., 1 Cor. 12-14; 1 Pet. 2) again with an eye toward how the whole body builds itself up, with each part doing its work by speaking gospel truth in love (Eph. 4:15-16).
Perhaps some of you are thinking, I may not talk much about God and what we've learned in the sermon, but I do show love in lots of other ways, through caring for people in need and asking how to pray. But encouraging someone isn't only putting our arms around them and urging them to press on. What gives courage is the truth of the gospel. We see a clear example of this in 1 Thessalonians 4:18: 'Therefore encourage each other with these words." In context, "these words" that encourage are the words of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Here's my question for you: Do you come to church expecting God to use you to minister to others, to encourage them in faith, hope, and love through the Word? Are you asking him to provide such opportunities?
What to Ask
So how do we start these encouraging conversations after church? Asking "What did you get out of the sermon?" might work, but often you'll get a blank look or worse. Here are a few suggestions:
- Pray during the service that God would lead your conversations, and pray for specific people around you.
- Listen to what God is saying to you through the sermon (or songs, creeds, and so on) and formulate a comment or question to start a conversation. This past week at our church, the sermon was on what it means to praise the Lord, from Psalms 146-150. Since I was thinking about this article (and, I hope, for more godly reasons), I picked out two things to try as conversation-starters after church.
- With another couple we somehow got into a conversation about their blended family, and I reminded them of God's favor towards the alien, orphans, and widows (Ps. 146). Since the husband is not yet a believer, I was deliberately talking about God's character. I have no idea what effect it had on him.
- Even if the conversations don't always get off the ground, your enthusiasm for learning the Bible and knowing God will be contagious. And non-Christians will see that church isn't dull and boring but fascinating and life-shattering.
- These intentional conversations after church will sometimes lead to prayer for one another. Why not stop for a moment and give thanks or petition God for some need?
- Another way to deepen our fellowship is to ask each other how we came to salvation in Christ. Sometimes we've been in church with people for years without ever learning their story. The other day at church I asked a guy named Phil how he became a Christian, and we discovered God had worked in us in very similar ways as young men. The door is now open to building a friendship with this brother. What a joy!
Family, Not an Audience
The benefits of working at these encouraging conversations go way beyond the few minutes after church. Our gatherings are enriched, and our partnership with one another in the gospel is enhanced. We know each other as God's family, not as anonymous audience members at a performance.
Moreover, I'm convinced we don't "gossip the gospel" with our unbelieving neighbors and friends at least in part because we've never learned to talk about God and our Christian life, even with other Christians. How will we engage unbelievers about God's grace in Christ if we don't talk with our brothers and sisters about these great truths—especially after listening to a sermon together?
If your church gathering doesn't include coffee and refreshments after the service, let me encourage you to consider doing so. You'll set the pattern of staying afterward to minister to others, and, after a while, it will be quite normal.
Too costly? Going deeper in Christian friendship and stirring up one another to love and good deeds? I don't see much cost there.
How to Pray Using Scripture
The below comes from Kevin D Young
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make the biggest difference. For many years I’ve used the 3 R’s I learned from Ben Patterson to pray through Scripture. This simple tool has helped me pray the Bible more than any other single strategy. I’ve used in my devotional times and have employed it often in leading others in prayer.
1. Rejoice
2. Repent
3. RequestWith every verse in the Bible we can do one (or more likely, all three) of these things. We can rejoice and thank God for his character and blessings. We can repent of our mistakes and sins. We can request new mercies and help.
Right now I just flipped opened my Bible and landed at Psalm 104. Verse 1 says “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty.” How might you pray through this verse? Well, at first blush you might see nothing more to do than praise God. “Dear Lord, you are very great. You are clothed with splendor and majesty. Amen.” But try that again with the 3 R’s.
Rejoice – O Lord, you have richly blessed me more than I deserve. What a privilege that I can call you my God. Thank you for making me a little lower than the angels and crowing me with glory and honor too.
Repent – Forgive me for being blind to your splendor and majesty. Though you are very great, my circumstances and disappointments often feel greater. I’m sorry for being so ungrateful and taking your blessings for granted.
