Worship

Why are we even here? I mean why of all the things you could be doing on a Sunday night did you choose to come here, to a gathering of people, the Church. Furthermore, why do we do the things we do and call it worship? What’s the point?
For most people the reason is simple, they’ve always came to church because it’s “the right thing to do” and they participate in the monotanity of worship without asking any questions, because “it’s always been that way”. But at Soul Café, we could never be content with gathering without a purpose, and just having mindless participation.
We are here to CELEBRATE GOD. Here’s the thing, we all worship something, even if we don’t realize it. We all pledge our alligence or swear by some form of worship to give their life meaning, even if its swearing that there is nothing worthy of worship. That’s still a choice, a decision to form life by. But when we gather together in worship we say that there IS someone worthy of Worship, worthy to align our lives by, and that someone is God.
We worship to proclaim that the person we value the most in our lives is God, and that no one else will ever compare to him. In fact, we value our relationship with him so much that we desire to follow him, to be like him, to commune with him. That’s a pretty powerful statement that we make by attending a worship service.
But here’s the thing. A worship service isn’t the definition of worship, its not the be all, end all. In fact, it’s only a tiny piece of it. We worship God when we put him first in our lives. We should worship God every day, but sadly most people can’t even put him first when they come to a gathering like this. I guess it all comes down to where your heart is at. Do you come here because you feel you should, in order to save face, but loathe every minute of it, because that’s not putting God first. Or do you come here as a gesture, feeling that you want to celebrate in God’s glory with others. Yes, there are going to be times that you don’t want to be at worship, but is your heart at least searching for God?
See it’s only when we put God first that we can really transform. That’s why so many people get absolutely nothing out of a once a week service. We need to be seeking him daily. In John it is written “The time will come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) We need to choose to put him first ALWAYS, but some people can’t even put him first for an hour. I’m not going to stand here and lie to you by saying that it’s going to be easy to put God first. I have friends who have intimately loved God for years who are just now realizing the struggle that comes with displacing ourselves and our wants for what God wants for us. But they also know that putting God first, that following him, is what’s best for us, and anything less would be settling.
Let’s get back to this idea of celebrating. I think this or rather a lack of celebration is what Jesus meant when he said “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of my father in Heaven. On that day many will say to me “Lord we cast out deamons in your name and do many deeds of power.” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you. Go away from me.” (Matthew 7:21-22) We should have joy in God, and quite frankly those who can truly see the hand of God in their lives WANT to celebrate him. Because those who truly intimately have sought God and know him, can’t help but celebrate in him for he is so good! For years and years I never got this. But suddenly one day when I was zoning out at a conference I was attending, it all came together. God DELIGHTS in me. He DELIGHTS in you! And I DELIGHT in Him. Woah. Hold up. God actually LIKES me. He LIKES you. I don’t think I can even convey the joy that I find in the truth of that realization. It makes me giddy each time I think about it. And that makes my worship such a joyful expression, I can celebrate God when I’m alone and he is just speaking to me and pouring his love over me. I can celebrate God when I am having a terrible day and I’m lamenting to him. I can be overwhelemed with God when I walk with a friend through nature or down a city street. And I can celebrate God here with all of you. And what is so amazing about group worship, like this, to me is that we can share our journies with one another. We can celebrate God in the midst of grieving hearts and burdensome loads and regrets along with the amazing moments. We exist as a body to just reach out to one another. Another realization I’ve had recently, is yes, crap happens, but in order for it to turn out for good we need to share it with one another, because what’s went on in my life has probably went on in someone elses life here and they need a word of encouragement, that I can give them because I’ve been there. Do you see, God created public worship because we NEED each other. We are not meant to be alone, and that Goes the whole way back to God creating Adam and Eve to be helpmates for one another.
