The Most Important Thing

You walk in to church, this meeting is going to be different you’ve decided that you’re going to do the most important thing first, then the next most important thing, then the next…

So you walk right past all your friends, you bypass the coffee table, and you start. You’re not listening to announcements or reaching for a hymnal. You bow your head and with the rest of the congregation you start praying. This prayer is meaningful, not quick and formal. You pray for each other, then for lost people around you to be saved. Then you pray for your government officials by name, even the ones you don’t like.

You see, if we take the Biblical approach to church meetings the most important thing we do is pray.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Timothy 2:1–2

First of All

I like the focus of this statement, “first of all.” While there are lots of things we can (and should) do in church meetings, this one is first. First in priority if not in order of service. While I don’t think this post will prompt all church attendees to stop talking to each other before church, I hope I can remind you in the next few paragraphs of the great value of prayer.

Pray, pray, pray, pray

This passage points out four areas of prayer, or kinds of prayer. Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and Giving Thanks.

Think through these when you’re praying. I know personally I can get a bit self-focused in prayer (supplication), when I really need to be praying for others (intercession) or praising God for all that He has done for me (giving of thanks).

Even when praying as a church we can be in seasons of difficulty where we wouldn’t naturally consider thanksgiving, or when we are blessed and praising but don’t bear the burdens of others in Intercession.

How To Make it Important

Application comes down to personal choices. In personal prayer make the time to pray meaningfully. Make this time as early in the day as you can. This is never easy, but it’s worth it. (More could be said about this but I’ll hold off for a future post.)

In church, don’t let prayer become rote or obligatory. Prayer isn’t a transition between things in the order of service, prayer is talking to The Almighty, prayer answering God Who knows when you’re just going through the motions.

When you pray publicly, pray to God. Don’t pray for the approval of anyone else hearing. Their approval is fleeting. God is looking for faithful sincerity.

What about you?

Write in the comments below: How do you do your personal prayer time? How has your church applied this teaching that you think might be helpful to others?

Names of God (Intro)

What do you call God? Father? Lord? God? All of these are good but there is much more to know about God based on His names. We can learn about the God of the universe from the ways He is addressed in scripture. God’s names show more about Him than our names show about us.

1. God’s names show His Character

God’s names are not like ours; we were given our name or names around our birth, God’s names were given to Him because of His character and acts. Some[ Abraham gave God the name Jehovah Jireh ] of these names were given to God by those who served Him throughout the Old Testament period, some are ones that God chose to call Himself. Overall they hold a significance that can be easy to miss. But if we take the time to appreciate them we gain a greater appreciation for God.

2. God’s Biblical names add a depth that our English words don’t have.

Our English names for God are so inadequate, especially when you know some of the Hebrew names. The English words we have as names for God have been used in such a way that they don’t always show the reverence needed when approaching God. The translators of the Bible have been careful in how they translate the names of God, usually giving us an idea of which name is being translated. Knowing God’s Hebrew names give our English names back some of their meaning.

3. God’s names serve as a definition of God.

God’s names are one of the closest things we have to a definition of God. The more we understand these the more we know God. While nothing could ever fully define God, it is nice to see in scripture how God defines elements of Himself through the names He takes.

Prayer using God’s names

Any time I start a conversation with a friend it’s natural to use their name to address them. This shows them that I want their attention.

When we write a formal letter, say to a government official, you could start it with something like: “To whom is may concern” But would that appeal to any government official in particular? No. But if I started it with: “President Donald Trump” it would be identifying clearly that I wanted the President to pay attention.

When we pray, we address God in this way. We look for His attention and usually we use one or more of His names in this address. We want His attention, but even more than this once you know the character behind those names you can see how important it is to God that we pray.

Prayer is simply talking to God. We address Him by His Name (or Names) and confidently bear our requests to Him. The first reference to prayer as we know it is Genesis 4:26.

“And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.”

Before this men had talked with God, but in more of a conversational way like you would with a friend who was physically in the same room.

Adam and Eve knew a time when they “…heard the voice of the LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim) walking in the garden…” (Gen 3:8^⁠1) they had an opportunity to access with God that was very special.

Scripture points to God’s Name as a source of help and hope over and over:

"Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 124:8

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower:
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe." 
Proverbs 18:10

“8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God:  
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 
9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: 
And I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.” 
Psalm 52:8–9

The Bible uses three main Hebrew Names for God, and then uses combinations of those names to form twelve or so other Names of God. Over the next couple months we’re going to look at each of these in scripture. We’re going to see how they can give us great confidence and focus in our prayer.

Studying and Application:

1. Search the English phrase “name of the Lord” in the Bible. How many times is it used? Read through some of them, what significance can be seen in the passages you read concerning the “name of the Lord”?

2. What do Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 138:2 and Psalm 52:8-9 say about God’s Name and how we ought to know and understand it as well as we can?