Request – Give me eyes to see as you are. Tune my heart to sing your praise. Help me see your glory in the world you’ve created, in the people around me, and in the face of Christ.
Obviously, some verse lend themselves to prayer more easily than others. The Psalms are particularly prayer-worthy. But with the simple strategy of Rejoice, Repent, Request there shouldn’t be a verse in the Bible that can’t be used as a prompt to pray.
The riches of Christ
In the knowledge of Christ, there is an excellency above all other knowledge. There is nothing so pleasing and comfortable, so animating and enlivening! Christ is the sum and centre of all revealed truths: we can preach nothing as the object of our faith, which doth no some way or other, either meet in Christ, or refer to him. Christ is the whole of man’s happiness: - the sun to enlighten him, the physician to heal him, the wall of fire to defend him, the friend to comfort him, the pearl to enrich him, the ark to shelter him, and the rock to sustain him under the heaviest of pressures. He is the ladder between earth and heaven, the mediator between God and man, a mystery which the angels desire to look into.
Alter Your Dictionary (from AW Tozer)
There is within the human heart a tough fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets ‘things’ with a deep and fierce passion. The pronouns ‘my’ and ‘mine’ look innocent enough in print, but their constant and universal use is significant. They express the real nature of the old Adamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do… The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution……..Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and ‘things’ were allowed to enter. Within the human heart ‘things’ have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their heart, for [Christ] is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.
Pastoral Prayer - 10/28
Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, deeper than all our sin.
Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes,
Forgive our envy of those who have more than we have,
our obsession with lust and greed,
our indifference to the treasures of heaven,
our neglect of your wise and gracious law.
Grant us to never lose sight of
The exceeding rebellion of our sin,
The exceeding righteousness of salvation,
The exceeding glory of Christ,
The exceeding beauty of holiness,
The exceeding wonder of grace.
Holy and righteous and just and perfect God, we confess our sins and rely wholly on your grace to save us from your wrath. Make us to know and delight in your Triune perfections; help us to relish and savor the complete sufficiency of who you are. By the power of your Holy Spirit remove the scales from our eyes and the hard calloused from our hearts that we me behold the glorious excellencies of Christ Jesus. May we marvel at the at the riches found in him.
Instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; counsel us with your eye upon us. May your steadfast love surround us because we trust in your eternal Son; make us rejoice as the righteous, shouting for joy as the upright in heart. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might magnify you our God and King, and exalt your name together as your holy people.
Father, we pray for Michelle Horton – Give her wisdom as she counsels; help her apply the balm of the gospel to the wounds of others; sustain her by granting her much joy in Christ. We pray for Jim and Laurie Bruce – may their marriage be soaked with gospel displaying love for one another; may serve one another sacrificially and offer forgiveness to one another generously; use their marriage to paint a picture of your covenant love. We also pray for Preeta – give her a deep and abiding joy in Christ Jesus; cause her to hope in heaven, not the circumstances of this earth.
We pray not just for our own, but for other gospel congregations here in DC. Grant the pastors at Redeemer Arlington much grace and wisdom as they seek to shepherd their flock and lead them to maturity. Use the ministry of Church of the Advent and Church of the Resurrection to boldly proclaim Jesus. We pray for the pastors of these churches – that they would walk in integrity, pursue holiness and live lives above reproach all that you might graciously hallow your name in and through the churches they shepherd.
We pray that you would raise up faithful leaders around the world the make and mature disciples. For the country of Haiti, we plead with you to increasingly build up the pastors there that they might feed your people with strong food. For the pastors in Mongolia striving to train men and women in the truths of the gospel that they might send them to restricted areas – grant these people much grace and endurance with joy.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise you for you alone are worthy of our praise. Magnify your worth; exalt your name; great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. You are the fairest, greatest, first of all objects. When we think upon and converse with you, ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up; ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed; ten thousand refreshing joys spread over our hearts. O our God, increase our love for you, and increase our joy in you through time and eternity. Amen.
