Interactive Sermon

21st Century Worship Participation?

For as many years as I've been a pastor (17, but who's counting?), one of the most often recurring discussions about Sunday morning worship services has been about how to draw and encourage members of the congregation into participating rather than observing--i.e. a gathering of active worshipers rather than an appreciative audience.

In my experience this conversation has run near and far, far and wide.  People have argued that it's about the style of music, or the tempo of music, or the key that the music is in (too high for men, too low for women).  People have argued that it's about the elements that are included in the service--are they traditional, contemporary, engaging or confusing to people?  Aimed at church-goers?  Aimed at the unchurched?  People have suggested it's about the preaching of the word.  Is it expository?  Topical?  Relevant?  In other words: Can the preacher quote lyrics from the song Boom Boom Pow to illustrate his point?  My personal favorite was a debate several years ago about any instrumental solo or fill sections in worship songs, "That," many argued, "is where worship ends and and performance begins!"

A handful of congregations have embraced a new idea for congregant's actively participating in worship services: Tweet in church.  Give this article a read.  Or this one.  Or this one from Tall Skinny Kiwi.  I'd be interested to hear from you--what do you think?  Is it sacrilege?  Would it be a distraction?  Just think, someone could tweet: "This would be a very worshipful service except for the solo--that was performance!"  Is participating in 140 character quips that would be visible to all a good idea, or a horrible one?

I'll give you some of my thoughts in the coming days. 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Twitter,Worship

And The (Personal Browser) Winner Is:

Let me begin with a recap.  One month ago, I embarked on an experiment into my world of social networking.  Please note that I used the word my--my world of social networking.  I had realized that I was losing valuable time to Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.  I realized that much of the content that Facebook and Myspace offered were a complete and utter waste of time to me--I don't care what Super Hero I would be or how toilet paper should be unrolled.  I don't care what Super Hero you would be or about your toilet paper preferences. Etc.

So, I began by deleting some friends.  That came after a lot of thought and even a few conversations.  I deleted a handful of folks I was not really connected to, and a few people who--no nice way to say this--annoy the dickens out of me in social network circles.  I just don't have the time or energy for some of those connections.  So... buh-bye!  I'm not likely done with the de-friending, either.  But I'll save that for a later rant.

Next, I researched personal browsers.  I looked pretty closely at five of them.  Three of them I gave extensive trials.  I found that they ALL helped me tremendously.  I found that they ALL saved me considerable time.  I found that they ALL helped me stay informed and connected, but also to maintain a healthy balance.  My conclusion: Social networking for me (notice I said me) needs to include the use of personal browsers.

I looked at Seesmic first.  Here were my initial thoughts posted one month ago today.  Check this out: Just after I posted that initial review of Seesmic I got a Tweet from them, thanking me for my review and telling me they were working on the couple of items I complained about.  I chocked that up to their PR department and bots doing a good job.  But, a couple of weeks later I heard from Seesmic again, alerting me to an update that specifically addressed my complaints.  Too cool!  I downloaded their updated version.  Voila!  It works.  And the fixes are totally awesome.  Seesmic does the best job of all in listening to their public and communicating with them.  They put out videos explaining the changes.  Great stuff.  I am thrilled with Seesmic.

Next, I worked with PeopleBrowsr.  Here were my initial thoughts.  I actually gave PeopleBrowser two looks--the one I blogged about, and then a second go-round a week later.  I found their product to be good and effective.  PeopleBrowsr gave me a string of silly little nuisances, however.  One day it wouldn't load up and run.  I'd restart it, then it would work.  I had a couple of times when it froze on me.  A couple of days when it ran slow.  Strange.  I concluded that it's a great tool, but I got tired of fooling with it for those distractions.  Again, much of my aim was to save time.  These issues cost me time. 

Finally, I went back to TweetDeck.  (I did look at HootSuite and a handful of other web-based browser tools, but decided I wanted a download product.)  I say that I went back to TweetDeck because I had been using an early form of it for a couple of months prior to my experiment.  Since I had begun my experiment, TweetDeck added new features.  They added the ability to track multiple accounts.  They added the ability to selectively post.  They added filter and sorting options.  All very cool, and very helpful to me in saving time.

