Putting on the New Man

The New Year – the time that we typically talk about resolutions and turning over new leaves. We set goals for weight loss, exercise, spiritual disciplines, and spending time with family and friends. Setting goals is always good, even if many resolutions are dropped by February.
For our next worship service, we’re going to have a slightly different focus to bring in the New Year. Instead of focusing on turning a new leave, we’re going to focus on putting on the new man. And we’re going to hear a lot from our church family during this time.
Please plan on joining us promptly at 10:30. Instead of our normal praise and worship and time, we will have an opportunity to discuss in small groups ideas about putting on the new man. Then at 11, we’ll enjoy the benefit of each group’s discussion as we worship God together.

Welcome Will Swinger!

If you have been able to join us either of the last two Sundays, you have been able to enjoy the worship team's newest member, Will Swinger. Over the last few weeks, I've gotten to know Will a little bit, and see that he has a heart for Christ first and foremost. Then, ministry flows from that love of Christ.

Will has many musical talents, but what I appreciate about Will is his desire to worship. Leading worship done properly begins with personally worshiping Christ, and I see how well Will fits into our team because they all share this same desire.

Will lives in Macon and is in training for ministry with the International House of Prayer (IHOP). In August, he will move to Kansas City (I've already recommended to him the best barbecue places in each category of barbecue) to further his training with IHOP. So, we only have him for a short time.

Since Will does not live in Dublin, it is more difficult for us to get to know him personally. Please take the initiative to introduce yourself to Will so that we get to know who's helping to lead worship and he gets to know those he's entering into worship with.

I appreciate the addition that Will is making to our dedicated team. Most of you are unaware of how many extra volunteer hours go into preparing the worship music each week. I urge you to not take the worship team for granted. Please let them know how much you appreciate how they help us to worship the risen Christ.

Reflections on "Dialog Worship" and the Congregational Meeting

Many of you were able to join us for our "Dialog Worship" service last Sunday. For those who couldn't be there, please see last week's blog for a description of what it is.

The feedback so far has been mostly positive, and I wanted to share those comments with you.

• The comments about our guest worship leader, Matthew Orr, were off-the-charts positive. Matthew did a wonderful job leading us in worship, not just leading us in music. It's a very difficult thing to come in as a guest and lead in something as intimate as worship, but the overwhelming sentiment was that the worship music truly helped us worship Christ.
• The discussion time also received a lot of positive feedback. From my perspective, it didn't take long for people to feel free to speak up, ask questions, answer questions, offer new ideas, and so on. Thanks to the youth for breaking the ice! I heard phrases like "it felt more like a family discussion." That's exactly what we wanted to foster. I think that repeating this kind of format would only foster more.
• The time with the kids on the floor was fun for me, the kids were engaged, and the adults said they enjoyed learning by proxy, too.
• The seating arrangement generated more surprise comments than I expected. I expected a few comments, some positive and some negative, but many of you commented very positively on it. Some said that it made a huge difference to be able to see one another. Others said you could hear each other better. One repeated the "family atmosphere" comment specifically related to the seating arrangement.
• The most mixed comments were on the length of the service. Some said it was too short, others said it was a bit long. Technically, it was barely longer than our normal services that would run a little over. We intentionally set it up so that we would not be standing more than three songs in a row, and of course everyone is free to sit down during the music whenever they want. But the duration question is an important one, and must be considered. We can't really conduct a dialog worship service completely in the time slot of a short service. In theory, we're actually spending less time with a Dialog service if you consider the Sunday School time. This remains an issue that needs a good resolution.

Going forward, given the positive feedback, this is certainly a format we would consider doing again, perhaps even to make it our "normal" worship service format one day. For the immediate future, you may see some elements of the Dialog service creep into our normal program.

On the topic of the annual meeting, it was a lightly attended meeting, but the discussion was great. Some difficult issues were discussed openly, and there was a sense of the church body wanting to collectively move DBC forward - to advance our strong points and to shore up the areas that need work. The Elders will have the responsibility to take our conversation and help lead the church forward in those areas, especially in the areas of connecting better with one another and in becoming more missional as a congregation.

