|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At a recent seminar we were asked to imagine if some football commentators were giving advice to churches about how to increase their attendance. They might suggest the following:
A football game is always a dramatic conflict. It is always clear which side to root for, who is ahead, and which side has won. In a worship assembly the conflict is there; in fact, it's a much more vital conflict than the clashing line of scrimmage. But this conflict is often hidden. People may be unaware that it even exists. Even more difficult to discern is which team is ahead. And when the assembly is over, who has really won? In a sense, the game is not over then--it just goes on and on.
The most significant difference is in the degree of involvement. Someone has said that in football, thousands badly in need of exercise watch 22 players badly in need of rest. But a worship assembly actually has no spectators. We are all in the game, on one side or the other. If you arrive at an assembly thinking you are a spectator, how differently do you act than if you realize you are a player?
Imagine how many would attend a football game if all were expected to play. It's your involvement that makes a worship assembly truly meaningful. Get up off the bench and throw yourself into the game!
Copyright ©2005 Steve Singleton, All rights reserved.
Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.
Go to his DeeperStudy.com for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."
Wind Chimes and more... Treasures of a lifetime...At the end of your life will... Read More Memorial Day weekend, 2004, found my wife and I along... Read More Let us grasp and treasure each precious moment of our... Read More Synchronicity: the coincidence of events that seem related but are... Read More Trouble, trouble, trouble. Nothing but trouble. The night before, I... Read More The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it... Read More Every morning when singer-songwriter Michael Alan looks into the mirror... Read More "?beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty... Read More Remember when you were really young? It was an era... Read More Oh, this is a great topic! I remember when I... Read More Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth.Roy? You have in your... Read More Are you left with inspiration but no action after hearing,... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 26,... Read More Consider this. If it is possible to quote you as... Read More Some people live in and talk about the past so... Read More There are reasons we cross paths with those that we... Read More One day Mr. Shoaff said, "Jim, if you want to... Read More A Story (Source Unknown) ? One day a very wealthy... Read More Lisa was born into a loving Christian family and went... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 25,... Read More If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More Water is the source of life, yet so few of... Read More I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging,... Read More Lorenzo C. an inspiring young teenager who fell to the... Read More I have an unexpected relationship problem. It's hard to believe... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
Forgotten Dreams: At the End... Part I
Launch Yourself Into Living
Each Moment Is To Be Treasured
Synchronicity
Selfish Beings
Today is Yesterdays Tomorrow
Musicians Survival was Truly a Miracle: Singer Songwriter Fights for his Life
Beauty, Gratitude, and the Open Heart
Remember Within
Crossing The Line Of Fear
Your Turn On The Holodeck
How To Be a Champion in Your Life
Unintended Consequences
What Is Your Real Worth?
Inspirations: Even More Things Ive Noticed Along the Way So Far
Being Relatable in Todays World as a Christian
The Miracle of Personal Development
Change Your Landscape by Seeing with New Eyes
Lisas Christmas
Pride Goeth
Anchors Away!
How to Pray on Water! Announcing Life-Changing Bible Code - Discover Amazing Water Scriptures!
The Climbs In Our Lives
Body Calling: Eye Sight Cured Naturally
The Karate Kid
Thanks to Walt Disney's "The Lion King", children the world... Read More
In nature, when the season is right, all things flourish... Read More
I just got back from Colorado where I spent a... Read More
Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge".Did you know... Read More
BORN OF BODY AND SPIRITWe are born of the body... Read More
Sacred space, sacred timeBelieve in your personal power, retrieve if... Read More
Are you ready for a change? Is it time for... Read More
Just imagine how it would feel to be successful...., to... Read More
It is often difficult to know exactly what to do.... Read More
Remember when you were really young? It was an era... Read More
How strong are you? I'm not asking if you... Read More
The problem with this is that fantasies usually don't come... Read More
Exploring beneath the surface of a reoccurring relationship issue can... Read More
"Welcome to Canada," Ken shouted to me over the roar... Read More
We must shape the future and control our destiny.When we... Read More
"Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" (By fire is nature renewed whole.)... Read More
In the Northeast, we have a few months to prepare... Read More
I have no idea how it started or who launched... Read More
Diana is a wonderful person with a great personality and... Read More
" The fountain of content must spring up in the... Read More
Jeremiah was certainly one of the most distinguished notables of... Read More
This is a true story about a woman I worked... Read More
At first glance, when tough times hit, it seems the... Read More
Here's a simple parable with an important moral.Each mirror, you... Read More
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration?... Read More
Inspirational |