Everything else
This isn’t a huge, burning question on all of our minds. However, I do think it’s important to be reminded about the “why” behind some of our actions when we gather on Sundays. Here’s a video I made following one our services at Brentwood. It was some thoughts I shared from stage, but wasn’t able to share with both campuses.
Feedback, other ideas, and thoughts are welcome!
We’ve recently had a string of worship sets that have blessed me so much. Not because we chose the songs so well or shared such wisdom between them…but because in each service over the past few weeks, I have felt incredibly connected with the people in the room. There is something amazing about “being on the same page” with a room full of people. I felt like we’ve worshipped our God together and given ourselves freely for his glory. I love it. Thank you for those that have been with us!!! may we live that out today!!!!
Here was the set…
Here for You – Matt Redman
God is Alive – Steve Fee/Eddie Kirkland
You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
No One Higher/The Stand – Steve Fee (via NorthPoint worship)
Closing Song “Motion of Mercy” – Francesca Battistelli
Romans 18:15 ”Wise men are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.”
I don’t know when it happens to Christians, but it always happens. We reach a point where we don’t feel like we can or need to grow anymore. We’ve sat through multiple sermons based on David and Goliath, Paul’s journey, and classes based on interpreting the meaning of Revelation. We’ve “heard it all.” Now, this is something we’d never verbalize publicly, because we know how unacceptable it sounds, however it’s true nonetheless.
The only exception to our learning disability is the pursuit of more and more biblical or theological trivia. Our intellect is tickled by some obscure or “deep” piece of biblical information that we have never heard before. So, we praise our pastors when they limit themselves to teaching things that are too complex and obscure to have much practical application to our everyday lives.
I hope we can fight this phenomenon within ourselves. There is nothing wrong with biblical knowledge. Even if we love the more obscure of “deep” things of the bible! However, we must always remain hungry to lessons from the Spirit. These come through reading the word, hearing a sermon, watching the sunrise, or spending time with a friend.
15″Wise men are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.”
I know I’m regularly guilty of being foolish and being insensitive to learning…and most likely you’re just like me.
If this happens, the first thing you’ll feel is euphoria. ”Job well done! Look what I did!” However, at some point it will turn into different emotions. Guilt? Shame? Why? Because you realize you are not what they think you are.
At what point would you be willing to redirect their joy that is errantly placed in you?
In Acts 14:11-14, the people in Lystra thought Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes. gods. Ok…well people will believe what they believe, right?
Before you know it, they assemble a parade with banners, people lining the street, priests of Zeus and bulls ready to be slaughtered as sacrifices for these walking gods. Barnabas and Paul didn’t realize what was happening at first…then it dawned on them. These people are worshipping them instead of the God they were just preaching about.
14 “When Barnabas and Paul finally realized what was going on, they stopped them. Waving their arms, they interrupted the parade, calling out, 15 “What do you think you’re doing! We’re not gods! We are men just like you, and we’re here to bring you the Message, to persuade you to abandon these silly god superstitions and embrace God himself, the living God.”
awkward (picture the parade horns fading in the background) …but truth.
If I were in their shoes, would I risk the social embarrassment of “putting people right”? They assembled a parade! Aren’t they going to feel stupid, deflated and judged?
It didn’t matter. Paul and Barnabas knew what was right and redirected the praise back to God and returned to their mission.
Compliments are fine, and no one likes the “Jesus-juke” (see Jon Acuff) cliche of “praise god” after each and every compliment someone offers you. But what if you redirected the conversation off of your accomplishments and back to what God is doing and why He deserves our adoration. Why not redirect it back into the story of the person congratulating you?
No one throws me parades, but I have to ask myself, “Am I willing to shrug compliments that turn from edifying into self-agrandizing?”
It’s ok to be special and appreciated, but listen to the Holy Spirit within when you start believing that you are amazing. It’s God’s blessing and provision in us that makes us truly special.
Based on Acts 9:40-42
Peter just performed one of the most moving feats we can imagine. He brought a beloved dead woman back to life. No one was really expecting it, but he did.
After these verses, Acts records one thing, “When this became known all over Joppa, many put their trust in the Master.”
I would hope that my victories in faith lead to people trusting in Christ. However, my personal victories tend to serve me. That’s stupid and short sighted and ultimately worthless. How can I gain the faith, trust, and devotion to God to such an extent that His work in me immediately pours into others’ devotion to Him?
