Day 2: Week 7 (It is About Sensitivity)

[WorshipVanguard]

It is About Sensitivity

1. Central Passages:
John 13:34-35
Romans 12:10
1 Peter 3:8
Philippians 2:3-4
Psalm 27

2. Daily Praise:
Take a moment to read Psalm 27. Try making up a melody and singing the first verse or two. The melody style does not matter. Simply lift up your heart to our “light” and our “salvation.”

3. Daily Surrender:
Search your heart. Why do we worship? Is your real motive to bless your God, or is it to be blessed? Are you able to lay aside your own musical tastes and choose to worship the Lord with your fellow brothers and sisters, even when you despise their preferred style? What has God shown you through these circumstances?

[WorshipVanguard]

Central Passages:
I always find it interesting that when Moore explains a topic, I immediately think of past (bad and good) circumstances that apply. Today is no different. I’ve been to praise meetings where people complained about the sound level, the style of music, the mixing, etc. The reactions from the musicians and the sound crew were almost the exact words I’ve heard spoken. I had to laugh at those memories. Sadly, not many of us are sensitive to those kinds of requests. In all honesty, the requests are appeased but not being sensitive to. There is a difference! I’ve heard under-the-breath grumbling from worship team members as they “appeased” the requests. When we begrudgingly “appease,” it is not the same as being sensitive to their needs or valuing their needs higher than ours. Being sensitive is certainly a heart issue only the Lord can teach. If we grumble in our hearts, we’re also grumbling at the opportunity the Lord gave us to show His love. It’s making me search my heart even more for my preferences and biases in worship.

Daily Praise:
Lord, I enjoyed singing Psalm 27 to you this morning. My favorite part is verses 4-5. It’s the cry of my heart to dwell in your house forever so I can gaze on your beauty and seek you in your temple! Psalm 84:10 comes to mind, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Your presence has a sense of protection incomparable to any safety I’ve found on earth. I’m safe so with you!

Daily Surrender:
Lord, I admit sometimes I critique praise gatherings too much. If the music is an odd style, or the mixing is off, or singers are off pitch, or [you get the picture], I tend to allow that to affect my time with you. My relationship with you and my relationship with others should NEVER be driven by my personal preferences. Lord, teach me to be more sensitive to those around me, and show me how I can bless them better.

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

Central Passages
Today's lesson hits on a subject that is being ignored in a lot of churches with older members. The WL who was at my church until recently once told me, "I don't care what the old people think. I'm doing what God has called me to do."
When he left, he said that what God had called him to do wasn't right for our church. Hmmmm.

The scriptures from the lesson make it clear that all believers (including worship leaders,) should be sensitive to the wants and likes of other believers. In fact, we are to put their wishes ahead of our own. This can really put those in leadership in a bind; how do you try to please everyone when there are so many different types of likes and dislikes among the people?

One of the scriptures was from Philippians 2:3-4, that talk about being humble and looking out for others' interests. The passage goes on to say that our attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus, who, though God, didn't let his God-head-ness cause him to treat others unkindly.Rather, he humbled himself and became our sacrifice.

O, that we would have even a fraction of the love Jesus has for us, with which to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Daily Praise
As I read Psalm 27, I didn't know whether to sing the old , classical version, or to make up a new tune as I went along. I chose a new tune.
What a magnificent psalm for us to sing!

[B]My Daily Surrender[/B
God, I confess that I prefer to worship with the kind of music I like. How much greater the genuineness of my worship can be when I choose to forget about the style, and focus on the One who we are singing to. And may My motive be to bless you, rather than to seek a blessing for myself. It is better for me to try to bless someone else than to try to conjure up a blessing of my own. You, Lord, are the only One who is worthy of my worship.

________________
I want to share a thought from the other devotional I'm doing, Tony Evans' "Time To Get Serious."

Christmas is more than a baby in a manger. It is "God with us." That's a wonderful message worth celebrating and singing about. But when God shows up, you've got a decision to make. You either worship him, or you turn away. Both decisions are costly, but only worship is worth the cost.

A very merry and blessed Christmas to all of you.
Tom

[InHisName]

Central Passage

I opened my eyes to read of Barna's statistics on church music. Music, style of worship, how loud the volume is-they all seem to be such a huge deal. But it's nice to know that people are more tolerant than they let on. The music used to be way too loud for me on Sundays a while ago. Since Tony and I are on the prayer team, we usually have to sit in the front section. Now, it doesn't seem as loud at all. I really think someone turned something down. Anyway, point is, volume definitely wouldn't make me think about changing churches...just sitting farther back!

And of course the scriptures were appropriate and timely. We need to think of our congregation before ourselves. After this lesson, I'll be choosier when leading on Wed. evenings. There are usually older people in attendance on Wed., and even though I LOVE Hillsong, and some of the "loud" songs, I'll be sure to do more hymns and gentler songs.

Daily Praise

This Psalm automatically made me think of the song...what is it? "All the days of my life, I want to gaze upon your beauty, and seek you in this holy place." I love that song. "I fix my eyes on you, the author of my faith..." It really speaks of my feelings to Him right now.

Daily Surrender

I haven't really thought about, or tried to worship Him with a style of music I dislike. As I said before I like a lot of styles, aside from country and glam rock, but even those can be fun to sing. I will make sure to focus on HIM, no matter what the style. And yes, a lot of times, especially when I was a younger Christian, I worshipped to bless me. Now I know, I need to worship to bless HIM. He is worthy.

[bkwestman]

1. Central Passage
- Barna's statistics really surprised me! I thought both numbers would be a lot more in the other direction. I guess for those 11%, it really matters! That must be who talks to me about it, then, because people that come into my office really feel strongly about it! Sensitivity is so important! The way we treat each other (sensitive or not) does ultimately affect how we relate to and please our Lord. Interesting thought when related to music choices. Am I willing to put aside my personal preferences and focus on ministering to the people around me? I liked how he differentiated between specialized praise gatherings and the entire family of God. Also, I'm glad he recognized how some churches strategically target certain population groups in their gatherings. The trouble comes when we want to treat every worship service as if it's our own (mine) personal "tasting fair" and we're the judges. Wow - ouch!

2. My Daily Praise
- Wow - I never thought of myself as a songwriter - but, when I tried to sing Psalm 27 a melody just flowed! It wasn't a super singable melody, trying to fit all those words in there, but it was a start! Cool!

3. My Daily Surrender
- He asked - "Why do you worship? Is your real motive to bless your God, or is it to be blessed?" Isn't there room for both in worship? Lord, help me to be humble and sensitive when choosing music for our services. Let it not just be the "Barry's tasting hour"! Just thinking of it that way makes me sick! Help me teach this principle to the rest of our team, too, who only likes to do a certain style in our services. Help me navigate our current situation with two different styles of services and how that applies to this discussion as well.