Filed under: Moraine Valley Church, Technology, worship | Tags: Cell Phones, Moraine Valley Church, worship
Recently I had a conversation with a church member who was frustrated by the idea that our church leadership allowed cell phone usage in our worship services. Feeling that cell phones were a huge distraction to worship, I was asked if I was ok with cell phones being used in our services. My first response was, “of course I am because I do.” The conversation continued and towards the end I could tell that my position on cell phones in worship may not have been accepted. But just because I do it doesn’t make it right. So what do I think about cell phones in worship?
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Cell phones can be a great resource to creating interaction during service, especially if worshipers are encouraged to text or tweet a question about the sermon. Many churches have done this as a means to give people more opportunity to interact on the moment with the pastor/preacher. It can give a good indication of what people are thinking, especially if what they text or tweet is something they would never consider sharing out loud.
Tyler Charles, a freelance writer from Ohio, wrote an article about this very issue. He interviewed one pastor who actually allows tweets to be displayed on the screen DURING SERVICE! I know my church probably would not go for that, but the value of doing so is to give people the opportunity to communicate a part of who they are and what they’re thinking. So in a sense, it’s another part of building community.
HARMING COMMUNITY
Everything we do should be for the building of the Body, to edify one another. Again in Charles’ article, he talks about a Tweet-Free zone that some churches have. This perspective runs on the premise that tweeting about communion with God is different than actually having communion with God. Although true, the point here is not to harm the community of worshipers gathered for the purpose of magnifying God.
Every church must wrestle with every part of its worship service, including cell phone usage. I think there should be a proactive approach to communicating values that our leadership has and making sure that everyone is on board. Otherwise, the risk of distracting worshipers every weekend will continue.
Here is the link to the article mentioned above written by Tyler Charles: http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vcat12/i1/p2
It’s the next viral YouTube video. It’s called “Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus.” I’ve seen this video about 4 times now. According to today’s blog through CNN, so have 15 million others. As a Evangelical, I’m not entirely supportive of saying that we “hate religion.” I did a sermon last year where I talked about how worship should lead to true religion. Although Bethke suggests that Religion says do and Jesus says done, there still is a lot of doing that needs to be done if the love of Christ is going to reach a fallen world.
I think the word religion carries such a negative tone to it these days. If we were to pull back and really look at what Jesus was saying, I don’t believe he was trying to destroy religion when He came. Why would Jesus do that if he knew that his followers would have to display a true religion? I think rather than destroying religion, he came to communicate the role of religion in a person’s life. True religion is the pouring out of love, a response to a mercy that has been shown, all through Jesus. Romans 12:1
Until the day of Jesus’ return, there will always be a need for true religion. James 1:27 As Evangelical Christians, we should be quick to help communicate why religion exists and the role it plays in the life of Follower of Christ.
Filed under: worship | Tags: Christchurch, Earthquake, New Zealand, NZ, worship
Today I had a chance to listen in to a webinar about how worship has been affected by the recent earth quake and tremors in Christchurch, NZ. Senior Pastor Paul Bennetts of Life Church shared with us how his congregation has personally been affected by the events of this devastating earthquake.
One thing that jumped out at me was how he said that “rain falls on the just and the unjust.” I don’t think any of us are exempt from experiencing traumatic events as Christchurch, NZ has experienced in the last year. But what Pastor Bennetts said what that when everything was stripped away (the buildings, the instruments, the programs) all that was left was the people and their voices in worship.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-3 ESV)
Our worship for God must go beyond the tools we use to support our worship and must break through times we experience fear and trouble. We have hope in a God who sees and rescues and it is that hope that we can build our lives of worship around.
Filed under: Ecclesiastes, Moraine Valley Church, worship | Tags: Ecclesiastes, worship
Ever had a hotdog with candlelight? Ever done something so intentional to make a moment special that it sounded outright crazy! Ecclesiastes has some wisdom for us in how to make each moment our lives count. Ecclesiastes reminds us that death is inevitable for all of us: righteous or wicked, good or eveil, clean or unclean (Ecc. 9). Everyone perishes!
The point? Enjoy what you have before its gone. Look to make each day special. In the words of Pastor Pat yesterday, figure out how to make eating a hot dog special.. try candlelight dinner w/ hot dogs!
WORSHIP
So how then must we worship? Can we enjoy life to its fullest an yet still do so as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? Its important to understand that what makes each moment special for us as Christians is not our creativity, our passion, our efforts or ideas, but Jesus. Jesus is what makes life special. If our aim in life is to be a living sacrifice, then its in the sacrifice that we must find our enjoyment for life. It sounds backwards, but its true. Its in the daily sacrificial lifestyle of offering our lives to the Lord that we can find enjoyment. Allowing Jesus to be the one who makes each moment special is what will make our lives enjoyable and our offerings acceptable.
