Maybe ask your pastorĤ) Look at Paul’s writing about communion and note the context as addressing a dysfunctional situationħ) Search through the richness of traditional sources: liturgies, prayers and hymns.Įngage At Home - daily family prayer and worship activities What is going on in a spiritual / physical sense during communion? Eg: how is Jesus present (centuries of argument over this!). What does Jesus actually say? What actually happens?ģ) Pin down your theology a bit. What is the mood? Match it with your musicĢ) Refamiliarise yourself with the Biblical accounts. It’s time for the Church to speak into this boldly.How would Jesus lead worship video courseįeatured Song: High in the heavens by Judy Greshamġ) How does your church do communion? Therefore, what kind of song is going to actually be useful in your setting? Where might a song fit? Parts of more traditional liturgy: thanksgiving, Bible songs, sending out etc. And if that means we have some death in the process ourselves? Then that is the cost for us in this. … we are going to stand on what we believe is the truth, we are going to offer what we believe is the radical grace of Jesus, and we are going to present to everyone this gospel message of all of us are called to die. Have we lost people? Yes, we have lost a few. “This has held a mirror up to our whole congregation–a mirror that needs to be held up to the big “C” Church. I have legitimate accountability now because I can be honest with people.” –John Wilson
I have experienced such an increased amount of holiness and sanctification in my life because of the ability to be seen.
“In the 15 months since I told Pastor Jeff and brought this piece of myself into the light, the darkness and the mold and the sin and the dankness that was around has gone away. “He didn’t pull any punches… ‘I’m gay’ Four years ago? I probably would have fired him on the spot just thinking that by him saying, ‘I’m gay’ he meant, ‘I’m pursuing gay sex or a same sex romantic relationship.’ But praise God instead of assuming–because God had done so much work in my heart–I learned to actually ask questions.” –Jeff Maness “That fear of coming out was powerful, but it was not as powerful as the pain of being hidden.” Today’s after-show bloopers? Matt accidentally got slipped into live Christian radio to thousands of people while we did a mic check–and during this mic check he pretended to be an NPR host. Listen and find yourself at the foot of the cross with us in awe of the gospel’s good news for everyone every day. How did God radically change Jeff’s heart? How did John find the courage to share? How did the entire church practically engage this conversation as a result? Had God not set the stage, Jeff said he would have fired John after he came forward with his attractions toward men–even though John was surrendering his version of broken sexuality to the Lordship of Christ every day (as we are all called to do). What would he say? Would he lose his job? Would this pastor/boss see him and love him as God does?Įnter the second story of John’s boss and lead pastor, Jeff Maness: Years before this conversation with John, God had begun to prepare Jeff’s heart and his mind to receive John’s story.
He needed to come out again, but the person with whom he most needed to share was both his pastor and his boss. Slowly, carefully, he came out to trusted friends, and found some freedom as he daily surrendered himself to Christ.īut then he moved far away, started working in a church, and the secret threatened to bury him in shame. Burying the secret led him to hospitalization due to the chronic stress.
This episode has two gripping stories: One is of a pastor named John Wilson who, at a young age, recognized his attractions to his same gender.
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