When our pastor told a funny story to illustrate a sermon point it made me think of a loved one. So naturally, when I saw my loved one I told them the story. But for the life of me I could not remember the point which really bothered me. I continued to think about it throughout that day. Why could I not remember the point?
Without a point it’s just a funny story. Not that there’s anything wrong with a funny story but I don’t go to church to be entertained. I’m sure the pastor had not studied and diligently worked on his sermon intending to entertain me. I can imagine he was shooting more toward the target of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
After much thought, not only did I remember the point but I remembered sitting in the sanctuary and thinking: “That is a brilliant way to present that point. Everything that has been spoken up to this point was leading to that very statement.”
If it was so brilliant, why did I have so much trouble remembering it?
Because I had done the very thing I had vowed not to do: I entered the sanctuary without preparing my mind and my heart. I showed up and parked myself in a pew. I went through the motions of worship but my mind and heart had not been deliberately prepared through prayer.
The weeks leading up to our pastor starting his new pastoral position I had been praying for him. After much prayer I sensed a message for myself: “He’s ready. Are you?”
I committed that I would not just show up but would be responsible in doing my part in preparation. My ongoing prayer is for God to create a hunger within my heart to learn and grow, and to create an atmosphere within my heart where deliberate learning can flourish.
If showing up is all you are capable of, then by all means, please SHOW UP. But why not let church be the extension of worship that already exists in our hearts through preparation in prayer?
“Image courtesy of “Thinking Man” by Chaiwat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.
Copyright ©2014, Gloria Stucky