Maybe you agree with me up to this point, but you are still caught up in the weekly way that worship is done. Maybe you’re thinking ‘ What’s up with that?’ Litergy is ten dollar word that we throw around that means, the way the church does things during a service. I grew up in a very formal church. We do all sorts of things from singing the “Gloria chorus” as a praise to God to lighting candles to signify the presence of the holy spirit, to singing rich hymns, and reading a psalm together. We do a lot of stuff in unison to say that we are a body, many but one.
Here at Soul Café our liturgy is a little different. We spice things up with different ways to pray or read the scripture each week. We encourage movement and expressing your worship through all of your senses. But that doesn’t make our way any better or worse then the formal church. No matter what type of celebration you gather to engage in there will be three common elements: the reading of scripture, prayer, and the offering.
We gather to read the scripture corporately because the Bible was not meant to be read alone. Travel with me in your minds back to the days when Christ was alive. There was one, one scripture for the entire town, so everyone had to gather together to hear the word. Fast forward a bit to when the rest of the Bible is being composed. There still wasn’t a printing press so their assumption would have been that the word would be read and studied together. The Bible is meant to be avtiley discussed amongst people, even today. This doesn’t negate the benefit of personal study, but you need both to get the whole picture.
We prayer together so we can lift up the body together. We pray because honestly that is the most powerful, amazing tool that we have as Christians. We get to communicate with the Holy Most High King. Wow. And I don’t know about your personal prayer life, but sometimes mine isn’t that strong. But then I get to gather with others and see the faith that they have in prayer, the zeal, and I desire to communicate with God more passionately. And I also am assured that when I am so distressed that I can’t pray that someone is lifting me up before God. We pray corporately because we all have different concerns. We prayer together because there is strength in numbers. God wants us to pray big prayers. We seriously have such weak prayers today, praying for what we already know we are going to get or praying as a last ditch effort. But prayers can move mountains, and I find that my faith in God and in prayer is so much stronger and is renewed when we gather for this time of worship.
And we take an offering. Yes, I know, I know, the money factor. Isn’t the church just being greedy by bringing this up? No. God desires an offering. And not just of money. God wants us to give at least ten percent to him. Ten percent of what? Ten percent of the harvest. Yes, for most of us this means money because we work to earn a living. I have an amazing friend who really opened up my eyes to tithing. I sometimes struggled to give my ten percent to God because I was worried that I wasn’t going to have enough. But he showed me such faith by saying that he matches whatever the government takes out of his paycheck as his tithe. If the government takes out that much for taxes, surely God deserves at least that much. The ten percent that we give back to God should be the first ten percent, the best. That means before we even have time to worry about how to meet the needs, that check is written. And God will provide.
So yes, there is the money factor, but what if we took offering a step further. What if we intentionally gave God ten percent of our time in a day? That means at least 2.4 hours to do nothing but spend time with God, focus on him, find joy in him. What if we gave ten percent of our food away to the hungry? A portion of our gifts we gave back to the church to further God’s kingdom? We are called to offer all of ourselves and our resources, not just our money.
In conclusion I want you to think about an illustration that most people use for worship. I hear people say all the time that they “come to worship to be filled just so they can get through the week.” Hear me out, worship is not a gas station. You do not come here primarly for you. If you worship God, you will be filled because he rejoices in the praise of his people. He wants to fill you. He wants you to depend on him. And he wants you to be in his presence. But this is all secondary to the fact that we are to worship God for who he is. The Psalmist writes “Say to God ‘ Your works are amazing! Because your power is great, your enemies fall before you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you! They sing praises to his name.” (Psalm 66:3-4) Is that why we are here? To lay our entire selves before God and just tell him how awesome he is? To encourage one another with the good works that God is doing in our lives? Because anything less then that is just empty self-centered noise to God’s ears.
- Michelle

