With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #19.
We’ve visited many small churches on our journey. Except for this one, all these tiny congregations desperately desired to grow numerically. But is this God’s perspective?
Increasing the number of people in a church is partly for survival, since a church needs to maintain a core base of people to function and pay their bills. However, striving to be larger also buys into society’s unshakable conviction that bigger is better.
Yet evaluating the significance of a church based on their size is man’s perspective. Whereas God’s perspective judges success by a different standard.
I suspect that from God’s point of view, it’s not numeric size that matters. Instead a kingdom focus—one that values unity and spiritual depth—is more important.
This pastor is one man who truly understands this. His focus is on growing the kingdom of God, not the size of his congregation. His view is so refreshing.
He wants to help all of Jesus’ church, not just one branch. We need more ministers like this and more churches with this perspective.
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
In the short book of Haggai, the central theme is that God’s house (the temple) needs to be rebuilt. It lay in ruins. But the people have not done so because they are focused on their own houses and comfort.
As far as God is concerned, their priorities are wrong. They’re putting themselves first and not concerned about him.
Three times God points this out, asking them to consider the quality of their lives. Things aren’t going well for them.
Their efforts fail to produce the results they want, their plans don’t work out the way they expect, and they lack what they need.
After Haggai delivers God’s message to the leaders and the people, their response is to rebuild the temple. Then God promises to bless them.
When their priorities were wrong, things went wrong. When their priorities became right, God’s blessings resulted.
Although the conclusion isn’t absolute, it’s worth considering that when things are going wrong, it might be because our priorities are misaligned with God’s will for our lives and his desire for how we act.
Instead of blaming God when our lives are dissappointing, we might do better to blame ourselves, and then work to fix our priorities. It starts by putting God first.
Learn more about all twelve of the Bible’s Minor Prophets in Peter’s book, Return to Me: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope from the Minor Prophets
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #18.
We’ve now been to three churches with liturgical services (Church #5, 17, and 18), two of them Roman Catholic. I’ve struggled with the liturgy at all three.
I’m quite sure God is present, but we don’t connect. I could blame the church, the priest, or their tradition, but it’s no one’s fault but my own.
I appreciate that others are drawn to the tradition and find comfort in the ritual. I’m glad for them, but the rhythm of this practice evades me. I’m yet to find spiritual significance in liturgical services, but I’m willing to continue working at it.
Another struggle, a more critical concern is that the people arrive silently, worship subtly, and exit quickly. Without interaction, connection, or community, I leave feeling alone and isolated.
The ritual and rhythm of Catholic practices intrigue me, but the impersonal nature of their gathering discourages me.
God, may I learn how to connect with you in all settings and circumstances, including liturgical services. May my worship be sincere and true, regardless of the style of church service.
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
A quick read of the beginning of the book of Zephaniah sounds a lot like Noah and the flood:
“I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea.
The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord (Zephaniah 1:2-3).
Aside from the minor issue that fish won’t likely be destroyed by a flood, the main problem is that this passage foretells a future event, but Noah and flood happened centuries before.
This means that Zephaniah isn’t talking about Noah and the great flood, but another judgement, a future sweeping away of everything.
The flood in Noah’s time was God’s judgment over rampant evil in the world. The righteous were saved, the wicked die.
According to Zephaniah there will be another time of judgment. Though his description sounds like a flood, he doesn’t mention a deluge.
Jesus talks about this judgement too (Luke 17:20-27). Although God promises he will never again destroy the world with a flood (Genesis 9:11), he doesn’t preclude using other means. This is what Zephaniah foresees.
We don’t know when this will occur, but there is no need to worry for those who follow Jesus.
Learn more about all twelve of the Bible’s Minor Prophets in Peter’s book, Return to Me: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope from the Minor Prophets
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #17.
This high church experience gave me much to contemplate about worshiping God in a more formal, liturgical manner.
In contrast, most all of my church experiences have not been high church experiences, but low church, with little liturgy.
Although he was addressing prayer, I recall Jesus’ warning against “vain repetition” (Matthew 6:7 KJV).
Part of me rebels against this churches rote practices. The liturgy, the solemn ritual, and the prescribed responses all fit my understanding of “vain repetition.”
