went on a field trip...sawdust service

since the boys are away, mamma will go places...

I went to the Sat pm service of the local version of megachurch (no names to protect innocent). (Rev. Bob-I will do my penance later and review the 6 chief parts before slumber.)

Not quite, but rather sure of what to expect, I arrived early and purposely flew under the radar of the hallway staff. Grabbing their form for the sermon notes/attendance card, showing I already had a Bible, I took a position on an aisle seat in the tiered back of the auditorium.

I arrived to the sound of the worship band already singing, even though there had been no formal start to the service and I was clearly there before the announced time. NO problem with that folks.

Seems that at my church, some people act as if the worship music just sets the stage for the guy with the message. That was just as prevalent at this place, and seemed to be even part of what happened during the music set. There were those few for whom this was obviously a big part of why they gathered, but I didn't sense the expectancy to meet God in this place from the middle of this fellowship. I can usually sense at places where I'm in the assembly and not on the platform whether or not this is a place where God uses the music to bring people to the throne so the Holy Spirit can do His work through the Word and the means of grace. But folks, music and vocal worship just seemed like sawdust at this place. Well performed sawdust-I mean the band was very musically gifted, but the taste I had in my worship heart after about 2 songs was very bland-like sawdust. I joined in on these unfamiiar songs and gave it my best (perhaps that was the problem-was I attuned to what the Spirit was doing?) It wasn't that the songs were new or hard to figure out, or that they were meaningless babble-they weren't. Lyrically these songs were pretty good. Musically-like Chris Tomlin (those of you who know me, know what I mean). I can get past that music thing if the words are good, usually...

I wondered if the music was just the filler, the sawdust, if you will, to the Bible teaching. You might remember "filler" as part of what goes into dubious hot dogs/sausages--often rumored to be sawdust back in the day.

Then I thought about my home place of worship-not the mega thousand room, but the 288 seat when crowded place where my soul is fed week by week in the company of the family of God I know and love (who love me-even though they know me). As part of the worship music team, I have to think about "sawdust" in the service. Are we there as filler? Have we prayed again that we would just be the tools used by the Spirit to bring the group to the place where God has promised to meet us (after all, He is already here). Have we stood back and let the Spirit move in his people for comfort, healing, heartfelt and mindful praise?

When week after week I see people enter after we begin, I wonder these things. Have my comrades and whoever the leader is this week missed the point and are we playing for an audience of 200 or just ONE? Why do people choose to miss this part?

After 20 minutes we heard the pastor teach on Acts 5. Pretty good Bible study/message. He kept using scripture to explain scripture and gave us references and read them to us, just so we could use our Berean instincts to check it out. I miss that kind of teaching. He didn't do it nearly as well as Beth Moore did it several weeks ago, but I should probably quit comparing. I so appreciate it when messages take on a Bible passage and let it be studied-chewed on-meditated-ruminated---waiting for God to make clear what seemed hidden in former readings of the same passage. It really bums me out when the Bible is referenced as a starting point and never heard from again in a message. In that Rev. Bob, you excel-I've been reading your blog. We are day and night opposed in practice, but I appreciate your message and follow your blog.
The service ended with a whimper- not a send out-even though the preacher made it clear that Acts 5 calls us to be bold in the face of persecution. Seemed a disconnected end. What a shame. I wonder if the worship music leader and the preacher had even gotten together to plan the songs to fit the message...must be my training in the way again.

So why did I write this and put you on this notes list? Honestly, this is for you to ponder. Perhaps we've been a bit stagnant in our preparing to meet God in congregation. I pray the sawdust is removed from our time together and that we listen to the Spirit so He can be the central force in our services. Without Him, it's just music and a speaker.

Today is THE DAY

He has made.
I will try to rejoice in it and try to be glad in it.

How did David do it?

I hear it.

I played it yesterday, and will again next week.

I can do it while playing and singing.

Not so much right now.

Help me, O Lord, to rejoice in something today.
Not just be ok, but to be in joy indeed!