Chapter 2-My Heart: What Do I Love?
The author explores the idea of idolatry and how it can hamper our worship. He says that the most important thing we bring on Sunday morning is our heart. Where are our hearts? He asks a series of questions (p 26) that will make you look deep inside your own heart. When I broke away from the "Sunday School answers," I started to see a disturbing pattern. Sometimes, the most important things in my life had nothing to do with God and everything to do with my own thoughts and desires. There was a whole lot of "me" and "my" and "I" in my answers. And, ashamedly, not nearly enough "God" in my answers.
Now, don't get me wrong. My answers are noble in the eyes of the world. But, God wants me to love Him more than my kids. He wants me to love Him more than my wife.
CRAZY THOUGHT-By putting God first, I can love my family more than I ever could by putting them first.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Chapter 1 The Important Things
Chapter 1-The Important Things
I have stepped on stage before with the same thought as the author expresses, "What difference will this make? These people have no clue what worship is about and I am the only one who gets this whole idea of worship." Somehow, I got the crazy idea that I had been the only person in the room that God had imparted with the wisdom of how to worship.
While attending a conference a few years back, I attended a class where the speaker said something like, "how dare we as worship leaders assume that the way we worship is the only way and that God can only receive glory when people worship like me!" OUCH!!! Fact of the matter is that, while on this earth, our tiny, finite, little minds will never understand an infinite God. And, no matter how great I think I am at the whole worship thing, I will never be able to give God enough glory. I can not sing enough songs, lift my hands long enough, or say the most elegant, beautiful prayer, to give God one single ounce of the glory He is worthy to receive.
I have stepped on stage before with the same thought as the author expresses, "What difference will this make? These people have no clue what worship is about and I am the only one who gets this whole idea of worship." Somehow, I got the crazy idea that I had been the only person in the room that God had imparted with the wisdom of how to worship.
While attending a conference a few years back, I attended a class where the speaker said something like, "how dare we as worship leaders assume that the way we worship is the only way and that God can only receive glory when people worship like me!" OUCH!!! Fact of the matter is that, while on this earth, our tiny, finite, little minds will never understand an infinite God. And, no matter how great I think I am at the whole worship thing, I will never be able to give God enough glory. I can not sing enough songs, lift my hands long enough, or say the most elegant, beautiful prayer, to give God one single ounce of the glory He is worthy to receive.
Let's Go...Week 1
During the course of this study, I will share my insights. I am hoping you will do the same. Please, invite others to this site and encourage them to read this book.
My goal is for us to cover 4 chapters per week. That will take us about 8 weeks. Broken down, that's about 6 pages per day. I think it is manageable.
The first five chapters of this book get intensely personal. It asks you to evaluate some tough questions to see where you really stand. The author calls it "The Important Things." When we get honest with ourselves, that is not give the "Sunday School answers," we will start to grow like we never have.
Try to post your ideas and comments in each chapter heading. I think that is the best way we can organize this.
My goal is for us to cover 4 chapters per week. That will take us about 8 weeks. Broken down, that's about 6 pages per day. I think it is manageable.
The first five chapters of this book get intensely personal. It asks you to evaluate some tough questions to see where you really stand. The author calls it "The Important Things." When we get honest with ourselves, that is not give the "Sunday School answers," we will start to grow like we never have.
Try to post your ideas and comments in each chapter heading. I think that is the best way we can organize this.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Worship Matters
I am very excited as we venture in to this book together. I will be posting my thoughts on the weekly readings and invite you to post your comments and thoughts.
For your first post, tell me why you are doing this. Why do you want to spend your time reading a book when there are a million other things in your life going on right now? Be as simple or complex as you wish.
I know that God is going to reveal new insights to all of us as we go through this book together. Stay tuned for the first reading assignment....
Derek
For your first post, tell me why you are doing this. Why do you want to spend your time reading a book when there are a million other things in your life going on right now? Be as simple or complex as you wish.
I know that God is going to reveal new insights to all of us as we go through this book together. Stay tuned for the first reading assignment....
Derek
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