Fill Up What is Lacking
In Colossians 1:24 Paul talks about filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. What is lacking is NOT anything with Christ’s propitiation, but his bodily presence. So Paul rejoices in his sufferings that build the church, Christ’s body.
Romanian pastor Josef Tson, givesapresentdayexample of what it looks like to fill up Christ’s afflictions. While being interrogated by six men, here’s what he said:
What is taking place here is not an encounter between you and me. This is an encounter between my God and me. . . . My God is teaching me a lesson [through you]. I do not know what it is. Maybe he wants to teach me several lessons. I only know, sirs, that you will do to me only what God wants you to do—and you will not go one inch further—because you are only an instrument of my God. Every day I saw those six pompous men as nothing more than my Father’s puppets!
Tson goes on:
During an early interrogation I had told an officer who was threatening to kill me, “Sir, let me explain how I see this issue. Your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Here is how it works. You know that my sermons on tape have spread all over the country. If you kill me, those sermons will be sprinkled with my blood. Everyone will know I died for my preaching. And everyone who has a tape will pick it up and say, ‘I’d better listen again to what this man preached, because he really meant it; he sealed it with his life.’ So, sir, my sermons will speak ten times louder than before. I will actually rejoice in this supreme victory if you kill me.” After I said this, the interrogator sent me home. Another officer who was interrogating a pastor friend of mind told him, “We know that Mr. Tson would love to be a martyr, but we are not that foolish to fulfill his wish.” I stopped to consider the meaning of that statement. I remembered how for many years, I had been afraid of dying. I had kept a low profile. Because I wanted badly to live, I had wasted my life in inactivity. But now that I had placed my life on the altar and decided I was ready to die for the Gospel, they were telling me they would not kill me! I could go wherever I wanted in the country and preach whatever I wanted, knowing I was safe. As long as I tried to save my life, I was losing it. Now that I was willing to lose it, I found it.
The Power of God (from Restoration church member Katherine P)
One of my professors recently accused me (as a collective part of the class, but I'll admit, it applied to me directly) of being un-educated about the world - insulated by my elite status, economic privilege, and American identity, he said we were not well-travelled or well-read, nor did we demostrate comprehensive (much less exceptional) knowledge of the global community. Nobody in the room had ever travelled to a country which had US sanctions against it. Nobody in the room could name the capital of Cote d'Ivoire, or the famous leader of the Ogoni people who was executed by the Nigerian government in 1995. Nobody could adequately explain US actions against Cuba during the Cold War, or against Iraq during the First Gulf War.**
And it's true. While I have travelled some, and I know where on the continent of Africa Cote d'Ivoire is and have a basic understanding of Ogoniland, Cuba, the Cold War, and late 20th century US foreign policy, I couldn't answer any of these questions accurately or in great detail.
And that got me to thinking - he's got a point. Why don't I know more? There are people all over the world right now who are probably watching the debates leading up to the US presidential elections, but I couldn't even tell you more than a couple state leaders, much less when they were elected (or took power), who they ran against (or killed), or what their platforms are (or who they hate). I probably can't even tell you what form of government they have. In a globalized society, especially as someone who wants to work overseas, isn't this an important thing for me to cultivate? Shouldn't I be able to discuss these things?
One of the things he said was about making time to watch things like 60 minutes, read the news beyond the front page, and explore other parts of the world. And then that got me to thinking - yea, right, in all my spare time, let me just pop on the news and take time to know the companies that own other companies that own other companies that are in bed with politicians that are making policy with other politicians that are threatening agriculture in America, and thus determine where I should or shouldn't buy things. Because that's what I have time for.
He's right though, if I wanted to make time for it, I could. I could learn that.
But I started thinking about what I do use my time for, and it looks something like this: get adequate sleep, have good quiet time with God every day, have time to make food for yourself, serve your roomates, get all your schoolwork done, serve your church body, engage with your city, relax and spend time doing things you enjoy, get out of the city and slow down, get to know people well so that you can love them well, encourage them, speak truth to them, let them speak truth to you, laugh hard, love fiercely, make time to maintain relationships across many miles.... the list goes on. And I started thinking about what would get cut out to make me a "good world citizen". And the first thing to go would be my sleep. And then my time with God. And then my relationships. And then my sanity. And none of those I'm willing to sacrifice.
