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Worship: Are We Out of Focus?
Where do we begin to tell the story…

While visiting in a large church one Sunday morning last Spring with a non-Christian friend, I found myself angered, embarrassed, and saddened by the contents of the service. Regrettably, every word of the first 20 minutes was a not-so-subtle slap at political life in America.

What followed was a teary-eyed version of I'm Grateful For The Air I Breathe, the leading of which was sincere and the singing, heartfelt. It was the order and juxtaposition of these two events that bothered me.

Agendas in worship that don't focus on the One being worshiped are rarely appropriate—if ever! Tom Dudley, a rural pastor outside of Oklahoma City asks these questions of himself and his team before each service.

1. Will people see, hear, and sense the presence of God before they receive our agenda for the day?
2. Will people remember the things we said more than the truth as revealed in God's Word?
3. Will people walk away with discerning spirits or troubled souls?

There is an intentional way to start each worship service appropriately and it requires very little planning. My grandpa had the formula even without the benefit of formal Biblical training.

First, let's be thankful...   

I can still remember my grandfather saying, over the hubbub of family dinners, "First, let's be thankful."  

He was not a tall man and his voice was not powerful and strong. He didn't have the bearing of a leader nor the look of authority, but when he spoke those simple words everyone got quiet very quickly. 

His prayer was usually direct and unsophisticated in worldly ways, but profound in street-smart ways. It went something like, "Father, defend us against evil. Bless these children at the table and their parents too. And bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. Amen." While the prayers weren't very long, they sure were incredible as I look back on them. 

What did he say?

• Keep us out of Satan's clutches.
• Keep these families together, even when everything conspires against them.
• Thanks for providing us with what we need. Use it to keep us healthy.  

Being thankful is not only a matter of grandiose expounding on the things God has done for us, our city, our country, and even our world. Being thankful is acknowledging that God is at work in the daily running of our lives—that he is dedicated to our well-being in simple ways.

God is involved with our church families in the same way. We can be grateful for the wonderful experiences we have in worship on a weekly basis. We can be thankful for His raising up powerfully talented preachers, teachers, and musicians who help instruct us and give voice to our yearning souls.

But too, we should be thankful for the little stuff like:

• Getting to church safely.
• Finding a parking place.
• Receiving a word of encouragement we didn't expect.
• Feeling like we belong.

Well,this is pretty straight forward. When it comes to being in God's presence—just start with the basics. First, let's be thankful...                
 
Blessings, 
Doug

—Doug Lawrence, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, helps churches assess and improve their skillfulness in creating engaging worship experiences by utilizing his more than 35 years of "deep trench" worship leadership in prominent mainline churches. You may reach him at dlawrenceconsult@mac.com. Or, if you wish, call 1-650-207-8240 for assessment information and scheduling.