Thinking On Scripture

 

I usually like to put things in context on my blog, but this time I’m just going to list a couple of verses, and encourage you to go read them, in their context for yourself.

 

What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification.  (1 Corinthians 14:26, CJB)

 

Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit - sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Submit to one another in fear of the Messiah.  (Ephesians 5: 18b-21, CJB)

 

let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:16-17, CJB)

 

These verses (and their surrounding chapters) are talking about how we are to conduct ourselves when we meet together as believers, when we gather for “church”.  How often are these things happening where Christians are meeting together?  Is everyone ready with something to share?  Are they given the opportunity to share?  Are we teaching and counseling each other?  Or do we leave that type of thing up to the professionals?

 

Just some food for thought…  Something I’m thinking about… Our services are so passive.  We just sit and listen, sing when we are told, stand here, read this.  Where is the interaction?  If I am building a relationship with God and with my fellow believers, I need to be interacting with them.  Some could say to me, well, that should be happening during the week.  Yes, I agree and “cell groups” or Bible studies are great for that.  But what about our corporate worship… should something change there?  I don’t know.  I don’t have the answers, just questions.

 

Digging deeper,