It's not in the bulletin

Let’s never cut out the unplanned part of every worship service and small group. The part that we don’t put in the bulletin or isn’t in the manual that we are following and isn’t part of the lesson plan. The part that I’m talking about is the miracle moment, the intervention of God in someone’s life.

I refer you to Luke 6:6-11. This seemed to be an ordinary Sabbath day with the usual order of service and the regular attendees. And then Jesus showed up. After that nothing was ordinary. When Jesus shows up the words “ordinary,” “normal,” “routine” and “the usual” go right out the window.

In that synagogue that morning three different groups collided. First there was a man the Bible said had a shriveled hand. He represents every person that shows up with a need in our church every Sunday. Secondly there were the Pharisees who were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. These people show up in church every Sunday too! They are the naysayers, those who diminish the Glory of Jesus, those who want the schedule over the supernatural. Thirdly there was Jesus. Wherever and whenever Jesus shows up the Glory of God shows up as well. The Glory of God is the unmistakable works that only God and God alone can do.

You can’t schedule into the church service the Glory of God. God's Glory won't appear in the church bulletin right in between the chorale anthem and the pastoral prayer. Can you imagine opening your worship folder this Sunday and seeing in the order of service a line after the announcements that says, “Healing of a man with a crippled hand?” But we do know this; that when Jesus shows up his Glory will be there as well.

That Sabbath morning in that synagogue these three groups collided. Jesus brings the crippled man to the front of the sanctuary. Jesus is so moved out of his love and his compassion for this man that he practically dares anyone to stop him from healing the man. It's almost as if Jesus were saying, “is there a better time for me to show my love then right now?” The Pharisees are about to go ballistic but they can stop Him. Jesus had departed from the bulletin and the service was getting messy but it would be a service that no one would ever forget.

Jesus tells the man to take his shriveled hand out from its hiding place under his garments and stretch it out. As the man reveals his crippled hand the power of God heals it and makes it a new again. Maybe Jesus is asking us to reveal the things that we are hiding, the things that we don't want to see the light of day, our crippled areas of life and stretch it out to him. Part of the mission of Jesus is the touch these areas and bring healing and new life to what once was shriveled and crippled.

I still believe in miracles. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus never asked anybody to play down their expectations of who he is and what he can do. He is still the king of Glory. He is still always better than expected. Jesus is still doing miracles like this. Pray for His glory to interrupt your church service this week!

Collision

“At some point, a defining moment occurs; a particular call from God collides with a concrete need in our little corner of the world. The result is an atomic energy release, filling the leader’s heart with compassion and the leader’s conscious with conviction. A new vision is forged.”
Will Mancini in “ChurchUnique”

As I was reading this I began to reflect on what my call was/is. Where was it that my call connected with a need in our little corner of the world?
- My first call was a heartfelt burden to be a Pastor.
- I remember a more specific call that God gave; to wake up His church to be the church!
- I felt a call to be part of the greatest church in the MOV, a church that leaves its mark for God through lives changed forever.

What about now? I want to be part of a group of Christians – a church – who like Paul in the NT “turned the world upside down.” I want disciples to be “produced” from this church that fearlessly live for Jesus Christ wherever they are and whoever they are with. I want our meetings together to a time of life change and miracles. Is that too much to ask?

What about you? How can you change your little corner of the world? You can do it personally – one on one with people. You can do it with others such as your small group. And we can do it together as a church. But you won’t do it without a call and a conviction and a vision.

Brian