I don’t quite know. However, I believe it starts with a genuine pursuit of what Godwants, rather than the miracles that Iwant in mylife. I doubt Peter was walking around saying to himself, “man, I’d love to bring a couple people back from the dead right now.” He was faithful and was guided step by step into a moment so big that he deflected the Glory to God.
And God loves that.
Can you relate? Ever feel this way?
God, help me with my selfishness. Help me experience a genuine devotion to your glory, rather than one filtered through selfish ambition.
Monday, I wore a V-neck and it almost ruined my self-esteem. Actually, I often wear V-necks, but recently, they have received more negative press around the office than usual. There are certain male staff members that take issue with them. I won’t mention most of them (it’s all of them) but I’ll single Matt Cote out because he’s my friend and internet blogging nemesis (anytime you threaten dodgeball victories…it kind of hurts). Anyways, I get slack from Matt about my V-necks but I have two main come backs.
1) My wife loves them and loves them on me. (that one’s enough right there.)
2) check the plank in your own eye first. That gaping unbuttoned 2 button collared shirt is dipping lower than any V-neck I own.
Matt and I fight a lot about this…but we always resolve our problems.
onto other things…
I rarely wear fancy shoes. Usually I’m wearing sneakers, jack purcels, or something else cool my wife buys for me. However, I woke up on monday and felt like it was a day ripe for fancy shoes. I wore them and I received many a compliment.
I know I know…they’re fancy and nice.
Little did anyone know that there was something dark and sinister lurking behind these fancy shoes. Something that gave away my true colors.
LITTLE WHITE SOCKS!!!!
Do you secretly hide your “un-fancy” side behind fashion like I do? I recommend you do because keeping things like this secret all day long makes you feel ALIVE! And then…you can blog about it because you’ve got nothing else…
Let’s hear it…Thumbs up or down on V-necks? (we’re not talking deep V’s) They are never right.
It’s not nice to brag or gossip about people. Unless you’re so stinking proud of them and honored to be associated with them. That’s how I felt this morning at Brentwood Church. I needed to post some behind the scenes photos, although poor quality photos, to give a shout out the some of Bwood’s worship arts volunteers… Read the rest of this entry »
“One Thought” Post – teach me something…but with just one thought. Keep it simple. Here’s mine today:
Joshua 23 – Joshua is dying, so he gives the Israelites his last challenge. He reminds them of all the crazy victories that they’ve experienced, and warns them to keep a close eye on their hearts so they don’t wander from God.
Joshua 23:11 “Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God, your God
Why can’t I see that it’s at the end of dark times, when God has brought us back to light, that we’re closest to him. We trust him, we love him. We’re drawn to read his word, we want to talk about him to others. It seems easy for his thoughts to be on our minds and lips.but we want to avoid the dark times, obviously. Who actually wants pain? So, how do we maintain the closeness?
So, Here’s my “one thought”. Here’s what I’m getting at. Maybe God will always provide challenges to trust him through. This is what keeps us close. we can either accept those challenges, grow in faith, win a battle, and move forward. Or we can sit back, be safe, but forget our passion and purpose. We stop moving.
Sounds terrible really.
Have you seen this to be true? Let us hear your voice on this one.
Kevin Mahan is our Connection Pastor here at Brentwood Church. We hired him a few months ago and he’s already doing an amazing job. He’s incredibly smart and is one of the most constructively critical minds that I know. He loves God’s church as a whole, and is pumped to pour into Brentwood. He and his wife, Rachel, are deeply engaged in ministry here; and they are already changing us for the better.
Kevin’s also a big teddy bear. Give him an awkward side-hug the next time you see him.
As Brentwood gets larger, many of you fear that we will lose the intimacy and “closeness” that we love. How do we avoid losing it? Kevin is my guest blogger today. Here are his thoughts: Read the rest of this entry »
1 Corinthians 7:17 (Msg) “Where you are right now is God’s place for you…God, not your marital status, defines your life.”
This is encouraging to some, convicting to others; just more rhetoric for the rest. You’re single, but don’t want to be. You’re married, but don’t want to be; and this consumes you.
your consumed.
so what’s left after we’re all consumed? eaten up? Read the rest of this entry »