I want nothing to do with a routine, mechanical connection to God. I desire a Spirit-led directness: organic, passionate, and real.
Yet at the same time, there’s a certain rhythm to grasp—and to embrace.
Though allure of liturgy eludes me right now, I want to pursue it, not as a regular spiritual practice but as a refreshing break from my normal non-liturgical connection with God.
Liturgy can expand my relationship to God, my connection, if only I can learn how to comprehend it. This is something I need to push through and explore further so that one day I can embrace it more fully.
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
The short Old Testament book of Zephaniah opens with an apocalyptic prophecy. Amid the forth telling of doom and gloom is the reminder that “neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them.”
The Message Bible, puts it more directly: “Don’t plan on buying your way out. Your money is worthless for this.” Do we put our trust in our money today? Do we view money as the solution?
What do we really depend on to save us from disaster? For most people, there is the real answer and the right answer—and they’re not always the same.
When things go bad, really bad, the end-of-time-bad, money’s not the solution, neither are things, nor power, nor influence, not even family and friends. Zephaniah knows this. So do we.
We inherently know that ultimately only a higher power can save us, only God is the answer for life’s final question.
We know that, but do we actually believe it? Do we actually live it?
Do we trust God with our future or place our hope in money—or ourselves. Jesus confirms that we can’t serve them both.
There are eternal consequences at stake. Don’t make the wrong choice.
Learn more about all twelve of the Bible’s Minor Prophets in Peter’s book, Return to Me: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope from the Minor Prophets
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Another familiar character in the book of Judges is Gideon. There are three whole chapters devoted to him. He is a fearful man who is at first cautious of God’s call. But eventually he does fully obey what God says to do.
There are three initial things that God tells him, through his angel messenger:
“The Lord is with you mighty warrior!” Gideon’s response is to change the subject.
“Go in the strength that you have and save Israel.” To this, Gideon in effect says, “How? I am nobody!”
“I will be with you.” At this point, Gideon asks for proof that the words are really from God. And when Gideon doubts the first confirmation that God provides, the doubting man asks for a second one.
We can learn two key lessons from this exchange.
God’s Perspective is the Right Perspective
First, God may see us differently then we see ourselves, and it’s unwise to question God’s perspective. He knows all things. We don’t.
We Must Do What We Can and Trust God with the Rest
The second insight is that we need to move forward to the extent that our abilities allow. That is, we must do our part and not expect God to do something for us that we can do ourselves.
Then God will be with us. He will make up for what we lack.
This is an important balance to maintain. One error is to not do anything, even what we can do, because of the enormity of the task, while the other extreme is to try to do it all ourselves without God’s help.
Be Like Gideon
Instead, we need to do what we can and trust God to do the rest—just like Gideon.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Peter DeHaan’s latest book Dear Theophilus Job is now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. It’s book five in the beloved Dear Theophilus series.
In Dear Theophilus Job you can explore the book of Job as if watching a movie, with the biblical text serving as our screenplay. It’s a fresh take on an ageless story, breathing new life into one of the Bible’s more perplexing tales.
Consider:
Do your eyes glaze over when you read the book of Job?
Are Job’s friends too pompous? Is God a bit aloof? Can you push through all the lengthy speeches? Does Satan have too much control over poor Job? If you cry “foul,” you’re not alone. It doesn’t seem fair.
Job doesn’t have to be boring, however. But to access its profound message requires adopting a fresh approach. It calls for pursuing a unique take to embrace this ancient story.
What if we read Job like a screenplay?
In Dear Theophilus, Job, founder of ABibleADay.com and lifetime student of the Bible Peter DeHaan, PhD, digs deep into the dialogue in the book of Job. By doing so he reveals heart-thumping drama, misguided do-gooders, and heretical notions about God that still exist today.
In Dear Theophilus, Job, you’ll discover:
That the book of Job resembles a play and how that can inform our understanding
How well-meaning people can misrepresent God
A glimpse into the heart of our Lord
That life isn’t fair, but God is
The way Job questions the Almighty and lives to talk about it
Part devotional. Part Bible study. No fluff. Totally life changing.