I am going to use both Tweetdeck and Seesmic going forward.  I like them both.  Both meet my needs.  Both save me time.  I highly recommend them both.

Now, back to those friend lists...

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,TweetDeck,Seesmic,PeopleBrowsr

What Do You Make of This?

Ran across this article in a friend's Tweet this morning (HT:guitarboymark).  I've been thinking about it all day.  It saddens me.  It provokes my thoughts - What if?  So I run it out to you.  What do you make of this?  Give the article a read and (kindly) speak your mind.

I'll chime in with more thoughts in a bit.

UPDATE (6/25/09) Another HT due guitarboymark for pointing it out - don't neglect to read the comments section on the article.  Things are heating up.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Southern Baptist Church,Homosexuality

You Supply The Caption

Buts From Sunday's Sermon

Here are some notes on Daniel 3 originally posted here on May 12th of this year.

Chapter three of Daniel records the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and their date with the fiery furnace.  Whenever I read this chapter I recall a song by Russ Taff back in the 1980's called "Not Gonna Bow."  Great song.  Great voice.  Great proclamation--I won't bow down to your idols!

There are a number of cool observations that I made that don't contain 'buts' in the text.  I thought about the idol itself, described as ninety feet tall and nine feet wide.  I've concluded it may have been a statue of a former NBA player (also an 80's reference) named Manute Bol.  But, if it wasn't, then it probably wasn't a statue of a human being.  The rough proportion of a non-Manute human is around six to one.  That's a picture of Manute, by the way.

Another observation has to do with the many titles of the folks Nebuchadnezzar called together.  A few of those words are Persian in origin (satraps, for instance).  That is interesting because Nebuchadnezzar was a Babylonian emperor.  The Persian empire followed the Babylonian.  What that suggests is that Daniel was likely written some time after the fall of Babylon.  Interesting.

The mention of furnaces is also interesting.  Historians have recorded the importance of firing to the process of brick-making in Babylon.  Who'da thunk it?

But we're here to talk buts, and there are a couple of biggies here.

Everyone was obeying the order to fall down.  Verse 12 begins, "But there are some Jews who you set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king."

You can sense, I believe, a little animosity at the root of the complaint.  In verse 8 we see that those who leveled the charge "denounced the Jews."  There may have also been some jealousy in there, noting the mention of these three having been given authority.  Regardless, the picture of everyone complying except these three is stunning.

Nebuchadnezzar offers the three a second chance.  He shows his but (pun intended).  "If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good.  But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a burning furnace."  Again, this scene is powerful.  Bow and live.  Refuse and die. 

One good but deserves another (okay, I'll stop).  But do notice the strength in the men's profession of faith: "If we are thrown in... the God we serve is able to save us from it and He will rescue us from your hand O king.  But even if He does not... we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

There are some beautiful lessons to take forward from this text.  First, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego recognize in verse 16, that they don't need to defend themselves before the king.  Secondly, consider the weight of the if/then clause in the text--clarified by the buts.  'If we are thrown in... then God will deliver us.'  'And if He does not, then we want you to know that we would rather die than cave into idolatry.'

The rest of the story is classic.  The fire is so hot that Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers die putting the three men into the furnace.  And then the king sees a fourth figure in the fire.  Another observation we would do well to ruminate on.  The text ends with these three men being granted Nebuchadnezzar's favor, and God having gained a great deal of glory along the way.

I don't imagine anyone reading this blog will be faced with a "bow down or prepare to be burned alive" ultimatum.  However, I would bet that there is a great lesson for us to consider in God's faithfulness and our faithfulness.  What do you think?

A Thought For Dads

This from The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns: "According to the Barna Research Group, only about 6 percent of people who are not Christians by the age of eighteen will become Christians later in life."

Dads, what does that say to you and me of the importance of our demonstrating a vital and vibrant faith to our children?  What does that say to us about the importance of our children seeing that we believe what we profess and practice what we preach?  What does that say about the importance of our leading by example where faith and practice are concerned?

My thoughts?  There are too many dads out there who fail to seize the important tasks mentioned in that last paragraph.

So, dads, tomorrow is Father's Day.  It's also Sunday.  What are you going to do?

Me?  I'm going to take my family to church.  That's an important part of faith and life.  That's a part of a vital and vibrant relationship with God.  I'm going to make sure that my family has every opportunity to see it, genuine and authentic, in me.

