Weekend Reflections
I'm really enjoying The Neurology of Faith series but it feels like twice as much prep time going into every message. Lots of perspiration to go with the inspiration. I love preaching, but sometimes it's just good old-fashioned hard work :) I still don't feel like I'm 100% adjusted to the new rhythm of having my message ready to roll on Saturday night. It makes Saturdays a little more stressful, but Sundays are more relaxed.
We did a connection point after our services @ Union Station and it was very cool to connect with so many new NCCers. I'm also amazed at how many guests we have on an average weekend. Lots of first-timers! The Connection Point is a great way to make a connection and we give guests a popcorn box filled with NCC paraphenalia like our Annual Ministry Report, Small Group Guide, and of course, a bag of microwave popcorn :)
One incident is worth blogging about. I think it's something alot of pastors have to wrestle with. There was a guest dancing up a storm during worship in our 9:30 and 11:00 @ Union. Lots of gyrations. In the aisle. It's so hard to know where to draw the line. We want to encourage people to have freedom of expression but the line needs to be drawn if that person becomes a distraction to others. One of the challenges is discerning the spirit of the person worshipping. I never want to stop someone who is genuinely worshipping God, but what do you do when a person really becomes the focal point of worship and keeps others from worshipping God?
On the flip side, I honestly think that all of us could get alot more excited during worship! And I want to continue pushing the worship envelop so that we have a worship culture that is genuine and spontaneous. I just don't see the angels and elders in heaven holding hymn books and worshipping God with expressionless faces or motionless bodies.
We did a connection point after our services @ Union Station and it was very cool to connect with so many new NCCers. I'm also amazed at how many guests we have on an average weekend. Lots of first-timers! The Connection Point is a great way to make a connection and we give guests a popcorn box filled with NCC paraphenalia like our Annual Ministry Report, Small Group Guide, and of course, a bag of microwave popcorn :)
One incident is worth blogging about. I think it's something alot of pastors have to wrestle with. There was a guest dancing up a storm during worship in our 9:30 and 11:00 @ Union. Lots of gyrations. In the aisle. It's so hard to know where to draw the line. We want to encourage people to have freedom of expression but the line needs to be drawn if that person becomes a distraction to others. One of the challenges is discerning the spirit of the person worshipping. I never want to stop someone who is genuinely worshipping God, but what do you do when a person really becomes the focal point of worship and keeps others from worshipping God?
On the flip side, I honestly think that all of us could get alot more excited during worship! And I want to continue pushing the worship envelop so that we have a worship culture that is genuine and spontaneous. I just don't see the angels and elders in heaven holding hymn books and worshipping God with expressionless faces or motionless bodies.
13 Comments:
So, what did you do about the dancing guy?
Garrett,
We let it go in the first service :) Not sure if we should have or not. Then, if my peripheral vision is correct, he literally ran out in the second service @ Union.
We probably should have said something, but you have to weigh all the factors :) Will it cause even more of a disruption if you "make a scene" by stopping him?
One way we approach these kinds of things is by talking to the person if we see them again BEFORE the service so they have a sense of protocol.
I think one good thing that came out of it, even if it was a distraction, is that it was non-routine. It forced me to evaluate the way I worship.
Mark
Good topic, I've seen men dancing at Promise keepers events, an it is a little distracting, not just to me but to some of the others in my group. How ever the Spirit moves ya...Move. King David danced before the Lord. Maybe if more of us did the same it wouldn't be a distraction.
Totally agree Dave :)
I really want a culture of freedom. I think physical movements and postures are a big part of worship.
Of course, dancing should be illegal for some of us :)
Hey thanks for asking the tough questions. I am a pastor of somewhat traditional church with the potential to get out of the box and outwardly express themselves through prayer and worship. This last Sunday we had a group called Teen Challenge in to share with us and they did a great job with human videos and testimonies of 15 year old girls getting off crack and getting into Jesus. My people semed to react very different to these folks. When it came time to pray...man it got loud. I encourage people to pray outloud as I pray...but I think I heard some tongues? A lot of loud repeating prayer folk too! Anyway, my wife and I discussed the service afterward about how that was the loudest we have ever heard that church! We also talked about how intense it became and how that appeared to some of our first time visitors?? We said the same thing...where do you draw the line and still allow the Holy Spirit to roam where He may?
Way of the Pastor,
Joe
www.wayofthepastor.blogspot.com
Good thoughts Joe.
I always try to put myself in the shoes of the person who is there for the first time. That is what makes me cringe :)
One rule of the thumb that comes into play in these situations is "don't be a stumbling block." I won't want the way I pray or worship cause others to stop praying or stop worshipping.
For example, I think someone who prays in tongues can do it silently if it's going to weird someone out. If, on the other hand, they know it won't be a stumbling block then let her rip :)
I think the answer is sensitivity to the Holy Spirit first and foremost and sensitivity to each other.
My two cents,
Mark
1Co 14:22 - Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Mark,
How do you understand the above passage?
Doctrineman,
That particular verse is referring to a public worship setting. I am referring to praying with a small group of believers so it's a different context.
But one thing I try to do is juxtapose different principles.
I think the stumbling block principle comes to bear when you're praying with people who have different views on praying in tongues.
Hope that helps,
Mark
I try to stand at the back of the service and take everything in ... you know, just to make sure nothing is going wrong and nobody is in need of anything ... and I was watching The Dancing Guy do his thing. I thought it was a little odd but I didn't really notice it distracting anybody ... just a thought. In a smaller setting like Ebs it may have been more distracting. But at Union? Half the place didn't even notice.
Just a question for everyone. Do you all go to this church? I just happened to read about this church in Leadership Magazine and check out this blog! Just wondering.
Way of the Pastor,
Joe
It seemed like everybody knew about the dancing guy except for me? I was just wondering. I love this blog!
Way of the Pastor,
Joe
I just wanted to offer props for the "Neurology" series. Today in a class for my Masters I spent all day learning about the neurology of language....it turns out that God has implanted a ridiculous amount of linguistic knowledge in us so we can communicate with Him and with each other. Amazing. Also amazing is that, thanks to this series, I already knew what the cerebral cortex was! Thanks.
Yup I go there ....dont know about anyone else, 'cept Alli.
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