Devotion.al

Tag: bands

  • Dirty Work

    Dirty Work

    Psalm 80; Isaiah 32:9–20; James 3:17–18

    “Tremble, all of you who are at ease;
    shudder, all of you who are secure!”
    —Isaiah 32:11 (CEB)

    Isaiah’s words were directed towards people who were confident that the military might and influence of Egypt would protect them from other enemies. Something along the lines of, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Except that alliances switched all the time. Relying on Egypt—especially Egypt—was not a good long-term plan.

    The church, too, often practices the same thing with its Egypt…the government. This is not a new thing. It is not a Democrat or Republican thing. It isn’t a Tory or a Labour thing (political parties in the UK). Whether we gather from history the intertwinings of the church with the later years Roman Empire, to the Roman Catholics ties to many Western European countries, to the Orthodox ties with Eastern European countries.Many critics and critiques of the church claim that the church lost its way when Emperor Constantine. True, the church was blinded by the freedom to be and impose with . However, that wasn’t the real issue. The real issue was the people of the church.

    Slowly, ever so slowly, discipleship became catechism. Passing the catechism test (which could be very stressful) was all that was needed to be a “member”. Catechism faded away too, to a point where many people don’t even know some of the core tenants of the faith they espouse. Then people were baptized into a faith their parents didn’t practice (i.e., the Church of England) or thought they were because of the place they were born (the US).

    There were a lot of steps in between. There were even successful attempts to fix the situation (John Wesley’s , classes, and societies; the Sunday School movement). However, they lost steam as the world changed. They also lost steam as the church chose to both withdraw from the world and to attack the world.

    One cannot be the light to a people one does not know; one cannot be the light to people one acts towards as if hatred were the motivation, rather than love.

    “What of the from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.”
    —James 3:17–28 (CEB)

    Part of the spiritual work that we are called to is creating the healthy spiritual soil from which the green of life. Healthy spiritual soil is pure (and is being purified), gentle, obedient, merciful, acts in the ways of Christ, fair, and genuine. From that healthy spiritual soil, we have the , drive, ability, and even natural to bring peace and justice into the world.

    ※Reflection※

    • What is the condition of your spiritual soil?
    • What does your soil need more of? Fertilizer, minerals, water, sand, loam?
    • Why does ignoring the state of your soil endanger your continued spiritual health and growth?

    ※Prayer※

    Holy , guide us to nourish the soil that will bring and to you, the Father and the Son through our lives. Amen.

  • What Holy Ground?

    What Holy Ground?

    Psalm 19; Exodus 19:9b–15; Acts 7:30–40

    “What ground,” isn’t a rhetorical question. It’s a real one. What is Holy ground?

    The land surrounding the “burning bush” was Holy…for a time. Notice that it wasn’t important to God or Moses what happened after that encounter. It was only important during that encounter.

    How about the mountain? Well, we’re pretty certain we know which mountain. There certainly are Muslims who are certain which mountain it was. There is no on it where people worship God or have “Holy” experiences.

    Holy ground isn’t a small question. The people of the are trying to figure out a whole new reality to that question. Is digital Holy? If so, when? It’s also not that digital is forcing a new question to be asked. It is just so completely different to the understanding of church, community, and gathering that it cannot help but be obviously different.

    Small groups have long been a staple in the church. The Wesleyan movement (of which we, the Church of the Nazarene, are a part) has high regard for the place of “classes” (groups of 8–20) and “” (groups of 3–6) for developing an understanding of being (classes) and as a Christian (bands). Both classes and bands had experiences of Holy encounters. They became Holy places.

    In other words, the church (or the Wesleyan expression of it) already has a place of Holy ground that isn’t “the church” (Sunday morning worship).

    As of late, I have discovered a new Holy ground for me and my encounters with God. Of all places, it’s in my living room. It is next to the gas fireplace I use to disregard as a pathetic excuse for a fireplace (i.e., it doesn’t burn wood). Yet, I have learned that flipping that switch I belittled is now a quickener to focused . I’m already dreading Summer and not turning it on.

    Another Holy place for me is now Google Meets (Google’s answer to Zoom). I meet with my band and I meet with my class on Google Meets. My band used to meet at Starbucks, but now half my band is out-of-state. We still have Holy ground . My class started over Zoom then moved to Google Meets. We didn’t start in person, and probably never will meet as a class in person. We still have Holy ground together.

