Shadowing Presence

I have a visceral reaction to the word experience being connected to the Sunday gathering (as I’ve noted previously).

Experience borders the hospitality industry: how do we ensure a positive experience for our customers? Should we seek to be hospitable? Yes, obviously, Scripture affirms it (Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Colossians 4:5, Leviticus 19:33-34, Hebrews 13:1-2)! But if our aim is a positive, uplifting experience we leave no room for lament and sorrow.

We leave no room for helping people see that sometimes it is in the shadow of the Almighty where we experience His presence and nearness. We experience the presence and nearness of God in His shadow as much as in His shining face (Psalm 91:1, Revelation 1:16).

“For song can never bring the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit does invariably bring song.” - A.W. Tozer

7 July: Liturgy + Set List

• GRACE ALONE

  Good morning and welcome to worship with us on this Lord’s Day, and this family worship weekend. A special welcome to all of our elementary students who are joining us in the auditorium today! This part of our service is called the Call to Worship - not because worship begins when we start singing, or begins when we walk through the doors, but because every person on the planet is worshiping all the time. But because of sin, we worship - give our attention and our love - to things that are not really worthy of our attention and our love. And we have a call to worship to be reminded that it is only God that is worthy of our attention and our love. Let’s hear God call us to worship from his Word:

  Call to Worship: Psalm 61:1-5

  Did you hear that? Fear your name. There are so many things in the world that can cause us fear and make us worried. But God says, there is only one person we should fear - and that is Him. Not because He is scary or mean, but because He is so big, and he is in control of everything. And when we fear God - when we recognize that he is the only one worthy of our worship - we do not have to be afraid of anything or anyone else. Let’s sing together:

• A MIGHTY FORTRESS

• BUILD MY LIFE

  Sermon: 1 Peter 2:4-8

  Above my desk there is a quote from an author I love that says: ‘I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble, and neither am I (James Bryan Smith).” If you are here this morning that is true of you as well - God, through His spirit dwells in you. And when Christ returns God’s presence will not just dwell uniquely in the midst of His people, but will dwell among His people in a real and obvious way. So let’s set out attention toward that day as we sing…

• KING OF KINGS

• COME THOU FOUNT

  Benediction

30 June: Liturgy & Set List

• GOOD GOD

  Call to Worship: Psalm 19

  So many aspects of our lives are lived on autopilot. We make so many decisions every day, it would be too much for our brains to consciously consider every factor. Like getting in the car, driving to a location and thinking for a moment ‘how did I get here?’ We can so easily do that when we arrive at church on a Sunday morning. Present in our body but not in heart or mind. We walk through the doors with no expectation no anticipation that God is speaking to us through His Word by His Spirit among His people. Can I encourage you, do not allow your heart to be on autopilot as you are here, ask the Spirit to help you be present to the God who is speaking and to His people as we gather. Let’s sing…

• BETTER IS ONE DAY/FACEDOWN

• I SHALL NOT WANT

  Read Psalm 119:9-16

  May it be true for you and for me. As we have heard God speak to us by His Word, let’s respond with words of dependence upon Him. Would you stand if you’re able…

  Sermon: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

• LORD, I NEED YOU

• BE THOU MY VISION

  Benediction

Whose Face Are You Looking For

For better (and sometimes worse) as worship leaders, we have the best seat in the house: looking out on our brothers and sisters in Christ as they sing to God and to one another the truths that animate our faith.

We see the faces of those we love, and those we find hard to love. We see the joys and sorrows of stories shared and burdens borne together as the people of God. These are the interactions as a worship leader that fuel our own worship and devotion, that unite our hearts to fear God’s name and unite our hearts to His people.

But from our vantage point, we can also see those who look like the live-action version of the flat-eye emoji.

Arms crossed.

Scowl.

Refuse to sing.

Staring through you.

Those are the faces that have made me want to stop mid-song and sentence and say “You know I can see you, right?”

And why do they always seem to sit in the front row? Ha!

While I am conscious of the fact that I am leading the people of God, when those faces fall into view, I have to intentionally remind myself: whose face am I looking for here?

Whose face do I desire to see?

Whose gaze is on me - not just on my external activity, but down to the ground of my being, who sees me, knows me, loves me, through and through?

In these moments I am tempted toward fixation: what do I need to do to make that person change their face or posture? I am tempted toward spiral: why do they hate me?

But rather than fixate or spiral, I am learning to pray with the Psalmist:

“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”” Psalm 27:8

No One Is Neutral

No one is neutral.

