The Meaning of Worship

This week at C3, we will be employing a very unorthodox venue for worship. If I were to say nothing else, that might pique your interest just enough to make you come.

So, when you come, please don't let your religious background get in the way of truth. Many in the church have misconceptions of what worship is. So what is it? The word "worship" is rooted by the word "worth." That is, ascribing worth to something -- that which is the object of our worship!

So, how do you define it? Worship can best be defined as the Christian community's awe-filled response to 1) who God is, 2) what He has done for man in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and 3) what He continues to do through the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. When you step back, you see the Trinity in the definition.

What that definition does not do is specify location or method. This helps us to see that there are two kinds of worship: 1) personal and 2) corporate.

Personal worship should happen constantly throughout each day. As we see God's handiwork of creation, as we witness His divine protection, guidance, answered prayers, power, etc., the child of God pauses to take it all in - to marvel at his Heavenly Father.

Corporate worship is the assembling of the body of Christ to respond corporately as THE BODY to the glory of God and His power and majesty! Corporate worship is , by its very nature, corporate - as opposed to individual. An individual view of corporate worship breeds "consumerism," where individuals attend weekly worship service to see what they can get out of the songs or sermon. Corporate worship builds unity (as we sing, pray, study and fellowship), accountability, encouragement, strength, edification, equipping for service, and evangelistic zeal.

This week will be unique indeed. It will help us to experience what true spiritual community is all about. God's people are referred to in the Bible as a body, a building, an army, a bride and a family.

Let's do a family reunion this Sunday!! See you there, and pull up a chair to the Lord's Supper table!

Randy

Who is my Neighbor?

As we continue our study in "Relationships" at C3, I am excited about this Sunday's message grounded in Romans 13:8-14 entitled, "My Relationship to my Neighbors."

I am then drawn to the question asked by an expert in the Law, who asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" The parable that Jesus gives in response to that question is perhaps one of the most popular even today...the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

To understand the impact of Jesus' answer, one needs to understand the racism of Jesus' day. There was such a disdain between Jews and Samaritans that they did not even associate with one another. The first "neighbor" that happened by was a priest. He passed by on the other side. The second "neighbor" that happened by was a Levite. He, too, passed by on the other side. Both of these men were "pillars" of their community. They were deeply religious. They were very respected. They were Jewish, as was the man in need. They certainly would be the first to help. Not so.

The third neighbor that happened by was, of all people, a Samaritan. Samaritans hated Jews. Surely he would not only pass by but might even have celebrated the dire condition of the Jewish man in the ditch. But instead, we see that this Samaritan not only approached the man, he bandaged his wounds, he carried him to the inn and he paid for his care. Oh, the love that can be shown regardless of the person.

God calls all of us to love our neighbor as ourself. He calls us to approach our neighbor, to offer them the eternal healing found only in Jesus Christ, to carry them to a local body called the church and to help strengthen them in the knowledge and service of the Lord.

Who is your neighbor? See you Sunday!

Randy

Relationships

"It's all about relationships!" That's what I have heard from the earliest days of my selling career. The other addage tossed around with a frequency like that of waves rolling ashore has a similar ring: "People buy from people." Or how about the other favorite, "It's not what you know; it's who you know"?

We can all relate (no pun intended, but indeed retained for purposes of staying on topic!) to relationships. In fact, all of us have a number of different types of relationships. For example, I am a son, a brother, a nephew, a grandson, a husband, a father, a son-in-law, an uncle, a friend, a neighbor, a pastor, a coworker, a boss, an employee, a coach, a church member, a teammate, etc. In every case, my life is connected to other people. And if you can fathom the mathematical model postulated by some very smart people, the entire human race is connected by "six degrees of separation." Yes, relationships matter. In seminary, these kind of relationships are called "Horizontal Relationships." These relationships are kept in tact by the last 6 commandments.

But then there is the "Vertical Relationship." This is the most important relationship...our relationship to God. This relationship is encompassed by the first 4 commandments. This Sunday begins our new sermon series entitled (fittingly, given this blog's content!), "RELATIONSHIPS."

