Legousalem

At my church we have recently started a new service. This service is primarily created to serve the emergent culture. I really enjoyed this last service. I preached on Isaiah 58:10-12. A week before the service, we got two brothers who have creative minds to build a miniature version of Jerusalem out of Legos. They had been playing the video game Assassin's Creed so they were familiar with the city. We set up our sanctuary with five high tops and left chairs out for people to use. In the center below our stage we used two large rectangular tables to put our model of Jerusalem.
During the service, I invited the congregation to come forth to collect Legos that had been donated to the church. I asked them to build a part of a city and to let that part represent where they were or where they were going in their lives. I preached for a bit on how God takes care of us in our parched places and how God desires to restore His people. Then I invited them to get together in groups and discuss what their lego creations represented in their own lives. The discussions were amazing. People had truly put their hearts and souls in their Lego creations. Then I went on to talk about if they want God to restore them then they must submit to God's will which in this section involves giving to the hungry and taking care of the needs of the afflicted. So in the end of the service the people came forward to build onto Legousalem.
For those who enjoy a play on words the word Legousalem is a three part compound word. "Lego" is Greek for "to say" and "u" is English slang typically used in text messaging finally "salem" is Hebrew for peace Jerusalem was the "foundation of peace." So putting the words together it means "you say peace." Part of the rebuilding process involves us saying peace in our own lives and helping to create peace in others. After the sermon, Jennifer lifted up all of the broken cities in our world and prayed for God's Restoration.


It was an awesome service. I love being in a dynamic group of leaders who can come up with these great ideas. It started with talking about how God wants to rebuild his people and turned into a beautiful service full of worship and personal healing. It's great what we can do with Legos. What things/mediums have you used to help people to understand God's word besides using your own words?

The Emmaus Walk

I recently spoke at one of our sister churches in the Four Corners area where my wife and I live.
While I was preparing for this sermon I found myself surprised to read in Luke's Gospel account in chapter 24:21-24
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”
I had always thought that these disciples left when Jesus was crucified. Can you believe that these disciples heard all of this and still left?
My mentor used to always tell me that "unmet expectations leads to depression." As I read through this passage I began to think about all of the times that I have expected Christ to redeem different situations that I have been through. I remember longing for Jesus to redeem people who were sick, help in relationships, or just to give me a sign that he was around. It is interesting that I would always expect Jesus to fix things in the way that made the most sense to me. When things fell through I would begin to question myself, others, even God.
This passage is exactly what we go through in our lives when we don't face situations seeking God's perspective. These poor disciples don't even recognize Jesus when he explains the scriptures to them. It is not until Christ breaks the bread that their eyes are open.
I currently try to approach things with an open mind. I always pray for fruit and ask for God's will to be done. I feel that as I seek to be more in sync with the will of God and try to understand the whole of scriptures that I become less likely to expect God to do things a certain way but can always expect that the presence will be along side me as I seek to glorify God.
As we look at these disciples, I also feel reminded of the importance to understand and explain scripture and listen to people. These guys not only heard but saw everything that happened in those days. They still did not get it. We have to be patient and wait for the Spirit to move inside these people's lives. Always caring and rooting for them.