letting the SELAH develop
01-29-2007, 08:55 PM
<QUOTE author="psalmistc,Jan 29 2007, 03:52 PM">
A lot of us, especially those in the worship arena where we have impatient pastors, champing at the bit to get up there and preach their hearts out, have to be careful in the realms of silence and soaking. It's kind of like driving down the interstates in Kansas City: if you leave enough room for safety, someone's going to come along and fill it up! I keep shouting, but they're not listening: "NO, IT'S NOT FOR YOU TO FILL UP!!!!!" Gets me too often, I must confess.
The same thing happens in our churches. I earnestly and honestly feel that it is primarily an issue of education. Sometimes a simple explanation of what has just happened is needed--maybe regularly, actually--and an oral confirmation that we want to anticipate more of the same and give the space to the Lord for HIS use, not ours.
We learned a word 20+ years ago that was life giving. It had to do with unrealistic expectations. Too many people have unrealistic expectations about what worship is or isn't, about what is happening and what should happen in our worship times.
How can we break those unrealistic expectations? By educating our congregations! If we tell them what realistic expectations are, they know what they should be expecting. And if theirs don't match up with those, that we need to converse and see if leadership is missing the boat or if those of the parishioner really are unrealistic!
It's not enough to say, "Wasn't worship great this morning?". It's vital that we reinforce those amazing moments by giving proper labels and explanations so that the great and meaningful experiences are confirmed and set as milestones along the congregation's life.
One man's opinion, obviously.
psalmistc,Jan 29 2007, 03:52 PM Wrote:I kept wanting to say something, but in the sprit, i saw a 'do not disturb' sign hangin. I looked around and saw people just weeping, and lifting their hands and just soaking in the prescence. His prescence.What a great image! Makes me smile. Father often tweaks me with things like that that others might deem overly familiar, but He knows how to get my attention. And obviously, He got yours!
A lot of us, especially those in the worship arena where we have impatient pastors, champing at the bit to get up there and preach their hearts out, have to be careful in the realms of silence and soaking. It's kind of like driving down the interstates in Kansas City: if you leave enough room for safety, someone's going to come along and fill it up! I keep shouting, but they're not listening: "NO, IT'S NOT FOR YOU TO FILL UP!!!!!" Gets me too often, I must confess.
The same thing happens in our churches. I earnestly and honestly feel that it is primarily an issue of education. Sometimes a simple explanation of what has just happened is needed--maybe regularly, actually--and an oral confirmation that we want to anticipate more of the same and give the space to the Lord for HIS use, not ours.
We learned a word 20+ years ago that was life giving. It had to do with unrealistic expectations. Too many people have unrealistic expectations about what worship is or isn't, about what is happening and what should happen in our worship times.
How can we break those unrealistic expectations? By educating our congregations! If we tell them what realistic expectations are, they know what they should be expecting. And if theirs don't match up with those, that we need to converse and see if leadership is missing the boat or if those of the parishioner really are unrealistic!
It's not enough to say, "Wasn't worship great this morning?". It's vital that we reinforce those amazing moments by giving proper labels and explanations so that the great and meaningful experiences are confirmed and set as milestones along the congregation's life.
One man's opinion, obviously.
Blessings!
Dean
DeanZF
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