What do I want for Father's Day?  My family.  At church.  With me.

You planning to sleep in?  Your loss.  No, much more than that.  Your children's loss.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Father's Day

A Passage to Ponder

Thinking through this passage today.  Join me.

"Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.  The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.  I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.  I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.  I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.  I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched their victims from their teeth."  Job 29:11-17

How does that strike you?

The Book Review Bloggers Team

So, a couple of days ago I participated in a spoof, pretending that I had co-authored a book with Donald Miller.  That was a little publicity stunt I learned about through my reading of Michael Hyatt's stellar blog.  A day later, on that same site, I read of an opportunity to review books and blog about it.  This opportunity was for real.  So I applied.

I am now a Book Review Blogger for Thomas Nelson, Inc.

My first book to review is The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.  I've heard great things about this book.  I can't wait.  Keep an eye here.  My review is coming.  Or, if you just want to order the book, click the icon to the left under "On The Nightstand" and you'll have one in no time.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Thomas Nelson,The Hole in Our Gospel,Richard Stearns,book review

Running Away

Penned a brand new tune this morning.  As a chord progression fell into place I began tossing lyrics down--wanted something Springsteen-esque, you know, kind of a dreamy "putting people in cars and pointing them someplace" story.  It sort of became auto-biographical.  Funny how that happens.  Let me know what you think.

Pointed the car down the road; nothing but carefree miles to go

Looking forward to that day; you and me darling we’re running away

Sights to see and places to go; nothing but love and its pleasure to hold

No schedule to run late, nowhere to be; you and me baby we’re gonna be free

Can you feel the wind in your hair? Telling you baby we’re almost there

Nothing here will force us to stay; you and me baby we’re running away

Oh yeah…

Your mama told you to play it safe; but you listened to me and we ran away

I made you promises I couldn’t keep; but we managed to live, and we managed to eat

We’re stronger for the life we chose; it’s been nothing but an adventurous road

We live, we love, we laugh some more; nothing has ever been so sure

Can you feel the wind in your hair? Telling you baby we’re almost there

Nothing here will force us to stay, you and me baby we’re running away

Oh yeah…

Listen and you’ll hear the voices, telling you not to go

But I tell you we made the right choices; What do they know?

Years have come and years have gone, nothing but choruses added to our song

When they’ve tried to bind you and me, we know what will set us free

Can you feel the wind in your hair? Telling you baby we’re almost there

There’s nothing here to force us to stay, you and me baby we’re running away

Oh yeah…

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,3 Chords & A Cloud of Dust,darin michael shaw,Lyrics

One More Thing...

As we considered Daniel 2 together, one thought really blessed me--and I'll share it with you as a follow up to the last post, Buts From Sunday's Sermon.

The vision that Nebuchadnezzar had and Daniel explained, take a look at it again in verses 31-45.  I think it is worth noting how, looking back at it from our vantage point, it is relatively easy to connect the dots.  Scholars have weighed in: The gold head represents the Babylonian Empire, the silver torso the Medo-Persian Empire, the bronze represents the Greek Empire and the iron mixed with clay, Rome.  It's thrilling then to consider the rock that wasn't hewn with human hands in light of the New Testament--John the Baptist announcing the Kingdom of God was at hand, Jesus not only echoing that but also declaring, "From the time of John the Baptist the Kingdom has been forcefully advancing."  It all fits so nicely.

But (and this but is mine), I would encourage you to take a second look at the passage.  Try to look at it from the days in which Daniel spoke it.  How would the Jews in exile have heard this?  How would it have spoken to the hearts of those looking to God for answers in the midst of Babylonian exile?

'A statue?  God, I want some comfort and assurance and you're talking a statue, gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay?  A rock?  One that grows?  And this means what?'

My point is this: In the midst of confusion the people longed for some explanation, some promise, something to which they could hold on and hope in.  God gave it to them.  But, I would suggest it was much more a matter of "God is in control, trust in Him" than it was a clear picture of details to unfold.  Yet, once those details unfolded, then we can look back and see how precise God was.  Not before.  Not even during.  Only after.  So trust.  Trust.  Trust!  That's a great message to ponder this week.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Bible Study,Daniel 2