The ME Church

We live in a ‘me first’ society. The world encourages us to think of ourselves first and others . . . well, rarely. We can sometimes be so consumed with this mentality that we even expect our church to cater to us. It is a reminder that we should not ask our church to serve us.

We should eliminate our grumblings about the style of music, whether I’m hearing my favorite words spoken, our dislikes and other issues. We should instead remember that Christ came to serve, not to be served. If we then are following, living like Christ; then we are part of the local Church to serve and grow the Kingdom of God. We do look out for one another to be sure; it is not however about making the Lord's Church customized to our liking, but to pursue and make his vision for the local body a reality on earth.

The Offering - Is it a break in Worship or part of Worship

Offering should be every bit a spiritual part of worship and obedience to God.  Check this article for one perspective.  http://manofdepravity.com/2010/04/13/church-offering/

 “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully around hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will be not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, and irredeemable. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell." 

 C.S. Lewis in the Four Loves