The Foray

"We Love the Blend!"

I suppose when most 50-somethings tell you, "We love the blend!" they're referring to COFFEE.

But not this time!

"We love the blend!" referred to our WORSHIP SERVICES at Middle Valley Baptist. This couple told me, while I was visiting in their home, that they really appreciate the way we incorporate both new and old in worship. "Not all churches try that," they said.

And that's true.

And, I believe, a mistake!

You see, God's Spirit has been at work in the Church (the body of Christ) for a long, long time. And, over the centuries, he has led men and women to write songs about the triune God, redemption in Christ, freedom from sin, the Christian life, perseverance in faith, the Second Coming, baptism and the Lord's Supper, judgment, the new heavens and earth, etc. etc.

And a great many of these songs have stood the test of time because of the powerful way they celebrate eternal truth.

By singing them alongside the new songs which the Spirit continues to produce in believers today, we're simply acknowledging that our Mighty God HAS BEEN working, IS working, and CONTINUES working in his people for their good and his glory -- and in ways that most especially deserve to be sung about!

Singing old hymns and contemporary songs (and all in between) allows us to express WHO WE ARE at Middle Valley Baptist, for the Lord in his sovereign grace has brought us TOGETHER as children, youth, young, median, and senior adults.

That's just WHO WE ARE!  

Thus the "blend," and the perfect opportunity to display before a fractured world OUR UNITY in Christ Jesus!

Greg

PS Today's morning service is a good example of the "blend" that the couple was referring to! The band played the contemporary, "O Happy Day!" and we all sang Chris Tomlin's fairly recent, "How Great Is Our God," and Charitie Bancroft's,"Before the Throne of God Above" (written in 1863). Jeff Martin's brother, Mike, sang the contemporary praise song, "Cannons," which was incredible! Then we all sang "For the Beauty of the Earth" (which dates back to 1864), followed by "I Give You My Heart" (1995) and ending with all 4 verses of "Jesus Is All the World to Me" (1904).

Corde, Ore, Opere!

"It is not an easy matter to praise God aright; it must be done corde, ore, opere, with the very best of the best." John Trapp

It actually takes Latin to express why we should be so thankful for our musical mainstays in worship: Deborah, Jason, Chris, and Warren! They do something every week that definitely isn't "easy": Not only do they work with David, :) but they play their instruments "skillfully," just like Ps 33:2-3 calls for!

My view is that, with these musicians, the Lord has truly blessed us "with the very best of the best." I know a little about music and, let me tell you, these men and woman are good! I love to hear them play! It's literally "music to my ears."

And I'm not alone! I often get comments about our music.

So, Psalm 33 leads me to say to our musicians, "Thanks for the hours you put in every week in order to magnify God's goodness among us and to help us express our joy to the Lord in ways we simply couldn't if you weren't playing. And praise the Lord for your servant hearts. What a vital, God-honoring combination!"

Let's make a deal: Y'all keep playing for the God of glory, and we'll keep praising the God of glory!

With much love, admiration, and appreciation, 

Greg

P.S. Trapp was an English Anglican Bible commentator who lived in the 1600s. He was often cited by (among others) C.H. Spurgeon (who else?). According to her daughter, the late Ruth Bell Graham (Billy's wife) turned to Trapp as one of her favorite sources for Christian quotations.

Do You Want to Hear Good Preaching?

Then PRAY for it!

I don't know about you, but I'm convinced that the majority of people do not go to church hoping to be bored stiff. And yet they continually do things almost guaranteed to produce boredom and the accompanying sense that, "There's got to be more than this!"

One of the things we do is fail to pray. We stuff our minds full with literally hundreds of other thoughts and preoccupations besides spiritual ones. We listen to ourselves talk, with ruminations as scattered as July thunderstorms. We fill our lives with "things to do" right up to the latest possible Saturday night hour, possibly spilling over into the wee hours of Sunday. Then we roll out of bed, dress ourselves, grab a quick bite, and dash to church -- to, among other things, listen to the spoken unfolding of God's word.

And we find the experience ... how shall I say it? ... "underwhelming."

But when you look at it, is it really all that surprising?

Do you know one thing that would transform Sundays and preaching? PRAYING! Asking God to make his power and goodness felt, sensed, experienced (or whatever word you prefer). Asking God to help a fellow human being (the preacher) declare and unfold the Bible's words. Then actually doing some physical things, such as leaning in closely to listen, using your voice to indicate agreement with truth when the speaker speaks it ("Yes!" "That's right!" "Amen!" "Uh-huh!"), and even using your hands.

Why PHYSICAL things? Because God created us soul and BODY!

Think I'm off base? Just look at how many times the Bible calls for physical responses in worship to truth about God, and maybe you'll change your mind. Read the Psalms.

