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| Wilberforce, Ohio |
It's Pentecost Sunday. Linda and I are excited to have Steve Backlund from Bethel Redding at Redeemer.
Steve was with us Friday night, and Saturday morning and evening. What great gatherings we had! This morning I am filled with expectation for today. (Steve is with us at 10:30 and 6:30.)
The gatherings were great because God presenced himself. This is central. Without this, what are we doing? What are we looking for?
A.W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, writes:
"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all. If we would find God amid all the religious externals we must first determine to find Him." (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Kindle Locations 128-133)
We don't need to promote God, right? I mean, if it's really God that shows up and inhabits the house, the word will get around just fine without advertising. People will ask, "How was church today?" You will answer, "God made an appearance."
Steve was with us Friday night, and Saturday morning and evening. What great gatherings we had! This morning I am filled with expectation for today. (Steve is with us at 10:30 and 6:30.)
The gatherings were great because God presenced himself. This is central. Without this, what are we doing? What are we looking for?
A.W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, writes:
"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all. If we would find God amid all the religious externals we must first determine to find Him." (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Kindle Locations 128-133)
We don't need to promote God, right? I mean, if it's really God that shows up and inhabits the house, the word will get around just fine without advertising. People will ask, "How was church today?" You will answer, "God made an appearance."
The presence of God advertises itself.
Focus on God's presence and your church's advertising budget will shrink to $0.
Because you don't have to advertise a fire.
Because you don't have to advertise a fire.
