Slideshow image

Thoughts on a Monday…

There are a ton of things to get ready for on Sunday mornings at, what I would consider, our typical small-town church. I get up here at 5:00 AM every week to go over sermon notes, put slides in the presentation on the computer, make the coffee, straiten the chairs, and several other small details that other people may overlook. I want everything to “go right” during the worship service, because the Lord gave us His best in sending His Son. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” However, no matter how much I plan or prepare… something always seems to go haywire. It really used to bother me, until I started pointing out those mishaps to the congregation and commenting on how God is still pleased with our worship.

No matter what is happening around me on a Sunday morning, I always look forward to one event… What’s In The Box. I got the idea from my childhood preacher. Every week I send the box home with a different child, who has to place something in it and bring it back the following Sunday for me to give an object lesson on. There are two rules: 1) It can’t be alive/never has been alive. 2) If I can’t come up with a lesson, the parents have to! W.I.T.B. is the scariest, funniest, most heartfelt moment of our worship service because of the uncertainty of it all. We have a special time in the middle of the worship service when the kids come down (or should I say run down!) to the front and gather around to see what is inside. Everything about the worship service can be going perfectly, and one strategically placed item in that box can throw the entire congregation into a fit of laughter! That is what’s so great about it! The children are excited, and the adults are excited, to see if the preacher is going to be stumped by what’s inside.

There are a few people that do not enjoy the kids running down the aisle and causing commotion, but my thinking is… THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE IN CHURCH! Even if it is a little gimmicky, they have something to look forward to every week! ‘Am I going to get the box?’ ‘I wonder what’s in there this week?’ ‘What is he going to say?’ In Matthew 19, Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” I cannot imagine the Lord being anything other than pleased that the little children are excited to be in His house on Sunday mornings!

We are living in a world that has all but given up on the church. (Jesus said that would happen in Matthew 24: At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,) Children today are dealing with so much uncertainty (between the pandemic and things going on at home) that they need a constant in their lives. That constant is Jesus Christ! The same goes for us as well. Whenever you are feeling burdened and pressured by all that is going on the world, remember these words from Deuteronomy 31: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Have a great week!

-Jason