So you're right, Professor. I'm a lousy "world citizen". I'm a lousy International Development student. I'm a lousy AU student. I can't name capitals or policies or historic events or politicians. I can't explain globalization, I can't discuss the US hegemony and it's consequences, and I don't understand the implications of our business ties to other countries. I don't know a detailed history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I don't know the nuances of US foreign alliances, or the politics of the UN. So you probably shouldn't elect me as president. But if you asked me to name all the members of my church, I bet I could do it. If you asked me to tell you about my friends - what they're struggling with, what they're loving, the way they talk, the things God has brought them through, the things they're interested in, the books they're reading, the things God is teaching them now - I could do it. If you asked me to tell you about how profoundly my own life has been affected by my brothers and sisters in Christ, you'd have me talking for hours. If you wanted to know the names and some of the stories of the homeless people who live in my 'hood, I could tell you. If you asked me to tell you what I desire to see from the Church, what my theology is on globalization, and what my role in that is, I could tell you. If you asked me to tell you about the glories of God - you'd be amazed at how much I know.
In this city, it's easy to get caught up in what you don't know, and what you should know. It's easy to find identity and power in being the supreme authority in the room on some global subject matter. I've fallen into that trap plenty of times myself. In one of the most powerful cities in the world, surrounded by powerful people, I have to remind myself what true power is. These people are only politicians and policy-makers by the will of God. They only have their position because God has deemed it fit for this time and these people. But I have the holy, perfect, overwhelming love of God - I have His spirit, the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, the same spirit that raised me from death, into life - and I am to steward that with the gifts He has given me. And He has given me people.
So yes, I am insulated in ignorance simply by my relative position in the world. And yes, I probably ought to know more about the world I live in. But I would not spend one drop less of time glorifying God and loving people for all the knowledge in the world. I might be a crappy "world citizen", but that's not what I'm called to be. I'm called to be a disciple - a little imitation of Christ - and so that's what I'll strive for.
~~~~~
** For those of you who are curious like me and wondering, here are the (short) answers:
~Cote d'Ivoire's capital is Yamoussoukro;
~The president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) executed in 1995 was Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro Wiwa;
~The US sanctions against Cuba were initiated because Cuba nationalized all business, and expropriated that land owned by US businesses to the state;
~The sanctions against Iraq during the 1990-1991 period were initiated because Iraq invaded Kuwait and annexed and re-appropriated oil drilling on which the US was dependent. So there you have it.
Broken Cisterns (from Restoration Church member Liz M)
As mentioned in a previous blog post, I recently had the opportunity to visit a reintegration center in Ethiopia for female victims of human trafficking and abuse. While there, our team facilitated a number of activities such as jewelry making, flower planting, photography workshop, manicures, English lessons, and more. During this time, we got to hear some of the ladies’ stories, many of whom had moved abroad with great hopes and promises of earning a decent income as domestic workers so they could support their families back home. Sadly, many of those dreams went awry upon arriving in their host country. My heart grieved for them - for their disappointment, loss of innocence, pain, and shame. I was angered by the deception and abuse they had endured. And grateful their lives had been spared and led to Agar.
Interestingly, I also found their stories to be quite analogous to many of our spiritual journeys. How many of us can identify with falling for the enemy’s empty promises for fulfillment, joy, peace, and satisfaction in things apart from God? Humbly and sadly I confess that I can identify all too well. Cognitively I know the end product of such pursuits, for it’s always the same – disappointment. And yet, I sometimes forget and once again turn to broken cisterns hoping for a different outcome. The outcome will never be different though. We were made for God and nothing else will satisfy. Until we properly value Him, all the things we improperly value will leave us disappointed and frustrated.
Jeremiah reminds us that there is only One fountain of living water, all else is an illusion, a counterfeit, a vehicle for disappointment.
