I'm sitting here thinking about it, so I might as well write it down. I found a booklet of Lenten Devotions at www.lentendevotions.net and thought this might be a good thing for our church to do. It has a daily reading for each day, beginning on Ash Wednesday (which is February 21 this year). I thought perhaps there might be others that would be interested in reading each days devotions, maybe keeping a journal, and getting together every Wednesday night to discuss their thoughts or something God maybe laid on their heart or a way he was working in their life.
I don't know how many would be up for this. I always seem to have people telling me they heard about this exciting class or that neat study that some other church was doing. I know they're trying to get across to me that we don't ever offer interesting topics for study. And sometimes I feel inclined to give in - you know, let's get together and talk about the End Times, or other religions of the world, or who opened the dang door on the ark. But if you wanna know what I really think... while those might be interesting topics for people to discuss... mostly I think it's a way for people to occupy their minds and keep from addressing the real spiritual needs they have in their life. And while it's not necessarily bad to talk about such things, my concern as a pastor is to try to get people to grow in their relationship with Jesus and with others. And that's usually a very 'scary' thing; it's uncomfortable; and it goes against human nature. It's not popular.
So the question is... do I do things to try to get a lot of people involved, or do I keep plugging away trying to do what I think God wants me to do? I dunno... maybe I'm just stubborn.
Lent is the 40 days (not counting Sundays) prior to Easter. This devotional series is looking at it as a 'Time for Renewal.' Kind of like a magazine subscription - it comes along once a year, it's a pain in the butt, it upsets the routine, it makes you have to stop and think... do I renew? Hopefully it will shine a light on the sin that sent Jesus, the Son of God, to the cross. And that it's not just the sins of others, but it's your sin and mine. It's a time to realize anew the depth of Jesus' love for you and me. He gave his life so that we could live forgiven. How good is that?
Just thinking.
6 comments:
It is very good and we all need to renew - daily not yearly. Thanks for being stubborn and for knowing deep down the answer to the question of Who you need to listen to...
I guess for me...I wouldn't take it so personally. I would look at it more like...hey, I saw a good movie or read a good book. They aren't saying your choice in movies or books are bad but that they've seen one that they think someone else may enjoy and are simply sharing. And maybe they feel like God wants them to share that with someone.
Just a thought...
If they feel that "God wants them to share that with someone" they are over-invoking God. I'm sure it'll sound blasphemeous, but I don't think God cares at that level. If he does, maybe he can help me decide whether to use the regular floss or the mint-flavored kind.
Maybe it didn't come out as I intended. What I meant was maybe people who are expressing what another church is doing or another study or topics or whatever it may be. I don't think they are implying that Dan has bad ideas or studies...simply they find something interesting. And perhaps it would be of interest to someone else. And while not consciously thinking it would be God's great plan to share that idea...maybe they think it would be a good thing for God's people to hear or talk about or at the very least promote discussion about something. Maybe the non-regular bible study attendees will have some interest. Just maybe those non-regs will come to realize how much they enjoy group discussion and become regs.
I agree with Kaysera, and would add...some people might be able to commit to the time for a short study while a weekly bible study all summer long they couldn't. At Grange church, we are giveng out a devotinal to each family. AND one special for the kids with stickers!
I prefer mint-flavored floss... so I'm sure that is God's desire for everyone. :)
Actually, I'm not at all concerned about people attending other churches - or even no church if they don't want to. My point was that it is human nature to want to do things that are interesting and exciting, etc... and it's difficult for us humans to continually do the counter-cultural stuff of Jesus. Most people would rather talk about 'nonsense' and be able to come and go when we like and not have anybody tell us anything we don't want to hear than put ourselves in a situation where we might have to make a commitment to others, and we might have to think about things that are uncomfortable, and we might not be the center of attention, and a whole host of other things that come with being a PART of a community. And I'm no different.
I am personally not interested in offering things just because they're "interesting". As a pastor, my concern is helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus. That doesn't mean it has to be boring, but the truth is, sometimes it's just darn hard.
I certainly don't mean any disrespect to people who attend "other" places or things at other places, I am merely lamenting the situation at hand.
I appreciate the input each of you have offered this far.
peace.
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