The Great Commission - Matthew 28:16-20

This was right after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The angel met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at the empty tomb. The angel told them to go tell the disciples that Jesus had gone before them into Galilee. They met Jesus on their way to tell the disciples. Jesus also told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to go and tell His brothers (disciples) to go to Galilee to meet him.
Even some of his closest associates had doubts. These are people that He had been with for 3 years! They had just been through a total upheaval of their world. They "lost" their teacher, their rabbi, their Lord. Imagine yourself in their place, imagine that you had just spent the last 3 years of your life traveling and living with the Son of God. He's removed from your midst, arrested, beaten mercilessly, and executed in the most heinous method known, crucifixion.
That had to be one of the lowest points of their lives. And then to hear that He has risen. That He's been seen alive and has sent you a message to meet him at a mountain top near Galilee. I'm sure there were some who were saying "see, I told you, he came back, just like he said he would" and others thinking, if not saying, "it's just not possible, I saw what he went through, it's just not possible". Even after they saw him in person, some doubted.
Alex was home on a break from his church college, and he had questions—spiritual questions. He made an appointment with his trusted Pastor, Nick Marsden. “I can’t question anything in my religion class,” Alex complained. “The professor, Old Beady-eyes, thinks anyone’s a heathen who questions one little thing.”
“So you decided to dump all your doubts on me,” responded Pastor Nick.
“Yeah, I think I can talk with you—and you can’t flunk me, either!” Alex replied. “So, for example, what about the Trinity? I can’t even begin to figure that out!”
“Join the club!” Pastor Nick answered. “So far I haven’t heard of anyone who can.”
“Well, how can I believe something I don’t understand?” Alex asked.
“Oh, we believe all kinds of things we don’t understand,” said his pastor. “For example, we believe in gravity, don’t we? I know that I can’t jump to the top of the steeple of this church! I know gravity exists, but I don’t understand it; do you?”
They talked some more about the Trinity and other questions about Christianity. And finally they agreed that doubt could be a good thing when it compels us to probe. Probing our faith, after all—especially in the company of the church—can cause us to grow spiritually.
But that didn't stop Jesus, He started out by telling them where He got his authority, God. He was speaking with the authority and presence of the Living God. He told them to; Go! (the original Greek word could be better translated as "As you go") as if it was already assumed that they would be going out into the world.
Go out, and train everyone in this way of life. They were to train others to live the way they were living, devoted to the spreading of the message of Jesus, the Son of God, the Living God.
Where? near and far they weren't to just do the easy work, in the next village, the next city, the next province. They were to go throughout the known world, both to places that were going to be familiar and comfortable to them, as well as foreign places.
Mark them by baptism, a symbolic cleansing, to show the world that they are disciples of Jesus, washed free from sin and the old ways
in the threefold name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit this is the Triune God, three persons in one.
I know this isn't exactly theologically "correct", but this came to me yesterday.
We'll use the example of my father during my life from birth to adulthood. When I was a small child, Dad was the "authoritarian". How many remember "just wait until your father comes home" or "your father would be so disappointed" We obeyed and respected Dad from caution, or fear (in some families.) From what we read of the Jewish culture, I believe that's how God was viewed. A God of strength, force and might.
As I got older, say my mid to late teens, Dad was more of a buddy, someone to do things with, someone to learn from. This is how I think of Jesus. Someone to walk beside me day to day, talk to, a companion.
Then, after my Dad passed away, I had my memories. And there are times I think that just maybe, he is watching something I'm doing, or something my son is doing. I still talk to him, ask him how to do something, what's the best tool to use, or way to do something. I don't get an answer, but sometimes my memory is stirred or it causes me to pause and think about how Dad would have done it. This, to me, is what I imagine the Holy Spirit is. Not a great big "Dad" in the sky, but someone to seek strength and understanding from. That invisible someone who is
watching over me, tapping my conscience when it needs it. Someone who is there to give me strength and encouragement when things aren't
going quite right.
Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you
Don't keep this to yourself, share it, teach others. By teaching them, we make disciples of Jesus. After they have been taught, then they will, in turn, go out and teach others. Thus, the teachings of Jesus, the good news of his sacrifice, the very love of Jesus will be spread.
I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.
His promise to his disciples, is that he will be with them, until the end. He is not asking them to do anything above or beyond what He himself has done. He will be there, by their side, helping them, comforting them, and encouraging them.
This "Great Commission" is our commission too. We don't need to have "perfect" faith, even some of his disciples struggled. They were told to train "everyone", not just the important, the powerful, the rich. If we look at Jesus' ministry, we'll see that he sought out the poor, the widows, the sick, the sinners, to care for. We too, need to minister to everyone, especially the ones that so very much need His forgiveness, His love, and His compassion. There are so many around us, literally, that have not heard the message. We are surrounded by those in need. Those who are searching for that "something", that living water that will quench their thirst.
Notice, the disciples were not told to go to the temple and sit and wait for people to arrive. They were command to go out.
We, being disciples of Christ, have been given the exact same command, two thousand years later, Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.
And we have the exact same promise, I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.
- Ralph