“…for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” ~ Jer. 2:13
Notice the two evils identified here: 1. Turning away from God 2. Turning towards anything other than Him for satisfaction and fulfillment. Broken cisterns come in all shapes and sizes – careers, relationships, possessions, status, adventures, savings accounts, approval of man, comfort, diversions and pleasures, and the list goes on. These things in and of themselves may not be evil, but when they become the well from which we seek contentment and rest for our souls they can also quickly become the demise of our souls.
Praise God for His patience, grace, and love. Praise God that He is not a God of empty promises. He is the fountain of living water, the bread of life, and the giver of true rest and peace. He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul he fills with good things (Ps. 107:9).
Lord, forgive us for our wandering hearts and help our souls find rest in Thee.
Union with Christ
This past week we began our study of the book of Colossians by looking at the first two verses.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
Specifically, we spent some time looking at what it means to be “in Christ.” One pastor theologian provides some helpful words to think about exactly what that means:
“After all, what exactly does it mean that we are joined to Christ or that he is in us and we are in him? Thinking spatially does not work. Christ isn’t stapled to our side. He doesn’t shrink ray himself so that he can live like a microscopic organism in our left ventricle. The union isn’t physical, but theological. Union with Christ implies three things:
Solidarity – Christ as the second Adam is our representative
Transformation – Christ by the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out
Communion – Christ abides with us as our God”
(taken from Kevin DeYoung, The Hole In Our Holiness, 96)
Ethiopia (from Restoration Church member Liz M)
A Double Portion
Last month I had the incredible opportunity to travel with a team to Ethiopia and serve at a reintegration center for female victims of human trafficking and abuse. The center is called Agar, meaning “Helper” in the Ethiopian language, and as is stated on their website,
Many Ethiopian women move abroad each year in hopes of finding work that will support their families back home. However, these women often fall victim to human trafficking (specifically sex trafficking) or they find that work conditions in their host countries are far worse than they expected. Agar partners with three other organizations to create a reintegration program for women returning to Ethiopia. Agar's role in the program is to provide food, shelter, and clothing for the women and to meet their emotional and spiritual needs. The partner organizations focus on the women's mental and physical health, job skills training and job placement.
Currently there are about 25 women receiving services at Agar. I’d like to introduce you to one, who I’ll refer to as Halim, whose story deeply impacted me.
Halim appeared to be in her early 20’s and had a very sweet demeanor and smile, though she never showed her teeth. We were informed that a few years ago this young lady took a job as a domestic worker in Abu Dhabi in hopes of better supporting her family. Due to her family’s impoverished state, they had to borrow money to fund her travel expenses. Upon arriving in Abu Dhabi she quickly learned that her employer was quite harsh. Additionally, he insisted on keeping her passport and pay until her 2-year contract was up. Feeling powerless and vulnerable, she complied and fulfilled her two year contract. When she requested her payment, it was denied and shortly thereafter the employer pushed her off the 3rd floor balcony. Thankfully Halim survived the experience, but with broken legs and lost teeth. A neighbor who witnessed the crime called the police and eventually the employer faced trial. The employer insisted it was an accident and the judge ruled in the employer’s favor and urged Halim to return to work for them. Halim refused and was then put in jail since she was now considered an illegal immigrant. Eventually she was deported and ended up at the airport in Ethiopia without anything to show for her two years of work and incredible shame for what had occurred. Providentially the Lord led her to Agar, where she is now awaiting teeth implants and receiving counseling and job training that will hopefully empower her and provide healing and confidence to reunite with her family.
Halim’s story is just one of thousands who have endured similar experiences.
As I reflect on each of the faces and stories we saw and heard I am reminded of the following passage, and therefore encouraged:
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. ~ Is. 61:7-8
Though these promises are to a specific people group, the heart of the One making them remains the same. The same God of Israel, the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lives today and offers hope, healing, and restoration in Jesus. I ask that you intercede on behalf of these precious women and pray that they may each experience His abundant redemption and be able to testify to how the Lord bound up their broken hearts, set them free, and turned their mourning into praise.
(Some pictures from Liz's trip are below. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions.)
