Sunday Reflections On Monday :)

You never know what a Sunday gathering is going to be like until you are in it. :)

In this case though, I had a pretty good idea in one area, since I knew that Bunny was sick and wouldn't be there to provide the foundation for the praise team's effort. Then when Craig Bryan, who we count on for his strong and confident voice, took sick, well, I thought there'd be some challenges - and there were.

But we finished each song together. So that's something. :)

This is one of those areas I have to keep reminding myself that while we should do everything we can to do the technical aspects of worship well, it's the offering of our hearts and the pull of the Holy Spirit that really matter.

In fact, our closing verse of "Jesus Paid It All" without instruments might have been the moments when I felt a part of the Body in worship the most.

The Music - "O Praise Him" - Crowder; "O Worship the King" - Tomlin; and the invitation I mentioned above.

Random thought -
There was a point within the time we were gathered that I thought just how blessed we are at New Hope by God's evident moving among us and working through us. So many ministries are accelerating and more opportunities to grow are just over the horizon.

Yesterday's Message -

My goal was to provide a backdrop to a series of sermons opening up the "Big Story" to everyone. I hoped to be far more interactive than normal - to challenge people to think along with me and through what we were exploring in a way we might not do normally.

Along with the backdrop, I wanted to start unpacking how the Bible reveals its author. And most importantly - to invite people to come and be a part of the story of God's redemptive love as it unfolds. I hope some of that came across.

Aside - that new "clicker" with the 150ft range is the BOMB! No more frustration or hesitation. It just works.

Here's the ppt from yesterday.



I can pass along some of the resources I used to develop the message if you'd like to delve further into the background and thrust of the "Big Story." Just shoot me an email.