Last weekend, we had a chance to worship together across our 3 campuses in a unique and unifying way. Strangely enough, it had very little to with the songs being played by the band. Music was merely the backdrop for heartfelt sacrifices offered on simple pieces of white poster board. This was the worship of “Then and Now”.
Studying Philippians 3 together, we discovered that anything we have or will accomplish in the vapor of our lives here on earth pales in comparison to what God has eternally accomplished for us through the cross. In receiving His gift of salvation through grace, we are changed and changing people. This is not credited to what we have done, but what He has done for us. This is good news. This is the Gospel.
In response to this message, cards and pens at the front of the stage became a practical means to very publicly declare the reality of the gospel at work in us. On one side – “Then” was captured by statements of who we were before Jesus. Words such as “broken”, “anxious”, “ugly”, “alone” were boldly scrawled for all to see. But as the cards were flipped to “Now”, new identities filled white space – “loved”, “free”, “healed”, “found”, to name a few. At each gathering, dozens of men and women of all ages journeyed from their seats to the stage to write out their stories of life change in a few words. Then – holding them up for all to see, they were greeted with the passionate agreement of our church family cheering them on.
This was another one of those milestone weekends I will never forget. One of our long time leaders remarked that it was a beautiful picture of “us being us”. I think what she meant by this is that ROCKHARBOR is at our best when we are risking together in raw, authentic, courageous ways. I couldn’t agree more. Times like these are needed reminders of incredible God stories we carry, and the power of sharing and celebrating them with each other.
-Todd
Then and Now
Last weekend, we had a chance to worship together across our 3 campuses in a unique and unifying way. Strangely enough, it had very little to with the songs being played by the band. Music was merely the backdrop for heartfelt sacrifices offered on simple pieces of white poster board. This was the worship of “Then and Now”.
Studying Philippians 3 together, we discovered that anything we have or will accomplish in the vapor of our lives here on earth pales in comparison to what God has eternally accomplished for us through the cross. In receiving His gift of salvation through grace, we are changed and changing people. This is not credited to what we have done, but what He has done for us. This is good news. This is the Gospel.
In response to this message, cards and pens at the front of the stage became a practical means to very publicly declare the reality of the gospel at work in us. On one side – “Then” was captured by statements of who we were before Jesus. Words such as “broken”, “anxious”, “ugly”, “alone” were boldly scrawled for all to see. But as the cards were flipped to “Now”, new identities filled white space – “loved”, “free”, “healed”, “found”, to name a few. At each gathering, dozens of men and women of all ages journeyed from their seats to the stage to write out their stories of life change in a few words. Then – holding them up for all to see, they were greeted with the passionate agreement of our church family cheering them on.
This was another one of those milestone weekends I will never forget. One of our long time leaders remarked that it was a beautiful picture of “us being us”. I think what she meant by this is that ROCKHARBOR is at our best when we are risking together in raw, authentic, courageous ways. I couldn’t agree more. Times like these are needed reminders of incredible God stories we carry, and the power of sharing and celebrating them with each other.
-Todd