What are we doing at Church?

I have an unpopular truth to share with you… are you ready? “Worship” the way we tend to think of it today, singing, isn’t a primary purpose of church meetings. There it is. Singing in church is something I LOVE (note the all caps, those weren’t a mistake) but the New Testament only lists them twice in connection to church meetings (Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16), however the references to other key components of church meetings are all over the New Testament, particularly Paul’s Letters.

“What are they?” You may be asking, well I’ll tell you about one of them this week, the other we’ll look into next week.

Pay Attention! What Paul would say to focus on.

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
1 Timothy 4:13

Paul wanted Timothy to pay attention to these these three things: Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine. This isn’t to say that this was the only thing that Timothy ever did, I’m sure there were many times of comfort, rejoicing, etc. But these things needed to be in focus. Let’s look at why this might be and how we can put feet to this scriptural command.

Reading

Bible reading is the foundation or scriptural understanding and spiritual growth. It is the energy and accountability that believers and churches need to live for God. Timothy and his church needed Bible reading, you and I need Bible reading as well.

What are your Bible reading habits like?

Don’t read condemnation in that question. I sincerely care about your time with God in His word. There is no greater habit you can build than to be faithful in Bible reading and Prayer.

Public Bible Reading

Bible visibility is a key part of a New Testament church. You should hear the words of scripture read every time you go to church. When I preach I am careful to read the words of scripture. They have power! My words don’t have that power.

Exhortation

The word “exhortation” is a bit outside of our normal vocabulary. Most of don’t go to church saying: “Man, I need some exhortation today.”

Exhortation (english word) means: “incitement to that which is good or commendable” We might think of the word “encouragement.” If someone is down, we encourage them, if they are doing well, we encourage them. You get the point. The greek word carries the same breadth of meaning.

Could you go to church saying, “How can I encourage someone?”

There are many people who need this support, encouragement, and confidence. Where better to get it than from God’s people?

Doctrine

The church is meant to be a group of people that teach each other and learn from each other. The word “doctrine” simply means teaching. The teaching of God’s word. But not just the fun trivia we need practical application.

Teaching and Learning are amazing gifts, but it’s not easy to learn. Learning requires humility. Many times we go to our church meetings and don’t want to lose face. Trust me there is more to gain in learning than you might lose by acknowledging that you don’t know.

Bible Ready, Encouraging others, and Bible Teaching

That’s it. Paul would want us to pay attention to these things. So get to it.

When you’re in church next look for the presentation of the Word of God (reading), seek to be an encouragement to others (exhortation), and walk into it willing to learn (doctrine).

Your Turn

How can you do these things in your next church meeting?

Maybe your church is still meeting online, how can you apply these goals to the online format?

A Beautiful Thing! (Blog Theme Verse Explained)

Have you ever seen a setting of jewelry that make you wonder about its’ designer? Maybe it was gaudy or flamboyant, and just seemed out of place everywhere. However there are times in nature when you might be taken aback by the simple beauty you see.

When I look at a spring flower I see design, elegance, unmatched grace and true beauty.

The simple beauty of the right thing said at the right time is a lot like this spring flower.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11

What was something someone said to you that was just the right thing at just the right time? It may have been a piece of advise, word of encouragement or a verse of scripture that was just what you needed.

There have been many times when I have said just the wrong thing at just the wrong time. I have my fair share of foot-in-mouth moments.

One of my main areas of ministry is with teens. These young people get the chance to hear me teach every week in Sunday school and other times in Bible Club. One of the things we work on is understanding scripture. When my teaching isn’t making sense they have the freedom to stop me and ask. It’s not about being flawless, it’s about being understood. Understanding can lead to true life change.

God has taught me so much through teachers and preachers who said the right thing at the right time. Public speaking isn’t the only way to make a difference. About a year ago I was teaching and in the lesson I gave a salvation application. One of my students had some questions, really meaningful questions. I was answering these questions and listening to the student when one of the other students leaned forward and asked the first student; “Are you saved?” This simple caring question led to the first student getting saved that morning. Though unscripted, these words were “fitly spoken”.

God’s word is very practical. It fits in every situation.

That’s the purpose this blog. “You can learn, speak and live God’s word.” If I can help you learn God’s word, encourage you to share it, and motivate you to live it… more people will have stories about just the right words that were spoken at just the right time.

In the process I need your encouragement too.

What stories do you have of saying or hearing the right thing at the right time?

In Development

Thanks for coming by. I have a lot to share with you in the coming weeks and years.

I’m creating this blog as a place where we learn about the Bible together, so that we can speak it to others, and live it to the glory of God.

Thank you for your patience while I work out some of the backend technologies for that sharing to begin.

While we may be waiting to start fully, you can begin the discussion in the comments section below.

What is one of your favorite things about Bible Study?