The attendance was also discussed, and the point was made that drawing people to DBC is the task of all of us, not just a few.

The budget report for 2008 and proposed budget for 2009 were discussed. The Lord allowed us to give more than budgeted for 2008, and we spent under budget, so 2008 saw a positive cash flow. This means that some deferred ministry expenses can now be taken on. The largest increase in the budget for 2009 is adding $7800 for a part-time worship leader. We are beginning our search to find someone who can lead us with worship music.

Every ministry area also submitted a written report, which were all bound together and distributed in packets. Including in that packet are the budget figures for 2008 and 2009. If you would like a copy of that packet, please request one from the church office.

God has accomplished much in DBC during 2008, and we see several areas where we are praying for His work during 2009. As always, I strongly encourage you to pray regularly for our church. If we're not praying as a church for our church, we will not be the church in the way the Lord wants us to be.

What is "Dialog" Worship?

This Sunday, we will be practicing a different style of worship service than we typically have at Dublin Bible Church - something we're calling a "Dialog" worship service.

The idea is quite simple - turn a normal worship service (which is often mostly "monologue" - someone speaking to the congregation) into a "dialog", where the congregation is free to participate more throughout the worship service. The biggest difference you'll notice is that instead of a typical sermon, the teaching time is much more interactive. Not only will I involve the congregation more, but the congregation should feel free to raise a hand, interject, ask questions, offer helpful insight, and generally share in the teaching and discussion of God's Word. Did I say something you need clarification on? Raise a hand and ask for a clarification! Haven't you wanted to do that on numerous occasions? This Sunday, you will have that freedom.

The "Dialog" is not just between the congregation and the pastor, but between the congregation and the Holy Spirit. We want the form of our worship service to be very open to the leading of the Holy Spirit - sometimes the "agenda" of a worship service can leave little room for the Spirit to work. So, we may find, for example, the worship leader bring in some music that wasn't planned in advance in response to the working of the Spirit.

Feel comfortable in how you participate - you can be very active, or you can sit back and just take it all in. The only time when interaction is not appropriate is when the teacher takes the platform to share some very specific thoughts. We ask that during that brief time, there be no interruptions.

Remember, we're all family, and this is family time.

Also remember that the worship service will start earlier than normal: 10:30 AM.

Preparing Your Heart for Worship

I love to see the people of our congregation enjoying each other's company before the worship service each Sunday. You catch up with one another, enjoy one another, and on occasion, you use that time to pray for one another. All of that is good to see. We need these times of connection and fellowship.

I would like to suggest to you that every once in a while, you try something different. Before the service, take a seat in the sanctuary, ignore all the conversations going on, and prepare your heart for worship. Spend the time praying for the service itself, for your own heart, for the hearts of others. Read the passage that we'll be covering in the sermon. Confess ways in your life that may hinder your ability to worship God with a whole and pure heart. Pray for your pastor! Pray for all the ministries going on that morning - Children's Church, the worship team, the nursery.

We don't really have enough space right now to have a separate chapel or prayer room (although, the classroom off of the back of the sanctuary is often available before the service), so we just have to tune out all the conversations going on. What you'll find is that it's not really that hard to block out the din - especially if you take a seat on the first or second row, away from most of the conversations.

Feel free to talk before the service - I certainly don't want to take that away. It's valuable time for me, too. But, on occasion, take time to talk with God before the service, too. He wants to be a part of that pre-church dialog just like we do.

A quick related note for those who have a tough time showing up on time: Please realize that arriving late can be distracting to those engaged in worship. I'd rather you showed up late than not at all, but I want to encourage you to be diligent to show up before the worship service begins, so that we can all focus better. (Of course, showing up for Sunday School means that you'll be there in plenty of time for the worship service! :-) ).

P.S. Please consider sponsoring me to raise money for Jerry's Kids by bailing me out of "jail". Just click here.