I really liked the service on sunday night (yesterday). Not because Steve wasn't preaching as i do like his preachings but more because of variance of opinion as someone who has done different things and had different experiences to Steve, also because i am the kind of person who likes lots of verses from the bible incorporated into the sermon (again, not that Steve doesn't do that, but both he and I realise that Bible reading is not the only way worship God). I guess the reason i liked it so much was because Digestion (night service) is a different service from the morning one and so it is more aimed at being interactive rather than sitting and listening to the gospel. I see nothing wrong with that but i do believe you need to have solid food too, and because digestion is different to the morning it attracts different people, and though some of those people go to the morning service there are many that do not, and hopefully soon they will but at this time they don't get much bread.
What really stuck out for me in the sermon of Fuzz (Out of Town Speaker) was when he talked about the Australian Abos who got on stage in a prestigious school and talked openly about Jesus. This was easier for them because they had nothing to lose. It made me think about the things that i hang on to that draw me away from being so open. What do i hang on to? For a start i hang on to a career, i don't want to go all for God because i'm scared it will jeperdise my career path by not putting enough time into studying. I'm afraid of getting on the wrong side of people. Most people aren't christians and so i don't want to lose friends by becoming a bible-basher. There is also the fear that i will not have life go the way i want it to happen. If i spend time doing God's work then the work towards what i want to achieve will never get done. I have three main fears in my life: I am scared of rejection. I am scared of living a dead life (both spiritually and physically, like being stuck on machines in a coma or living a life with no purpose). And lastly, Being alone. Spending time on God rather than on myself means that i have less control of my own life and therefore am less likely to avoid these three fears. Being rejected from friends becuase i become known as a "bible-basher" targets my fear of rejection, and as a result of that rejection i am left alone in isolation and therefore suffer from two of my fears. As we sang the songs after the sermon i just let myself go and felt the Spirit moving in the church. I sang "oh i feel like dancing, it's foolishness i know, but when the world has seen the light they will dance with joy like i'm dancing now!"
The spirit moving in the church? This brings me to the next point about Fuzz's sermon, the main point actually. How do i know what i know? That's something i cannot describe to anyone who has not felt the spirit. It was the spirit because i knew it was Him.
The third most liked point about Fuzz's sermon was when he showed the "I Will Survive Alien Song" and then said that the world doesn't crash down on people, it's the mirror ball that crashes down on us and what we see in that mirror is what has potential to crush us. (hmm... he explained this so much better than I do).
To be honest, fellowship at burger king afterwards was really good too. God really did something inside me Yesterday. I think we should reflect more on the sermons during fellowship, that way we remember them more.
As for my speech for English, I had decided to do Charles Spurgeon and did a bit of research on him, but then twice i heard Archbishop Desmond Tutu's name prop up randomly in the sermon and on a music video of U2 in channelX. He was one of the people i was contemplating doing, so i think maybe i should do him. Just incase it was God telling me i needed to do research on him. You never know what you can learn at school. :D I might find something that intergrates into my mind and is essential for me to know in years to come. So i've changed to Tutu. I'm heading down to the library tomorrow to get out some of his books of speeches and sermons.
What really stuck out for me in the sermon of Fuzz (Out of Town Speaker) was when he talked about the Australian Abos who got on stage in a prestigious school and talked openly about Jesus. This was easier for them because they had nothing to lose. It made me think about the things that i hang on to that draw me away from being so open. What do i hang on to? For a start i hang on to a career, i don't want to go all for God because i'm scared it will jeperdise my career path by not putting enough time into studying. I'm afraid of getting on the wrong side of people. Most people aren't christians and so i don't want to lose friends by becoming a bible-basher. There is also the fear that i will not have life go the way i want it to happen. If i spend time doing God's work then the work towards what i want to achieve will never get done. I have three main fears in my life: I am scared of rejection. I am scared of living a dead life (both spiritually and physically, like being stuck on machines in a coma or living a life with no purpose). And lastly, Being alone. Spending time on God rather than on myself means that i have less control of my own life and therefore am less likely to avoid these three fears. Being rejected from friends becuase i become known as a "bible-basher" targets my fear of rejection, and as a result of that rejection i am left alone in isolation and therefore suffer from two of my fears. As we sang the songs after the sermon i just let myself go and felt the Spirit moving in the church. I sang "oh i feel like dancing, it's foolishness i know, but when the world has seen the light they will dance with joy like i'm dancing now!"