    Where you find Holy ground is not wholly irrelevant. However, if you are truly encountering God there, even in a garbage dump, then even the garbage dump is Holy Ground.

    Finding Holy ground is not (really) optional. As a follower of , we must find time and place to be with God. If we cannot find one, we must make the effort to do so.

    Susanna Wesley (the mother of John Wesley, the primary founder and of the Wesleyan movement) found her Holy ground underneath her apron in the kitchen. With a large number of children running (if they ran) around, it was there that she encountered God.

    Don’t look for that big or special place to encounter God. Look for that Holy ground in the everyday to encounter God.

  • Room Enough to Love

    Room Enough to Love

    “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn and wrapped Him in of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
    —Luke 2:6-7 (NRSV)

    We just had our third child. I when we went from one kid to two I was so nervous about the I had in my . I wasn’t sure that I would be able to love two kids the same way I our first child. My heart had been opened up to this child and I wasn’t sure how it was going to work adding a second kid. Was I going to love our second born as much? Was my love for our first son going to diminish a little to make room for the second child? Maybe you’ve had kids and have had some of these fears or maybe it’s just me. But then we had our second child. And our oldest came to the hospital to him and I realized my heart stretched. It was big enough to love both boys the same amount (which is a lot). And now we have 3 kids. We added a daughter! But, this time I wasn’t scared or nervous. I knew, because of last time, how our hearts would and make room for another child.

    As Adam and I talked about this love we talked about how much greater the love God has for us as His children. Love that we can’t even fathom. Love so great that He sent His one and only Son for us. To do something indescribable for us. How often do we, because of that great love, go out and show love for ? That was our next thought.

    Truly. God sent His Son to show us love so that we might go out and love others which hopefully in turn makes disciples of all nations – something that we are called to do as Christ followers. So. How often do you go out and love others? I know that is particularly difficult given the current COVID circumstances. So we have to be pretty creative. So, what does that look like for you? This week. Show someone you love them. Go out of your way even if it’s a little, but then try to make it more habitual so it’s not “going out of your way” – rather, it’s a part of your every day .

  • Peace Bringer

    Peace Bringer

    “In that region there were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you of great for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a for you: you will find a child wrapped in of cloth and lying in a manger.”
    —Luke 2:8-12 (NRSV)

    I am betting that you have felt . The longer you have lived the more you have lived and the more fear you probably have experienced.

    Fear after losing a job. Fear of being able to provide for your family. Fear in regards to your children or grandchildren or family members. Fear of death. Fear of having your freedoms stripped away. Fear can grip us. Fear can hold us down. If we let it.

    But God says. Do not be afraid. God sent Jesus to be with us. Emmanuel. Because of Jesus and the dwelling in us we don’t have be to be afraid. We don’t have to succumb to fear in any moment of our lives.

    I have to be honest with you all. In this past year. I have felt fear a handful of times. I still feel it a little thinking about what might be ahead for us. Are you, possibly, in the same boat? Do you need the that surpasses any and all understanding? Do you need to be reminded in this season of the peace that Jesus coming to this world gives to us? Be still. The angel brought good news to all people. Not just the shepherds. That good news was for you, your family, your friends, even the people you might not like…that news brings us peace.

  • Cross Section

    Cross Section

    Psalm 78; Zechariah 8:1–6; Acts 2:14–21

    Ever had an itch. One of those itches you just can quite reach. Maybe you’ve used a pen (or pencil). Maybe you’ve used one of those bamboo scratchers shaped like a hand. Or perhaps you’ve used a wall corner. Or, if push comes to shove, you for help.

    In many respects, church (or the church service) has been a back-scratcher for years. There have been shifts over the years as how the service is done (from “liturgical” to “modern”, for example) to the musical instruments (no instruments, to organs, to brass and wind, to piano, to guitars, to electric guitars, to full ) to the style of music (chant, hymns, country, contemporary, hip-hop, rap).

    Music is one of the biggest backscratchers, as people will determine which church they will attend depending on the music genre (and then the instrumentation, too). Preaching styles, too, also affect church attendance (3-point sermons, topical, expository).

    For the last few decades, though, the bigger one may well be programs, especially programs for youth and children. This isn’t a bad thing, to be clear. It does, however, have some problems. They are the same problems as service styles, music styles, instrumentation, preaching…they scratch an itch.

    It was much easier when there was only one style. Then there would be only one . There is also the reality that the lack or of any of the above (and this is not an exhaustive list) may be a “barrier” for a new person (whether unbeliever, new believer, or seasoned believer).

