Something To Think About, Gettng Something out of Church: 2/24

OK, I'm an old preacher, so anytime I see that a child has written, in big bold letters,  "SERVE THE LORD!!" you have my attention. Covington Bible Church is privileged to work with and through the Davis family, who serve near Wellington New Zealand.  Like all good missionaries Pink Davis (Yes, that is his name.) is working hard to work himself out of a job.  While doing so, he and Selena are raising three lovely girls.  Recently a proud parent posted this picture of the  two older girls' notes from a recent message. Go Girls! We live in a world where most people carry in their pockets a device that is able to produce whiz-bang effects that would have left a movie producer of just a short time ago slack-jawed in amazement.  Dancing bears no longer amuse us.  The bruins must also change colors in rhythm to the music, talk in several languages, and wear a customizable wardrobe, that will trumpet our favorite sports team's logo at the click of a key.  In this techno-glutted world there are still guys like me who stand up every week and just talk.  We open a 2,000 year old book and tell people what it says.  We may try to insert some technology in our talk, but even the really big churches can't keep up.  Those of us in the ranks of the "also-rans" can't even hope to stay close.  Yet I am convinced that this ancient mode of communication--preaching the message of the Bible--is an effective means of passing on the message.  Rather than moving away from preaching the Word of God, we preacher-types should renew our commitment to it.  I'm not speaking  against PowerPoint, or any of the other audio-visual aids that have become a part of 21st Century church life.  I am speaking for talking a First-Century, and older, text into the lives of 21st Century people.  If we are going to do that, and do it well, there are some commitments we need to make: First, to preachers:  Preach well! One reason preaching has lost favor is because preachers have lost fervor.  I speak not so much about fervor on the platform as I do about diligence in the study.  Those of us who stand up and say, "This is what God says. . ." ought to do our best to say it well. Second to listeners:  Listen hard! Too many take their seat on Sundaymorning, bleary-eyed from the night before, punching in one more text, and pretty well determined to be bored.  They are often not disappointed. This is where Eliana and Aleyah are leading the way.  They sat down on Sunday morning expecting to hear something important.  If something important is going to be said, I probably ought to take note of it.  And they did! Lead on ladies! It's STTA.