In book five of the Dear Theophilus series, you get all this and more: Thought-provoking insights about justice, mercy, and deliverance. God’s power, patience, and sovereignty. And don’t overlook the guile of evil Satan.
End with a greater appreciation of how the book of Job can inform your actions and attitudes today. May it change you and inspire you.
Buy Dear Theophilus Job today and move from despair to deliverance!
Discover more about Job in Peter’s book I Hope in Him: 40 Insights about Moving from Despair to Deliverance through the Life of Job. In it, we compare the text of Job to a modern screenplay.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Discover What the Scripture Says About Overcoming Death
Last week we talked about the ten times the Bible records people raised from the dead. Now we’ll expand that thought and explore more Biblical references about people rising from the dead.
Valley of Bones
Ezekiel records a vision in which he sees the bones of a human army reassembling themselves and coming back to life. Although we could interpret this as a literal resurrection, it’s better seen as an allusion to what God plans to do in a spiritual sense.
Attached to this evocative vision is a prophetic word to the people of Israel telling them that God will bring them back to life and return them home to the promised land. It’s also a pledge of restoration into a spiritual afterlife (Ezekiel 37:1-14).
Two Witnesses
In similar fashion, John’s epic vision of the end times talks about two witnesses raised from the dead after three and a half days. Their resurrection terrifies all who see them. Then God calls them to join him in heaven.
Though we could interpret this vision in a literal sense that two people will come back to life at the end of time, we may be better off understanding the whole vision as allegory with us being raised from the dead and joining God in heaven (Revelation 11:1-14).
All Who Are God’s Children
As followers of Jesus, we carry a hope of being raised from the dead, too, and spending eternity in heaven with our creator and our Savior.
Paul confirms this in his letter to the church in Ephesus when he reminds them that we’ll be raised from the dead through Jesus to join him in heaven (Ephesians 2:6).
Paul again addresses this in his letter to the church in Thessalonica. When Jesus comes again we’ll rise from the dead, be caught up in the clouds, and live with him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Women Who Received Back Their Dead
In the book of Hebrews, we have one short sentence that states a fact without explanation. In the chapter about faith, the writer references women who received back their dead, people raised to life again. (Hebrews 11:35).
We don’t know who these people are or how many.
It could refer to the son of a widow in Zarephath and the Shunammite woman’s boy, raised from the dead by Elijah and Elisha, respectively. Or could refer to other instances we aren’t aware of.
Regardless God raised people from the dead in the Old Testament.
Enoch
We must mention the Enoch, even though God didn’t raise him from the dead. This is because Enoch didn’t die. He skipped that step. He faithfully walked with God, and God took him away, presumably to join him in heaven (Genesis 5:24).
Elijah
Similar to Enoch, Elijah didn’t die either but went up to heaven in a whirlwind when his time here on earth was over (Elijah 2:11).
Isaac
We have the Old Testament story of God telling Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Though Abraham is willing, God provides an alternative to stave off Isaac’s death (Genesis 22:1-19).
The New Testament adds clarity to this passage. It says that Abraham was willing to carry out God’s command confident that God could resurrect Isaac, in effect raising him from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Jesus Raised from the Dead
God provided Abraham with a ram, an alternate sacrifice instead of Isaac. For us today, Jesus is our alternate sacrifice.
When Jesus rose from the dead, he proved he was more powerful than death. Don’t miss this truth. And through him we, too, can move from this life to death to life again—eternal life.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #16.
There were so many things this church did right, so many things I liked about it. Yet one problem overshadowed all of that. They were not a friendly church.
Aside from interacting with another couple (who were also visitors), one greeter, and the two pastors, no one else of the hundreds of people present talked to us.
There was no interaction before the service, nothing during the service, and none after the service ended.
I couldn’t even make eye contact with anyone to show I was open for conversation.
Afterward I scanned the auditorium for someone who looked approachable, but I couldn’t find anybody. They just looked past me or perhaps through me as if I wasn’t there.
Most people just left, as if they’d watched a movie and it was time to go home. For those who did tarry, they focused on their friends, ignoring all others.
For all its positive elements, this church was unfriendly. I left feeling isolated and alone. They were not a friendly church. There is no call to return.
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