Now try -- just try -- to envision what I'm describing. Try to see it at Middle Valley Baptist. Can you envision such an expression of authentic worship, with good preaching as a vital part? Can you see such worship affecting unbelievers, possibly asking themselves, "Okay. What am I missing?"

It won't happen apart from prayer, apart from asking God for it.

So, join the preacher. Please start praying today -- and don't stop praying. Then come to church this Sunday morning in an attitude of prayer that sincerely expects God to bless and that will be sincerely disappointed by anything less.

By the goodness of God, it will make a difference. And the preacher will certainly thank you.

So will pretty much everybody else!

Greg

Return of the "Prove It!" Kids

Sounds like a Disney sequel, doesn't it?

The "Prove It!" Kids will be back in action for 2008 starting this Sunday. I've decided to slow our Q&A pace a bit because a lot of the kids appear to be struggling with the answers and Bible verses. I'd rather learn one Q&A and verse a month than whisk through four without getting one.

If you have a "Prove It!" Kid, know a "Prove It!" Kid, or just want to be a "Prove It!" Kid, look for a way to encourage them in their learning.

Here's an idea: Use the new church directory with photos and addresses to drop a note to a Prove It Kid, as a way of expressing your appreciation for what they're doing. You know how kids LOVE to get snail mail! Or maybe just an "at-a-boy!" or an "at-a-girl!" when you see them (I trust you'll know which is appropriate).

Of course, moms and dads and grandparents, the greatest encouragement of our kids' learning is to take time to work with them one-on-one. They're depending on us.

This Sunday we begin with a classic question dealing with "sin" that dates back to the Westminster divines (mid 1600s). They'll be introduced to the answer and begin work on the Bible verse.

You know, it wouldn't hurt us grown-ups to know this stuff too. Now there's an idea: The "Prove It! Adults" ... Hey, I like it!

Greg

Three Questions Re: Worship

Actually, just two. I thought about asking first, "Do you believe Christians should show generosity toward each other?" but I can't imagine anybody saying no. So ...

Question #1 -- Is it appropriate to show generosity toward each other, even when (let's say) we're gathered together for worship?

Question #2 -- What might such "generosity in worship" look like?

Hmm. Your thoughts?

Greg

The Big Deal about Our Joy in Worship -- Part 2

When I was set to propose marriage to Denise (22 years ago this month!), I felt tremendous joy. I could hardly contain it. I couldn't help myself. Why? Because I knew the "future" of what I was about to do! I knew that, at just the right moment that evening, I was going to up and "pop the question." And she had no idea what was coming! Of course, there was risk involved in what I "knew" about the future: She could've said,"No."

Okay. Think closely upon these next words. I know the "future" once more. Here it is:

One day the risen Christ will return. That Day of the Lord will bring God's purposes to their glorious climax. Evil and death will be banished, God's creation will be restored to its former glory, and a vast multitude of God's human, angelic, and even animal creation will give united praise to God and share his glory for eternity.*

Wow!!! What a future!!! And this time, no risk is involved at all, as it's the testimony of sacred Scripture (which cannot be broken)!

So if I know this way-beyond-awesome "future" is coming (guaranteed!), how can I keep from feeling tremendous joy when I'm gathered with the bride of Christ in worship? How can I possibly contain it? I can't help myself!

The point is that what we Christians know about the future because of Christ our Savior is "makes-complete-sense" grounds for "can't-help-it" joy -- in fact, great joy (as in the angelic words, "Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy ...").

Greg

* This paragraph is courtesy of Dr. Frank Thielman of Beeson Divinity School (one of my former seminary professors -- an outstanding one at that!)

The Big Deal about Our Joy in Worship -- Part 1

Leave it to a man in his 80s to say best what I've been trying to say about joy in our worship services at Middle Valley Baptist:

"The robust and exuberant praises uttered by God's people, as they celebrate their certainties in Christ, has great drawing power for individuals who are spiritually adrift ... Experience seems to show that wherever the Word is preached in an enlivening way, and everyone sings the praises of God from the heart, individuals will come in from outside and be affected by God ..."

Yes! That's it! That's why our joy because of Jesus is so vital in worship. If we were living in the Intertestamental Period (the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments), tepid, reserved gatherings would make sense ... I guess. But, praise God!!! We live on this side of the resurrection, ascension, and heavenly session of Jesus Christ!!! And that makes all the difference -- even when you're a Christian in the fire of persecution. "For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property ..." (Heb. 10:34)

Doubt me? Get a complete concordance and look at how many times the word "joy" is mentioned in the New Testament. Something's up with the Christians of the Bible!

And another thing? What exactly does Paul mean when he says to "Rejoice in the Lord always?"

Does he really mean "rejoice"? And what about "always"?

Think of the "evangelistic potential" of genuine joy in Jesus Christ in our next Lord's Day gathering!

Greg

PS The man in his 80s? J.I. Packer (for you theology buffs).