I enjoyed telling the story of the woman who poured out oil from an alabaster box upon the feet of Jesus as an act of worship and devotion. Charla did a great job with the song "alabaster box". We looked at the model that this woman set for us in worship. She came as an outsider and left as an insider. God welcomes us into this relationship with Him and something powerful takes place as we respond to Him in worship. Her action revealed to us four aspects of a heart full of worship for our God. She came to him in reverence, submission, adoration, and with a sacrifice she poured out all she was in response to all that He is. It is said of her story that it would be spoken of as a memorial wherever the message of Christ was told. That's amazing she would be known for all time because of her worship to God. I challenged emc to respond to God with everything they have asking them will we be known as a people that loves God extravagantly, worships him expressively, and serves Him explicitly. Then we need to be people who reverence, submit, adore and sacrifice.
We saw three come to Christ on Sunday. We don't have people come to the altar after giving their lives to Jesus, but we do have people fill out a connection card so we can follow up with them later. It's great when people have been coming for a while checking things out and then they take the step of faith and place their lives in God's hand. All three of these people have been at the embassy for more than a month. One person has been coming for over a year. Thanks church for doing what it takes to show Christ to people week after week. It does make a difference.
FYI (we talked about this on Sunday here's some details):
Since June our set-up crew has been kickin' and the physical preparation for Sunday morning has been getting finished by 9:00am. The tech/band stuff still is being finished right up until service time, but the rest of the areas of ministry are complete between 9:00-9:15. I told the church that we are going to make space available for prayer from 9:00-9:40 for those who would like to pray before service. Between that time come and go as you like. There won't be too much structure to it other than at 9:30 we will all pray together for the morning service. Bring your Bible and find a corner to be quiet in, walk around and pray by yourself, gather with a few friends and pray together. This might be just what you need to decompress from the week in the presence of the Lord. I know it is what we need to see God do what He desires with emc. Remember if you come to pray and it is your week to serve on a ministry team you need to be at your area immediately following our prayer for the service at 9:30 in order to receive guests.
God is getting ready to blow our socks off and it will take spiritual preparation to be ready for what He desires to do in and through us.
Also let's not make this a "we're the spiritual one's" club. "Oh, I am going to prayer, what are you going to do?...Oh just stand out here in the lobby and talk....tisk, tisk." I'm sorry I had to go there, but I've seen "spiritual people" act like this and make those who don't sense the draw to prayer as much feel like second rate believers. Man that's why it's called the body of Christ we all have different functions so get a grip and realize that this time is an invitation to quiet our hearts before God, seek His heart and will, pray one for another, and ask God to be with our worship experience. It is not a litmus test on who is really spiritual or not. Cool?
One other thing that happened this week we had several first time visitors that came who we saw at the concert in the park we served on Saturday night. One guy even helped us set up in the morning. Another guy I have talked with on several occasions at the Serene Bean came with his wife. We had a lot of emc-ers gone and attendance was still great. I love who God is drawing to the embassy!
Sorry for the length of this entry this morning.
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