The spirit moving in the church? This brings me to the next point about Fuzz's sermon, the main point actually. How do i know what i know? That's something i cannot describe to anyone who has not felt the spirit. It was the spirit because i knew it was Him.
The third most liked point about Fuzz's sermon was when he showed the "I Will Survive Alien Song" and then said that the world doesn't crash down on people, it's the mirror ball that crashes down on us and what we see in that mirror is what has potential to crush us. (hmm... he explained this so much better than I do).
To be honest, fellowship at burger king afterwards was really good too. God really did something inside me Yesterday. I think we should reflect more on the sermons during fellowship, that way we remember them more.
As for my speech for English, I had decided to do Charles Spurgeon and did a bit of research on him, but then twice i heard Archbishop Desmond Tutu's name prop up randomly in the sermon and on a music video of U2 in channelX. He was one of the people i was contemplating doing, so i think maybe i should do him. Just incase it was God telling me i needed to do research on him. You never know what you can learn at school. :D I might find something that intergrates into my mind and is essential for me to know in years to come. So i've changed to Tutu. I'm heading down to the library tomorrow to get out some of his books of speeches and sermons.
posted by Rayd at 8:49 pm
7 Comments:
I fear being rejected for Christ at times too, and it can be hard to overcome that. Sometimes God has given me a push along when I needed it, like the one time this lady at McDonald's spotted my WWJD bracelet, and since it was quiet and she was waiting for a burger, she openly talked God with me and my co-workers found out my beleifs that way.
Other times it has been just randomly saying smoething like "went to church" or about Eastercamp that ha sgot the ball rolling.
Whatever happens, so I'm not seen as a Bible basher, I voice my opinions and let my co-workers/friends come to me in their own time, then it is they who are enquiring, and interested, and they're less likely to jump all over me for sharing my beleif.
Prayer helps in this regard alot too. I prayed I would be able to share my beleif with most of my co-workers, and now, I have.
good thoughts Andrew. it is good to have variety.
steve
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
wow i'm stoked about you checking out charles spurgeon, he had a good attitude towards God.
good story about Fuzz, can't really comment as I didn't hear the sermon
I know how you feel Rayd, when i first became a Christian i didn't want to be rejected either, so i kept God to myself until someone told me not to wear God like a jacket to be put on and taken off when i see fit.
Although i'm doing what i'm doing now i still crave acceptance but just from a different place.
Remember friends will come and go but on this earth the only constant is God.
Hope that helps
Andrew you wrote "I think we should reflect more on the sermons during fellowship, that way we remember them more." -- any thoughts about doing this more as part of church itself?
steve
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
Thank you all for comments. I'll just quickly point out that my rejection fear is not just rejection as a result of following Christ, but rather rejection in general.
Steve, i have been thinking about your question. My opinion on it is this:
I don't think a reflection should be done during the church service, but i think a summing up or a small reflection practical would be helpful at the end. Why i don't think a reflection as a discussion should be intergrated into the service is because it would have to be reasonably close to the sermon itself and therefore it won't be much of a reflection. The best way to remember things is to do something and then come back and do it again. However you need space between the doing and doing again. But in general i do agree with a reflection, just not a discussion as such where we can share all our views on the sermon, otherwise we'll have nothing to talk about when we want to "do again".
Not sure i made complete sense there but hopefully you understood enough to understand my opinion on the matter.
I am curious to know your opinion on this though.
I agree with you re a discussion: they often end up with the point of the sermon dribbling away.
one of the reasons we are doing passionate practices is to get people doing and doing and then get feedback -- so on Sunday we invited response re friendship bracelets.
but i sometimes feel like Sunday night is a bit "cold" and i wonder if need some way to keep building community and share lives and so was thinking of that when I re-read your post. wondering if there is some way to keep us relational "community" in a non-threatening, visitor aware manner.
peace
steve
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
Post a Comment
<< Home