Filed under: Fasting, Giving, prayer, worship | Tags: Fasting, Giving, Matthew 6, prayer, scripture, worship
Just something I noticed out of Matthew 6. Jesus is teaching about prayer, giving, and fasting and with each section he says
“when you give..”
“when you pray…”
“when you fast…”
Seems like our lives should reflect each of these. Maybe we all lean towards one more than the other, but Jesus is talking as though he anticipates each of these to be present in our lives.
Filed under: Chris Tomlin, music, worship | Tags: And If Our God is For Us, Chris Tomlin, music
Tomlin’s new album released three weeks ago. Although I have loved the live feel that most of his albums have carried, this studio recording really is good. It’s hard to listen to it and not just sing along and worship! For more information, check it out here:
“I lift my hands to believe again, You are my refuge You are my strength, as pour out my heart these things I remember, You are faithful God, forever” Chris Tomlin, I Lift My Hands
Filed under: Moraine Valley Church, Theology, worship | Tags: Moraine Valley Church, Religion, Theology, worship
I’m doing a three week course here at church on some the basics of worship. This past week we looked at the relationship between True Religion and Biblical Worship. The concept came to me after reading the book of James and connecting his definition of religion with Isaiah’s words to Israel in Isaiah chapter 1. True Religion, as defined by James, is not the foundation by which we would call ourselves worshipers of God. True Religion is the mark of a true worshiper, and it’s an overflow of a true heart shaped and molded into a Biblical worshiper. If our church is a biblical worshiping church, then true religion will exist within our activities. Being religious is not a phrase we should be afraid to use in describing the Body of Christ. Unfortunately this word has carried far too many negative connotations for people and has distorted what God really had intended for His people in acting religious. Our religion was meant to be an overflow of our love for God, not a determinate as to whether or not our love exists. Our religion should never force our hearts to worship, but quite the opposite. Our hearts of worship should always be the source of our acts of religious service. Loving those around us, serving those who need help and giving to those in need are the by-products of a worshiper.
Filed under: Creation, Moraine Valley Church, worship | Tags: Blessed Earth, Creation Week, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Hope for Creation, Moraine Valley Church
This year our church is starting something new called “Creation Week.” The focus is on raising awareness about creation and our God-given responsibility to take care of it. Our hope is that our church body will deepen their understanding of God’s world and increase their passion to love Him by taking care of the environment He has entrusted to us.
There is something inside of me that holds me accountable to the small things. What is it that keeps me from throwing trash out the window (outside of the fact that its illegal!)?? What is it that fuels me to enjoy taking care of my yard and trying to beautify the property I own? Why do I care so much to take time to separate the garbage from the recycling products to the point that I’ll reach inside a garbage can and pull out a plastic bottle? May it’s a just a stream of intensity or maybe its because the Spirit that lives in me stirs me to be responsible for the way I treat the earth I walk on.
Tonight I’ll be participating in a Simulcast called “Hope for Creation” with Dr. Matthew Sleeth. I’m not all that familiar with the content of the event but I’m excited to learn more about my role as Christian and how I relate to the world I live in. Here’s a link to the article about the event…
Blessed Earth on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/blessedearth?v=wall#!/blessedearth?ref=ts
Blessed Earth Website - http://www.blessedearth.org/
Blessed Earth Advertisement - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul4jE2NTxtw&feature=player_embedded
For more information about our event, you visit our website at www.morainevalleychurch.org
Filed under: Christmas, music, worship | Tags: All Bow Down, Christmas, Jesus Saves, music, Travis Cottrell, worship
Two years ago, worship leader Travis Cottrell came out with a Christmas musical entitled “All Bow Down.” At the time of its release, I had just come on staff with Moraine Valley Church and we were searching for a musical. We happened to land on this through a preview pack that was sent to us. Little did we know that one of the songs in this pack would become a well known song of worship for our congregation and one that stir our congregation to spontaneous applause in worship to the new born Savior!
Jesus Saves is sure to capture the heart of Christmas in your congregation. And for those who have a choir to sing along, this choral arrangement will enlighten your choir to sing in a very special way.
You can find more info at http://www.worshipmusic.com/4575714057.html
or at http://www.brentwood-benson.com/product.aspx?ProjectCode=457571405
Filed under: Christmas, Josh Wilson, worship | Tags: Christmas, Josh Wilson, worship
Part 2 brings us to Josh Wilson’s ablum entitled “Sing – A Christmas EP.” This album in one word “ROCKS!” I love it! And best of all, so does my congregation. We introduced the first track from this album last year and plan on doing it again this year. Taking the biblical command to sing a new song to the Lord and putting that into a Christmas format, the first track “Sing” is simply that! A call to sing, for God has given us redemption!
Track 3 is an acoustical arrangement of The First Noel. Completely instrumental, this is an acoustic guitarist’s dream song! With extensive melodic runs, rhythmic patterns and a wide use of the fret board, this acoustical arrangement is sure to provide a variety of sound for your worship gathering.
Find out more at www.myspace.com/joshwilson
