Weekend Messages: From Trying to Be Relevant to Demonstrating Relevance

(This is one in a series of posts I started last Thursday.)

This change is even more subtle than the last one. This one has more to do with what's going on in the mind of the preacher and the programming team...with how we think about what we are communicating each week.

The Bible is extremely relevant to our lives. More relevant than anything else, in spite of the language, time and cultural distance of the text.

Sometimes those of us who communicate the Bible fall into a bit of trap in our thinking. We focus too much on the vast cultural divide and the differences and difficulties in understanding the text and applying it. We then begin to think we need to make it relevant. 

But it already is relevant. Our task is to demonstrate its relevance. When we think implications more than specific applications (see last post), I think we're on the right track. We're looking more for what we learn about God, our world, our relationships and ourselves, rather than trying to find a way to help people apply it right away in their lives.

Weekend Messages: From Application to Implication

We''ve been making some changes in our approach to our weekend messages over the last few months. Some are very subtle and some are less so. None of these changes imply criticism of what you use to do or what other churches do. They are simply a different way of accomplishing the same mission Christ called us to. I'm going to do a series of posts on what those changes are and the why behind them.

From Application to More Implication

This one is really subtle. By "application" I mean offering very specific ways to apply the text. For example, one application from last week's message was to attend the Leadership Summit this summer. We will continue to offer specific applications in our weekend messages.

But we will make more room for considering the implications of the text. "Implication" asks a broader and sometimes deeper question: If this principle/truth/doctrine we see in this passage is true, what are the implications/consequences for how we think about everything and how we live in this world, personally and corporately? Driving home the implication question seeks to bring about fundamental changes in the way we think. It seeks to penetrate the heart and mind for broader and deeper life change that comes from a deeper appreciation of the implications of the gospel for our lives. 

Implication asks more "What difference does this make?" and less "What should I do?" Doing is vitally important, but the goal is greater long-term change that comes from true, deep repentance and a renewed mind.