I’ve been pondering and praying over the difficulty we had on Sunday getting into the right spirit. I’m not sure exactly all that was involved but I’d like to make the following suggestions -
- The host puts out the communion elements in the center of the gathering room (no other food) and puts on soft playing worship music 5 minutes before 9am.
Body members who would like to chat do that in a different room or outside. - From 8:55am on the gathering room is set apart only for seeking, listening to and responding to the promptings of the Spirit.
- If only 3 people are in the gathering room at 9am they can begin without waiting for others. Start to worship, pray or sit silently. But don’t feel the need to wait for anyone.
- Anyone who is struggling getting in the right spirit feel free to do whatever you need to – go for a walk, come late, go into another room or pray in the gathering room but don’t feel any pressure to “perform”.
And a few reminders of things we’ve discussed in the past-
- Anyone who feels led to “set the tone” feel free. This involves reminding the group that we are there to hear from the Spirit. Members of the body are invited to bring whatever they feel led for the strengthening and encouragement of the body (teaching, worship, word of revelation etc.). This is not necessary to get started. We can just jump right in but it is a good thing to do every week especially if we have people there that are fairly new.
- Beware of coming with a definite agenda or coming with a need to be filled. These are not bad things they are just not what the gathering is for. We gather to be led by the Spirit and to encourage the body. If you have prepared a teaching or have a song you believe will strengthen the body then submit that to the Spirit and if you feel led, boldly share. But never presume an agenda on the gathering because we don’t know if we’ll be led in another direction. We want Christ’s agenda to reign.
And a word of encouragement – Please remember this is a spiritual discipline and not a worship service which means, just like your own time alone with God, there are times that are great, times that are very frustrating and everything in between. This is NORMAL. We could plan a service that meets felt needs and so is encouraging every week but that is NOT what we are doing at the Gathering. This is His time and if He wants us to sit silently or experience miracles we will submit. I’m not discouraged at all by last week. I’m encouraged that as long as we love each other and honor the Lord by persevering in this discipline He will bless us with His presence and His guidance. But I do think we are meant to learn from last week and that is what I’m trying to do.
Wendi shot me a good question about ipod music.
What do you all think of this in general?
My thought is the soft music played at the beginning is there until someone turns it off or gets chooses to interrupt with a word etc.
If someone wants to play a song for the group I would generally keep this to one song and only if the Spirit leads (same for live music).
Jeremy
On Passivity:
Like in most things, it is easier simply to wait for the next person; i.e. the world before Nazism became such a powerful force. I think this attribute describes most of us in the Church, and thus it necessitates that we battle against it with all the more fervor. Our genetic code is linked into our local body of believers. This is the vehicle Christ Himself set up to give his people, so that lives can be lived that are pleasing and honoring to him. Perhaps the proverbs is applicable:
“how long will you like there, you sluggard?
when will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest
and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.”
Friends, I really thank god for giving us a body of believers so that we can know the Lord. We are blessed beyond measure. I don’t want to be like Israel and forget where I have been; those days of seeking christ in isolation, surrounded by stale religion. We were like a wandering spirit that has been blessed with flesh. Lets be like David and celebrate the presence of the Ark; i.e. the elements of Christ on the communion table and in so bring honor to God.
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