When the band arrives at rehearsal, when the congregation walks through the doors, as you are playing through the morning in your mind, no one is neutral. Every one of us comes with a mixture of joy and sorrow. Every one of us comes distracted, disrupted, fragmented, and longing to be whole. And yet we approach this sacred task of leading the people of God in worship of God recognizing that we are to offer our very lives - yes, even the broken pieces of ourselves - in worship to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Presence to the Lord throughout the week, and cultivating a life of private devotion before public worship, frees me as I approach the task of leading worship to be present to the team and the congregation. It creates space for me to act as a host to my team, engaging them, and caring for them, rather than rushing, ignoring, or trying to take from them.

Recognizing that no one is neutral allows me to be attentive to those I serve, to lean in or press in as well as release what feels like hostilities or slights. Recognizing that no one is neutral allows me to not take personally the criticism of those I lead. Recognizing that I am not neutral allows me to find rhythms that allow me to serve with open hands, rather than clenched fists.

Practically, this is why I arrive significantly earlier than the team. This is why I sometimes disappear before, or in between services. This is why I really try to make sure that every practical detail is complete before Sunday morning, so that I am able to focus on leading and serving.

Like the psalmist, may we be leaders who pray: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11

Familiarity Leads to Presence

The first time I led worship in an Anglican service, I was glued to the printed liturgy - I didn’t know the order and did not understand the rhythms and movement of the gathering. Anytime I have been asked to play or sing at a wedding, I stare at the program as if I am looking at a flight tracker in the airport - as though each element will be changed and updated in real time.

When I am unfamiliar or uncertain, I find it very difficult to be present to the Lord, present to His people, and present to what He might be doing in this moment.

I wonder if you might feel the same. When the order of our service and liturgy change weekly, when we add in something outside of the normal rhythms of our gathering, and when we are unfamiliar with the music, it becomes increasingly difficult to be present to anything other than simply executing whatever right before you.

But when we are familiar, we are freed to be present. When our minds know a melody, when our fingers find the chords without looking, our eyes can be lifted to the people, rather than the paper. Our hearts can be attentive because they are still rather than churning.

So why not find more regular rhythms in your gathering if it means you can listen and speak from a greater degree of presence to the Lord and His people? Why not spend a little bit more time learning and internalizing that song before introducing it to the congregation? Why not spend a little longer lingering - a little longer rehearsing, a little longer being present?

"I Can't Worship": Worship Leader Edition

“I can’t worship…” If you’ve been leading worship for any length of time, you have probably heard that statement. But perhaps, you too have felt the same way. There are endless lists floating through my mind as I am leading worship - am I distracted? There are endless realities (and alternate realities) floating through my heart as I am leading - am I worn down, frustrated, hurt, steeling myself? Airtight theology is good, but it is of little use if we are not transformed by its presence in our lives. We can believe and teach that all of life is worship, and still struggle to ‘enter in’ to worship in this moment as we lead.

But what do we do in this moment when we are leading but in fact do not feel that we are able to worship?

Pray. Ask that God would unite your heart to fear his name (Psalm 86:11).

Think of the throne room of heaven. Day and night the saints and angels and living creatures never stop singing, saying, and shouting - the holiness, glory, and worth of God. This present reality will be an eternal reality for all who are in Christ. View the temporal in light of the eternal.

Think of my brothers and sisters around the world. We are a part of a diverse, global body of believers stretching through generations into eternity. We are caught up in a story larger than this moment, and many of our brothers and sisters face real and acute danger from their families, friends, neighbors, and governments for gathering with the people of God or professing faith in Christ at all. May the perseverance of the saints fuel your own perseverance.

Think of someone else worshiping. One of my youth pastors told a story about how when he would struggle to fully enter into worship, he would think of a specific family member (who expressed outright hostility toward faith in Christ) face down, arms raised in worship… The reality is this will one day be the posture of all people (Philippians 2), but does it stir your heart, does it fan the flame of wonder in you when you consider enemies becoming worshipers?

It is all normal. It is normal that some days our worship flows freely and easily - from a heart and cup that overflows. It is normal that some days our worship is labored and mismatched to the worth of the One whom we worship. Worship is costly, and Christ is worth the cost - press on.

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When you don’t feel like serving.

When others don’t feel like serving.

Serving.

Tuesday Refocus: August 15

“Lament will not allow us to revert to the easy answers.” - Soong Chan-Rah

Our church has been studying the Gospel of Mark this year. Throughout the book we see glimpses of the humanity of Jesus grieved over sin and death. Jesus weeps, groans, and sighs as he encounters the brokenness wrought by sin in the world and on people made in the image of God.

