Sunday, February 23, 2014

Collide

This is a message I shared at our first youth led Saturday night worship service last Saturday:


God hasn't stop talking, but is still talking and trying to tell us something (even) today.  What might that be?  What might he be telling us about why we are here tonight.

Our Acton youth have in the past gathered with other youth groups for Mission Trips, main event, project 44 workdays, community events, lock-ins, and recently Discovery.  We have even worshipped a couple of times with FUMC Granbury on wednesday nights.  But we haven't done something on a set, recurring basis.  And so tonight is a first.  Discovery provided us that opportunity.  We haven't done an event with other youth groups that is ONLY about worship.  We can gather on a recurring basis and worship.  And everything else can be in addition to this once a month worship.  It all starts with worship.

That's what Collide is about.  Where students, faith, and WORSHIP meet.  Now collide may look different each month.  We may have just worship music with no message.  We may prayer stations.  We may have small groups.  But one thing is for certain, Collide will be where us, our faith, and worship meet.

From the beginning the bible makes it abundantly clear that we were intended to live in community with other people.  Being made in God's image, we have the need to connect with others.

So why did we want to do worship once a month as our once a month recurring event.  Let's talk about that by looking at scripture.


Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to pharaoh and tell him: this is what the Lord says: let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 8:1)

The Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront pharaoh as he goes to the water.  Say to him, This is what the Lord says: Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 8:20)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to pharaoh and say to him, This is what the Lord, the Hebrews' God says: Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 9:1)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh.  Say to him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let me people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 9:13)

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the Lord, the Hebrews' God, says: How long will you refuse to respect me?  Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 10:3)

Translation: God REALLY wants his people to worship and worship him.  Worship was very important.  God did not want his people to be let go so they could be free, he wanted them to be let go so that they can worship.  Worship was more important than anything else.


"The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shard meals, and to their prayers.  A sense of awe came over everyone.  God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.  All the believers were united and shared everything. (Acts 2:42-44)

In the New Testament Christ calls us to an other-oriented view of relationships, to be concerned about the best for another person, just as we normally would for ourselves.

When it comes to faith and proclaming one's religious beliefs, transitioning from the contemplative to the illustrative becomes a challenge.  So we don't contemplate doing worship anymore, we illustrate this sense of community by worshipping.

Collide is different and new to us, or at least me, because it is all about worship.  And it is on a recurring basis.  A synonym for collide is to have an impact.  We can have an impact by being here in community once a month.  We can impact each other and how we do things.  Tonight we've assembled for what is all intents and purposes a congregation for one goal, to worship.  We have an opportunity to make an impact.

Grace & Peace
Kevin