DECEMBER 9, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

DECEMBER 9 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 18:19-20

It is funny, but not in the "ha ha" sense, who people will go to church to see. They will line up out the door for a Christian personality, for a sports star...for a high ranking dignitary. But they neglect to understand that every time the church gathers to worship the Lord, He has promised to be present. Jesus said that when we assembled together in His Name, He would be there in the midst of us. You would think that would be enough to draw people to the church, sadly it is not. We have in so many instances turned our gatherings into events rather than worship, in order to entice people to come. We are forever searching and planning the next big thing that if Jesus actually showed up to our event we would miss Him, because we are looking to have ourselves stimulated by the show. If our worship services become so complicated, personality– driven and designed to stimulate the flesh rather than the spirit...then they cease to be biblical worship.

It has been my fear for quite a long time that the church has bought into the personality–driven and entertainment models. So often, we don't talk about our experience with the Lord when we speak of our time with other believers in worship. Instead, we talk about how we like the speaker, or whether we liked the music and what was happening on the stage. Christ has lost His place of pre-eminence in far too many so called worship services. We are making them about the event itself and not about the Lord. Rarely do you hear an invitation to come and hear what the Lord has to say to you...come and in simplicity of heart, worship the Lord...join us because the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to be there. When the church gathers, Christ needs to be the only personality that is sought. He needs to be front and center in all we do. Without Jesus being the focus of our worship there is no worship!

Please share your thoughts.