A blog entry from Jared C. Wilson on adoring Jesus:
 “We are typically very quick to note when someone is not showing love for their neighbor. But what about love for Jesus? Should it settle implicitly? Is love for Christ something that is sufficient when latent?
What I notice a lot every day in the Christian spheres of social media is just how incredibly adept we evangelicals are at doctrinal criticism, cultural rebuke, theological analysis, biblical exegesis, contending for the faith in apologetic and ethical debates, pithy spiritualbon mots, religious advice, and of course the quoting of Christian leaders present and past, but what seems less prevalent is adoration of Jesus.
When we see a Bible verse, we run its meaning through our mind and can expound on it with intelligence, but when we see Christ before us, do we stagger at his beauty and exult in it with awe? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see a lost person acting a fool in the news, our righteous indignation runs right through our fingertips to our keyboards, but when we see Christ before us, does our righteousness crumble and run right to his feet in a posture of supplication? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see one of our Christian heroes saying something smart or funny or challenging, we send them a virtual high-five and echo the proclamation in shouts of appreciation, but when we see Christ before us, do we lift him high in our hearts and herald his glory with shouts of acclamation? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see that someone is wrong on the Internet, we feel the responsibility to speak up, to be the one to stand in the gap between their ignorance and our assurance, but when we see Christ before us — supreme and sovereign and saving — do we feel the wonders of his radiance?
When we look at Jesus, are we warmed? Or do we shrug our shoulders?
Some professing Christians don’t seem to speak of Christ at all. Let them ask themselves, “Do I adore Jesus?”
Has Jesus become our mascot, our projection? When you look at him, what do you see?
There’s nothing wrong with using the Internet public squares for all kinds of messages, from the serious to the silly, and I don’t mean to suggest that there is. I just want to ask sometimes, “But do you adore Jesus? It seems you are fired up about all sorts of things, but it is not clear if you love Jesus.” I don’t think we should simply assume from some peripheral fire that the central ignition is love of Christ.
Christ is the apex of all that is precious, the center of all that is glorious and delightful. He is the very point of existence. He is the Son of the living God, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last who was and is and is to come. “O come let us adore him!”, not scrutinize, utilize, or analyze him.”
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so…
– Psalm 107:2
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
– Isaiah 52:7

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
January 12, 2014

There was an article this week from a church leadership website I subscribe to that discussed the intent of Sunday preaching. A visiting church consultant asked a church leadership team what the desired end purpose of preaching each Sunday was. Someone answered “Evangelism.” The consultant answered “Wrong!”
Another said “Teaching.” . . . “Wrong”
Worship? Fellowship? Ministry? Service?
“Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!”
The consultant’s answer? “To bring people into an ‘experience’ with God.”
As I read that question in the article I was answering in my head “To draw people closer to God.” So it appears that my own response is somewhat aligned with that of this consultant in the article (whew). But I don’t mention the article’s conclusion because I necessarily agree or disagree with its points. But I do think it’s worth mentioning for the mere premise that not only is there an intentional purpose by a given preacher but there is equally an opinion and expectation by the listening congregation receiving the sermon message. I began to wonder if the two perspectives between the preacher and congregation are always in harmony of if they are ever in tension with one another.
Surely for many people at NCFC the above answers such as worship, evangelism and teaching are what they would answer as far as what preaching should be achieving. I would agree they are very important and worthwhile endeavors to strive for during service. So I can imagine it must annoy or slightly offend that some church consultant out there would say this is “Wrong.” I’m not here to debate those points or ask anyone to take sides. I bring this up to emphasize the point that we are all uniquely created and have distinct a separate personalities. We respond differently both emotionally and spiritually during service. As such we all will also relate differently to God as the Spirit leads us. For some, praise worship is a powerful moving experience that touches their hearts. But for others the intellectual theology of a sermon is what resonates mostly with them. And for others the fellowship and sense of community the service provides is how they “experience” God. And then when you combine the individual unique strengths and giftings of the preacher to this mix, why then you get my point: Sunday service can be a very layered and complex experience for all present.
We may make it that way, but God is not limited by any of this whatsoever. Although the means by which we are in communion with the Lord varies across different emotional and intellectual spectrums, God has the power and capacity to reach us where we are at in our lives. In His own timing and in His own way our hearts and minds are gradually transformed.
Perhaps there is a way in which to tie those responses in with the answer that the desired end purpose of preaching is “To bring people into an ‘experience with God.” Regardless of how, when and why people relate to Sunday service either emotionally or intellectually,  the important thing is that through each of those experiences along the way God speaks to us. And as a result we draw closer to Him. Hopefully there is harmony within that shared effort. Amen to that.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
January 19, 2014