Worship Confessional: An Opportunity for the Ordinary

Today we turned our attention to Acts 3-4, and Brian challenged us to consider a huge question "Am I an ordinary person that God desires to use to do extraordinary things for remarkable purposes?" 

I felt a bit fuzzy going into today's service because I have - amazingly - only led worship one time in the past month. Between the mission trip to Guatemala and then having the flu and taking off a few days to write, I have missed worshiping with my church family. 

Here's what we did:

We continued in our introduction of the song "Today is the Day" by Lincoln Brewster and Paul Baloche to our congregation. My team had done this for the first time last weekend when I was home with the flu and the congregation seems to be picking up on it easily enough. I saw that people were beginning to embrace the words as well as they worshipped. I was glad to see that. 

First Set of Worship:

1. Today is the Day - Brewster and Baloche

2. For All You've Done - Hillsong

3. Sing to the King - Billy James Foote

Welcome and Greeting

Sermon - "An Opportunity for the Ordinary" - Brian Mayfield

Video - Gregory Jones shot a great video of Sue Ann McCoy, our missions coordinator, sharing her story about how God used her to lead many people to Christ on a church mission trip. Powerful testimony!

Special Worship Song - "Center" (Charlie Hall) - Brian led us in this song and it was a beautifully powerful song to use to respond to the sermon. It really touched me deeply and Brian did a great job with it.

We wrapped up the service by singing "My Savior Lives" (NewLife). In looking back on it, I wish we'd used another song to bridge to this one to end on. It was a bit of an abrupt jump from "Center" to this song - too big of an emotional move in my opinion. I felt like we interrupted a sweet time with God to go to a fast song. If I had it to do over again, I'd use a medium tempo, more worshipful song between those two elements. As a worship pastor, I continue to live and learn!

Some points and questions I'll be thinking on this week in light of this sermon are:

 - If I am a follower of Jesus, God has a plan to use me.

 - God desires that we give what we have. This birthed two important questions in my heart: What does this mean to me? What do I have personally to give to others? (and this is one of those questions I feel like others might answer better than I can!)

 - Am I, as an ordinary person, allowing God to use me to do extraordinary things for His remarkable purposes?

 - Am I clearly stating that I live for Jesus Christ?

 - Do people recognize that I have been with Jesus? Can they tell by my life that I have been in the presence of Jesus? Do I exude the life and love of Jesus? Do I "smell like" Christ?

 - Am I underestimating what I have to offer? (a huge temptation for me personally because I often do not feel "qualified")

 - Am I courageous enough to ask God to make me dangerous for the Kingdom of God? This question really reverberated in my heart. I'm still thinking about it and will be for some time.

 - Am I willing to be used radically?

Do any of these questions resonate with you? Which ones? What is your answer?

How was your Sunday?

This post is a part of Sunday Setlists over at FredMcKinnon.Com. Go see what the rest of the world did in worship this morning!

Comments

[Bill Rainey]

The big question of the day for me was, "What do I have to give to others?" Like you, somebody else may have to answer this one for me because I'm not sure what I have, if anything. But, since God made me for a purpose, I'm sure I have SOMETHING... I just can't seem to see what it is.

Very powerful morning on several different levels!

[Lori Biddle]

I so understand what you mean when you say your feel unqualified! This is sooo me! I spend more time afraid to move because the enemy so often has me convinced I am not qualified to take on a project, or to try to lead others. Although I am not happy you feel the same way, it is good to know it is not just my struggle! Don't ever give up! God Bless!

[David]

"Do I smell like Christ?" I like that imagery Jan. So often I talk bout our praise being a sacrifice of praise that is a pleasing aroma to God...so your imagery is a neat extension.

And if there's ever a day we stop learning more, it's time to either move on or give some serious Godly evaluation and be sure He's calling us out.

Thanks for your always candid sharing Jan. God bless

[Jen Kerr]

"Do I smell like Christ?"
Now that is most def. a new way of asking that questio...
right now I smell like mint and also sweat...perhaps I'll think about your real question in the shower...
thanks for making me think...

[dustymedlock]

While reading this ,Jan, the question and idea that sticks out to me is the one about "underestimating what I have to offer / not feeling qualified". Two thoughts come to mind:
First, I sometimes struggle with a lack of confidence or a fear of failure. But when I do I think it's because I am looking for confidence in myself, what I can do, instead of what God wants to do through me.
Secondly, when I am spiritually in a rut, or have recently sinned, or have become complacent in my walk I often feel like I need to spend some time in a penitent state in order to work myself back to "worthiness" to serve. By the way I believe spiritual complacency leads to spiritual apathy. And spiritual apathy is basically the equivalent to spiritual death, or at least being in a spiritual coma.
But God reminded me the other day that asking for forgiveness or praying for a certain amount of time does not pay for sin. It's already been paid for. Now repentance is important, and even required, but I also have a call on my life and a commandment to go and make disciples and to use the gifts that God has given me.
Basically, the bottom line for me is, when I don't feel worthy or qualified, there's a good reason for it; I'm not. But I am created with a purpose and called by God to be a vessel for Him to use me in whatever way He pleases. If I could just look past myself, my flaws, and my imperfections, and look to Him for everything then I could be that ordinary person that God desires to use to do extraordinary things for remarkable purposes.

[Jan Owen]

Great points Dusty! So happy you're reading - and following. I'm glad we'll be interacting more and more!