"Praising God for Who He Is - You Are"

Monthly Message
Pastor Bob has encouraged the leadership team of the church to read a book entitled, Spiritual Disciplines of a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N. by Gil Stieglitz. As one would guess, the word Christian serves as an acronym, fleshing out several disciplines we, as followers of Jesus, ought to cultivate. The letter “T” stands for the discipline of “Togetherness,” activities Christians are commanded to do TOGETHER! The two specific disciplines discussed under the discipline of togetherness areWorship and Fellowship. Let me share with you some nuggets of truth from these two chapters which reminds us why we ought to practice these disciplines.

On Worship, Stieglitz says, “Worship is active participation in exalting the Almighty. Worship is not something that is done by the professionals while average Christians watch…Worship is about a deep connection with the one
Being who can help us to make sense of the world in which we live” (Don’t we need it even more in our world today?). The author suggests the progression of Focusing on God, Contact with God and Hearing from God that ought to happen in authentic worship. Yet, he realistically presents distractions to each of these phases in worship which might impede us from truly worshipping God. Stieglitz expands on the fact that many worshippers struggle engaging themselves even with the first phase of Focusing on God due to life’s worries and concerns. As your Worship Pastor and fellow worshiper, I yearn for every person that comes through our doors to worship God with all their being—heart, soul, mind and strength! I am aware I can only facilitate worship through the reading of God’s ] HolyWord and through the different expressions of the arts, music being the most used in our context. We also know the Enemy, the Devil, is not happy when we intentionally seek further communion with God. Therefore, he offers all kinds of distractions that derail us from our “single-minded devotion” to Him.

It is my belief that by not forsaking our own assembling together we will be at a more advantageous position to experience worship as the Body of Christ. Summer is coming and with it many opportunities to get away and enjoy some time of relaxation; however, should you and your family miss the opportunities to worship God with the assembly of the saints just because you are on vacation? Is God yearning to commune with you even on your vacation? You know the answer to that question. God desires fellowship with you wherever you are or go. You might choose to worship somewhere else while on vacation. That’s a great alternative! And you might say, “Daniel, haven’t you heard of “personal worship”? Yes, but not in place of CorporateWorship. Both are healthy disciplines of the Christian who is interested in “becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” If you are wondering what this last phrase between quotation marks means, I put it this way, God wants you to accomplish in this life all of what He has purposed for you and I to be, Christ-like. When I reflect upon that truth, I can’t help but get excited and continue to make my goal in life the pursuit of God.

And fellowship, is the other discipline every Christian ought to practice. Stieglitz states that,

“True fellowship is a missing ingredient in most people’s lives.
Instead people interact at a surface level content to appear as though
they are fine. Numerous surveys over the years tell us that most people
visit churches looking for friends. I believe they are secretly looking and
hoping for something much deeper; fellowship. Agroup of people who will
poke, prod, stretch, push comfort, exhort, and even discipline each
other provides a community of faith. Too often in western Christianity
church is only a place to get information and surface social contacts.”

Now, a person who has been in the church for a long period of time might say, “I have a great circle of friends who help and support me.” However, as the kingdom of God grows, what are we doing to make the new people not only welcomed but also accepted and loved? “Many people cannot make progress in their Christian lives because they do not have a group of trusted people helping them in the process,” Stieglitz says and I sadly agree with him. With the opportunity of new fellowship groups, I encourage you to make an effort to reach out to someone new in your “pew neighborhood” and be that trusted brother or sister in Christ to help and support them. I am running out of space; so “¡Hasta Luego!”

Contact Info: Pastor Daniel Elias - Phone 686-0004 or E-mail.