Come join us Sunday as we look at Romans 12:1-2. We will learn what God's expecation is in our relationship with Him. You may just be surprised!

DISH OUT

The End of the World

Such a fascinating topic is the end of the world. I remember the first time I read through the book of Revelation. I was confused beyond understanding.

I remember that song by REM..."It's the End of the World as We Know it." Are we in the end times? What does that even mean? Will the world ever end really? What are the signs of the end times?

But as with any topic, no matter how provacative, the Christian must first and foremost ask the question, "What does the Bible have to say about that?"

Well, if we collected all the books written about this one topic...the end of the world...one might imagine that not even the Superdome in New Orleans could contain them. Many have allowed their lives to be consumed with this topic. Many others have erroneously - and sinfully - predicted the date of the end of the world.

The movie 2012 is coming out this fall. Watch and you may just learn that...of course its the end of the Mayan calendar! Yeah, right. As a dear friend of mine often said, "That's cooky-talk!"

Come join us at C3 for the final two weeks of our "Taboo Topics" sermon series, where we look to God's Word for clues we can count on! See you there...and...bring your Bible!

Pastor Randy

Taboo Topics

I was in Washington DC this past week and as I was sitting in line waiting for the ticket office to open for the Washington Monument, I was confronted with the temptation to talk politics with the men around me...

I refrained. Call me chicken or wise. In either case, such a thought has buttressed yet again God's calling for me to preach a series entitled "Taboo Topics."

If you missed the first two weeks of the series, Politics or Hell, you can check out our podcast at www.c3charleston.com. The next several weeks are sure to get your attention. Join us as we explore the topics of:

Money - July 19th
Sex - July 26th
Addictions - August 2nd
The End of the World (1) - August 9th
The End of the World (2) - August 16th

See you then...

Randy

Who are you discipling?

I am into a new book now, entitled "Church is a Team Sport" by Jim Putman. Here is an excerpt from his book, where he is talking about what happens when a person abandons the self-improvement method and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He aptly points out that...

"...the devil now sees the one we just baptized as an enemy. This is not like a physical game we might play, where at worst we get hurt accidentally and need medical attention. Satan is not happy about losing that person to Jesus...he is out to disarm and destroy them to protect his own evil kingdom. We often don't understand that we just got this new believer into a war they are not equipped to fight. They don't know the rules, or the weapons available, or even how to use them." (pg. 96-97)

To be sure, new Christians need to be developed and nurtured. This is the role of the body of believers we call the church. We are to nurture our own along in the faith.

Maybe you are not ready to disciple. If so, then who is discipling you? Who around you challenges you to grow in Christ? To whom can you reach out and ask to meet with you to talk about what it means to follow Jesus, what it "costs" to be a disciple?

The church does not grow unless the church grows. Do you get that?

A few notes before signing off:

• pray for our Romanian Mission Team
• calendar our Covenant Partner Classes (all C3 Covenant Partners are required to attend one class). Dates are June 18, 21, 22, and 28.
• calendar June 19th at 6:30 PM for our Mission Trip Worship Service!
• welcome Cliff Daniels to our Summer Internship
• calendar July 18th and August 8th for our C3 Community Movie Nights!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Randy

Ask for Wisdom

In my annual Bible reading plan, I have come to 2 Chronicles, where Solomon asks God for wisdom. What he did NOT ask for is instructive.

• He did not ask for wealth.
• He did not ask for riches.
• He did not ask for honor.
• He did not ask for the death of his enemies.
• And he did not ask for long life.

Later, Solomon would write this proverb: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10)

Job declared the same: "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." (Job 28:28)

David also declared the same: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111:10)

Charles Spurgeon, English preacher of the 1800's, defined wisdom this way:

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

St. Francis of Assisi said, "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

And the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to confess: "It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Our prayers to God should include a request for His wisdom!

I confess that I mostly ask God for what I want - it would have been very understandable if Solomon would have asked for victory over his enemies, wealth or honor, or a long life, but instead he asked God for wisdom. God added all the other things to him as well.

Randy