Different School + Different Church = Same God

I was just reflecting today about the different churches that we've been a part of in recent years as we've moved to a few of our different jobs.  We've been blessed to be in some churches who have been seeking to be the church to the communities they are a part of, and not just be a church by name only.  We've been in churches of 200-2,000 but the best ones have been about being the church, not only to the people who come to it each Sunday, but also to the people of the communities they are in.

Along with that, I was thinking about the different preaching ministers I've been able to learn from and how different they've been style wise.  The best ones we've experienced though have all had a couple of things in common.  They've all preached the Bible and you could tell it was genuine.  It didn't come at you as judgmental and it seemed like every Sunday you were able to relate real life to what they were preaching.  I think that's been pretty cool the more I thought about it.  Different styles, but all from the Bible, and each have been effective in speaking to the heart.  The one constant?  The Bible.

Besides the preaching minister's, I've been doubly blessed to work with some fantastic worship leaders.  Again, each with a different style of leadership and preparation, but with hearts that want to help lead people to worship not only on a Sunday morning, but also give them something that can stick with them through the week and be an encouragement when thinking about a certain song or lyric. Being a part time worship leader once in awhile I can tell you that's a God thing....It's a God thing when you do a song that you think has one reason, but come to find out it speaks to someone else in a totally different way because of the place they are at in their life.  That's cool stuff.  God stuff.

So, I guess here's where it's at this week.  Find a church that preaches truth, is genuine, speaks to you from start to finish of the service and gives you something to apply to your life.  Not only that encourages your life, but prompts you live life with everyone you come in contact with.  That's the church.  

Pastors, keep it real. Keep Preaching the Word.

Let's all pray for each other, encourage each other, and let the church be the church the way God intends it to be based on His Word.  It's a tough world right now, we need God in it more than ever.

Live Out Loud!!