Challenging Chapel

I have loved chapel so far. My philosophy prof from last year (Dave Ward) spoke on Friday. I missed him! He is fantastic.

He spoke about church and how it’s really not about us. Shifting the focus away from church meeting our personal desires can make church a lot more enjoyable.  He talked about how we don’t like the style of the church or we are frustrated with the lack of compassion and social action of the church. He also said that you are God’s gift to the church for whatever you’re frustrated about. It is your gift, your burden and passion that you likely see as lacking in the church and you are the church’s resource. Woah. Think about that. What do you see as missing from the church? Can you fill that hole?

Will you?

The issue is that you’re frustrated about the lack of (fill in the blank) so then you leave and then the resource (you) has left and the issue in the church still exists.

Dave looked at Hebrews 10 and said there’s so much there, we could never cover it, even if we had a month worth of full-length sermons. He said he asks himself 3 questions every time he goes to church.

#1 Where’s God going to show up? It may not be where you think. Maybe one verse in the passage will really be highlighted to you. Ask God to show up for you and then be looking for it. Dave said each time he is surprised.

#2 How can I provoke the church to loving action? If the church isn’t active enough, it’s our fault. The imagery in the passage is poking at coals that have died down. We have to provoke one another, challenge one another to love deeply and be positively changed by one another. That looks different depending on who you are and how much effort you're willing to put in. 

#3 Can You (God) show me two people that need my encouragement today? Dave said each Sunday, God has not failed him on this one. God is pretty awesome that way. 

Bottom line, there has to be a mental change. Church is not about if you like the style of music or if the preacher is dressed in a way that makes you feel comfortable. It’s about refusing to abandon the local meeting of the church (Hebrews 10:25). 

Dave used the analogy of the Navy SEALS who do not let each other ring the “I give up” bell and do not leave one another behind. He asked us to see each other as comrades in this spiritual warfare and not let each other down. We should be spurring each other on in love and pushing towards the prize as one, not as individuals.

God absolutely spoke through Dave in chapel.