We are so quick to avoid pain and suffering. We numb, distract, ignore, and brush past the brokenness of the world. And when we are left without option we even use Scripture to shield ourselves: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Of course this passage is true. But isn’t it interesting that Jesus never settles for Bible bandaids? We see in Scripture that he enters into the suffering of others, even though he knows he will heal, restore, and reconcile people. Jesus - though fully God and fully man - gives voice to the pain of the world, and people.

People are limited in our ability to heal, but by entering into the suffering of others (rather than avoiding, or Bible-bandaiding) we can give presence and peace that glimpses Christ for others. And as we enter in, we can celebrate that Christ has come to enter into the suffering of the world by taking our sin upon Himself at the cross (1 Peter 2:24). And we can look with hope, longing, and expectation to the day where he will return to wipe every tear, and set all things right (Rev 21:1-4).

Jesus, give us the courage to enter into the suffering of the world. In Your name we pray, amen.

With,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: May 30

“You will never have time for prayer; you must make time.” - Richard Foster

How easily our prayers become repeated phrased before a meal. Things we say under our breath as we feel anxiety rise up within us. But what is prayer is more than words we mindlessly utter, and more about presence with and to the One who is present everywhere, all the time?

Can we still and quiet our mind, so that like Jacob we may say, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it (Gen 28:16).’ Or what if like Samuel, our prayers were less about speaking and more about listening to the One who speaks - ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears (1 Sam 3:9).’

In speaking, silence, and presence - our prayers are to be unceasing (1 These 5:17). May we make time for speaking, make space for silence, and become aware of the presence of the Lord in this day.

Lord, draw near and speak, for we desire to listen. Lord, incline your ear, for we desire to confess. Lord, let the morning bring us word of your unfailing love. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

Worship Leaders And Presence

The music really ushered me into the presence of God this morning.” I’ve heard it said, and I’m sure I’ve said it myself. Does this sound familiar to you? Certainly, as musicians, there is an affection that we experience for the Lord as we play or listen to music. It speaks to something of the transcendent life for which we have all been created. But the truth is there is no combination of chords that usher us into the presence of God. There is no perfect set list, no skill level of musicianship, and no flawlessly executed liturgy which ushers us into the presence of God. Because there is only one who ushers us into the presence of God - the God-man, Christ Jesus. For followers of Jesus, there is no moment where we do not stand in the presence of God because we stand in Christ who is before the Father in this moment making intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” 1 Timothy 2:5

There is no place in all of creation where God is not present. But as followers of Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we carry the presence of God with us everywhere we go. When the people of God gather to worship, God is present and enthroned upon the praises of His people. As we open the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is present and active, lifting our eyes to behold the beauty of Jesus.

We may sense God’s manifest presence in a unique way as we gather, sin, and expectantly wait for God to speak to us through His Word - but God is no more present in these moments than he is as our people get ready for work the next day, fight with their spouse, take their kids to school, and go to sleep at night.

Nothing ushers us into the presence of God or the throne room of grace apart from the God-man, Christ Jesus. And nothing can separate us from the presence of God. So when people tell you that something you did ushered them into the presence of God, remind them - and yourself - it is only Jesus who has done that.

J. Ryan Lister is a clear and helpful writer. If you are looking for more resources when it comes to learning and studying about the Presence of God, I found this short article very helpful.

July 26: Tuesday Refocus

“By my calm courage, people shall this day recognize that I’ve been with Jesus.” - E. Stanley Jones

Each of us is worried and troubled about many things (Luke 10:41). But each of us can choose the good portion, the one necessary thing - to be with Jesus (Luke 10:42).  It is in being with Jesus that the troubles of the world are choked by the presence and provision of God. It is in beholding His glory that we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

A transformed heart leads to a transformed life. A life continually resting in the presence of Christ, is a life of rest, peace, and blessing to others. May it be so for you today.

Lord, may we rest in who you are and what you have done. May our lives be transformed from the inside out, bringing rest, peace, and blessing to others. In Christ’s name, amen.

Resting,

AB

May 10: Tuesday Refocus

“It is normal to feel restless as a child, lonely as a teenager, and frustrated by lack of intimacy as an adult; after all, we live insatiable desires of every kind, none of which will ever find complete fulfillment this side of eternity.”  - Ronald Rolheiser

Our desires are deep. And every desire is an arrow pointing toward the true longing and desire of every heart: a desire for God Himself. He is the source of every desire, and the One who has only to open His hand to “…satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).” Our earthly desire should stir in us a desire to be awakened and satisfied with the likeness of God (Psalm 17:15).

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

Lord, may we be satisfied now, and always with You, and You alone. Amen.

Satisfied,

AB