Doubling Down

Today, I returned to the church from last week in order to get a feel for the draw to the church through the contemporary service.

This service was different than the 8:30 service in ways other than the music. We began, not with scripture and prayer, but with a song. Then we had prayer followed by the announcements read by the lead pastor. After the announcements, the offering was collected and we were asked to join in the ending to the offertory. (I had been singing from the beginning because I loved "Good, Good Father")

The congregation was filled with children who had just been to Sunday school and most of them left at this point.

The lead pastor returned to the pulpit for the message. At this point, he shared that the 1 John series had ended, but as he looked at 2 John he realized it was another ending beyond what he had shared last week. He never did read the actual scripture, but moved right into the message.

His opening remarks revolved around 9/11 and never forget to 'watch out'. He then spoke to what the writer of 2 John might want us to watch out for. I was again expecting a sermon on the capital S Sinner, but was blindsided by his use of grace and salvation as cornerstones to his first point.

However, it was long into point two that he doubled down. He told the congregation they needed to watch out for false teachings. There are those out there who rely on their own reason to get through the day. I immediately stopped letting my mind wander. Yep, point two, was those who rely on their own experience. And he wasn't done yet, he also called out those who rely on tradition to verify scripture for them. Oh yeah, I heard very clearly the attack on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

Then came point three... Some people are take off the track by love. At this point, I'm deep into my own head and the UMC battle over LOVE. Do we love our neighbor and let God sort the wheat from the tares? Do we not love in this way because it is not the way to bring the Sinner to repentance? I was not disappointed in my expectations for the sermon. And of course, we closed with an altar call so that all those who have yet to repent or those who are still Sinners can make it right with their Savior and Lord.

I do not know what the congregation thought of the sermon or how these sermons are perceived by those seeking a church home, but as noted in the announcements they had over 20 more children at the midweek children's programming (101) than they had at their high last year (88) so they are reaching to a certain segment of the population.