    It is the whys of it all that matter. There was a quip (a stereotype that is sadly mostly true in the US) that the hour of church on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week. The context of this quip is . However, it applies to so much more.

    In many churches, maybe even yours, you can look around during the church service and see the segregation of . Sometimes the children leave at the beginning or in the middle if they’re there at all. Sometimes the youth leave. Sometimes they all . Each church can do it completely differently.

    The result, however, is contrary to what the New Testament seems to display…unified worship across age and people groups.

    Some are beginning to question if we have lost our biggest opportunity to one another by separating to scratch our itch.

    This is not an attack on the way your church “does” church, though it might seem to be. The question we need to be asking ourselves is…how does [youth group, music choice, etc.] affect successful ? How does it inhibit discipleship? How do we scratch our itches and still maintain our fidelity to “telling the next generation” the “great things that God has done”?

  • Beyond A Name

    Isaiah 43:1–4, 1 Peter 1:13–23

    Do you know somebody’s ? Of course, you do. You know yours. You know the names of loved ones. You know the names of friends. You probably know the names of people that are not that close. We sometimes dismiss the importance of names. If we thought about it, though, if someone doesn’t address us by name, we if they really know who we are. We wonder if they care.

    God’s words to Isaiah tell us that God knows our name. God calls us by name. The Creator knows you by name. There is a there. Once we acknowledge the relationship, then what?

    Peter reminds us what is fully responsive and reciprocating relationship with God is. Sober-minded. Some immediately attached to this. It really is about being firmly rooted in Christ, and not inclined to bounce around. Peter explains it as hope in God’s complete and utter .

    God doesn’t just us by name. God calls us into a of . The 5 questions below are a modified version of John Wesley’s questions for . They are good for self-reflection and are best in a small trusted group of the same gender.

    1. How is it with your soul?
    2. What are your struggles and successes?
    3. Any sin to confess?
    4. Anything you want to keep secret?
    5. How might the be speaking and moving in your life?

    You are called to a life of holiness. You can live it when surrendered to Jesus Christ.

  • Dehardening Hearts

    Psalm 105:1–4, Deuteronomy 24:17–22, Acts 6:1–7

    “Solitary religion is not to be found there [inward]. “Holy solitaries” is a phrase no more consistent with the Gospel than holy adulterers. The Gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness, but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and breadth and depth and height of perfection. This commandment have we from CHRIST, that he who loves GOD, love his brother also; and that we manifest our love by doing good unto all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith.”

    —John Wesley

    “…no holiness, but social holiness…” has been misused over the years, being equated with social justice. John Wesley was specifically speaking about what would now private versus public faith. For John Wesley—and the church as a whole—found that Christians were more likely to be better Christians when living within the context of a and accountability context. When our religion becomes private, we hide from ourselves and others that which needs to be brought into the . The path of holiness can only be walked in the and the light with others. There are 2 “gotchas” with this. The first is the whole discipleship and accountability piece. When the world looks at us and judges us, it’s because we’re doing a pretty poor job. The other is found in our passages in Deuteronomy and Acts.

    “…we manifest our love by doing good unto all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith.” Read that again. The orphans and widows, those left alone, are our responsibility to love and care for. Is there a “reasonable” limit? Maybe, though God’s grace poured out on the cross puts a lot of doubt on that. We could be Ebeneezer Scrooge and talk about our taxes, work programs, welfare, etc., but while that may be subsistence, it isn’t True . We think it is hard today, because “so many” people take advantage of the system. Yet, in John Wesley’s day, there were more disadvantaged, fewer programs, and a lot less going to it.

    As we look at our fellow beings, we cannot allow ourselves to be deceived by those who use our hearts for their gain. This is the sad reality of (all parties) and the media (bad news sells). In fact, we are seeing fatigue of all sorts set in. This allows us to harden our hearts. All is never lost, however. As the world becomes fatigued, this is our opportunity to once again be the light that we are called to be. We are not called to make a big splash, nor are we all called to the same thing. We are all called to love each other.

    1) Have you found yourself becoming callous or even adversarial to others in the current political and social climate?

    2) Do you find that you identify more with a political party or social view more than ? Are you allowing politics or culture to define what it means for you to follow Jesus?

    3) Why do you think social holiness (e.g., Sunday service, Life Groups, Bands) is needed for us to love one another?