What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 1 Corinthians 14:26
These words were written in the context of instructions about orderly worship. And some of this made more sense in the smaller home church setting. And in a time when training and instruction were less available. And during a time when what comprised Scripture had not even been landed on yet. For many reasons, fully practicing this today is a challenge.
But what does it look like for us as a larger community at PRC to continue the SPIRIT of Paul’s words today? For us, it looks like us trying to broaden the voices—this is why you are seeing a rotation of worship leaders. And for years we’ve been trying to raise up new voices to teach.
This pandemic has given us new, creative ways to “come together” as a community to share the things God is placing on our hearts. Online conversations, Whole Care Check-In’s, Socially Distanced Small Group Tailgating.
We need to keep finding ways to let us hear from God through US.
Because somehow the God of the universe decided that words could work wonders.
- With a word, the universe was birthed into being.
- With words, God was able to direct and redirect his people.
- And when God finally decided that more than words were needed, He sent his own Son Jesus Christ, who John the Apostle calls The Word.
A frequent statement of Christ to the people around him was let him who has ears to hear, let him hear. Jesus was over and over again calling us to listen to the words of God.
Because God’s words shape us.
So, what are the scriptures that are shaping me? We thought that would be a fun question to ask different people at different times throughout the year. To begin to call out people from our congregation to share scriptures that up in shaping them. To keep finding ways to let us hear from us.
And I’ll kick it off. Over the next four Sundays I’ll share four passages of scripture that are shaping me. Our hope is that in the sharing of scriptures that are shaping us, you might find God wanting to shape you.