A Place to Belong - Acts 2:1-21

A little background on Pentecost:
Pentecost stands for the great 50 days after Easter. In case you counted, this is actually the 7th Sunday after Easter – or 49 days. Pentecost is technically on Monday, but we celebrate the birthday of the church today. Pentecost is the day we celebrate being given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The first Pentecost was celebrated when Jews from all over the world journeyed to Jerusalem – to the temple – to give the first fruits of the harvest to the priests to make their offering to God. The festival was called the festival of Shavuot – which occurred (guess what?) 50 days after Passover. During Shavuot, Jewish people celebrated the giving of the Torah – the first 5 books of the Bible. Are you starting to see the connections?

So, people journeyed from all over the world –different cultures, languages, backgrounds. BUT a common faith. And this amazing thing happens. As the Galileans start to talk in their language, everyone can understand exactly what they are saying AS IF it were spoken in their own language. It was a reversal of the Tower of Babel – a story from the first book of the Bible (Genesis 11) where people were trying to build a tower to God and God decides to confuse all their languages, so they’d have to work at understanding each other.

On Pentecost, the Spirit brought unity and understanding.
Being understood is so important.

My background:
I don’t fit the mold of a pastor. My family were alienated Catholics, which meant that we didn’t go to church hardly ever. We didn’t even make the obligatory Christmas and Easter mass. Still, I did end up discovering the church because of friends and curiosity. I was called into ministry in my second year of college (I know, not exactly the typical time when people find Jesus!– and I wasn’t exactly on the straight and narrow). Plus, I didn’t understand or want to be called to ministry. It kind of got on my nerves, at first. I didn’t know how to speak church-ese. So, not knowing any better, I told my pastor I thought I was supposed to be a minister. Problem is…I had to wrestle long and hard with this call because I saw a lot wrong with the church. I finally decided that the church is the place God desires to gather people together to work toward the transformation of the world and to change lives. And I finally (with a fair amount of kicking, screaming, and skepticism) decided to give ministry a chance. God wouldn’t allow me to run from the call (much as I tried). I knew the church needed to look a lot different – LOTS of changes need to take place to get to on track with who God wants us to be. So, I started my ministry a bit like Jonah trying to run from the call, but God wouldn’t let go of me AND here I am J.

ILLUSTRATION: Postcards. We came across these old postcards when we were getting the space ready for Soul Café. They are pretty something! There’s a picture of mother and a father clutching their Bibles with their son and daughter who are all impeccably dressed and walking to church. My mom could never have gotten me that dressed up once a year, let alone every Sunday—and definitely not in the morning! I am not a morning person.
In my home church (the one I went to in college), I found acceptance. But, I’ve also seen plenty of messed up things in churches, too. Not everyone finds acceptance in the church when they’re “outsiders” like I was. But, see, the church exists for “outsiders.” Jesus spent almost all his time with “outsiders.” The disciples began as strangers, “outsiders,” to Jesus, too. There are so many people who don’t connect with all of the “friendly,” “traditional,” “picture-perfect” churches that can be found all over State College. I knew from the beginning my calling was to reach those who don’t feel fed by the traditional church…to minister to and with people who love God, but haven’t exactly gotten excited by what they’ve experienced in church.
The church should be a place of acceptance.

ILLUSTRATION: CLIP about Ben Comen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_sHBgUgFP8)
That’s the image of the church for us. When God pours out the spirit, God creates a team of people bound together with a common goal; a team willing to run alongside those who are struggling, to encourage them when they fall, and to strive to be their personal best for God. We don’t run the race alone. We need each other. That’s the way God intended it.
We all have times when we give life all we’ve got, only to find that we struggle to keep going. We all know people who, right now, are struggling to pick themselves up and continue on with their day to day challenges. We all need a place where we can belong; to not feel alone, but connected. There are plenty of lonely, disconnected souls who need a place to belong – to be accepted for who they are. Our hope, prayer, and calling at Soul Café is to create a community (a team) of support, encouragement, and hope: a place to belong.
- Renee Ford