For practitioners and disciple-makers of all shapes and sizes, this is an appeal for change in the area of prayer, worship, and liturgy. As I have stated, these are primary mechanisms to disciple the heart and life into the ways of God. From the very beginning of the stories and songs passed down to the people of God, to David’s psalms, the prophetic tradition, to the messianic era, to ancient Jewish and Christian traditions, to modern day, these have been used to shape people and communities. The question is: what are these tools shaping us into? Most of the modern singing, chants, declarations, and prayers these days are more based around popular culture than around the Biblical story.
GET THE GOSPEL!
So, first of all, get the gospel! I mean the 1st century Jewish apocalyptic understanding of the gospel that Jesus and His disciples proclaimed and lived. (Go to “What is the Gospel?” and “Resources” to dig deeper). Then, form all of your personal and community life around the themes of the gospel; this includes what songs to sing, what prayers to pray, what to repeat and re-enact, what liturgy to say and declare. (Here is a good working Songs list). This will serve to re-inforce the themes of and give grace to endure in the gospel for everyone involved.
GET CREATIVE!
Second, get creative and encourage creativity. There are so many ways to express worship and prayer. There were so many ways that were multi-sensory in the Temple. (Note: none of community life is to replace the importance of the Temple, whether looking back or looking forward to the rebuilt Temple in the age to come). A lot of this has been lost in most of the modern expressions. One of the rules of thumb for how to create is the culture of the people. What helps connect people with the themes of the gospel the most in their cultural language? (Ex. idea: for a larger gathering of disciples, have some musicians make a band and rework liturgy, hymns, or scriptures and audition them for the gathering(s)) Young generations especially want to connect to something different than their regular lives, something immersive, and something that is rooted in ancient traditions. (Here is a website for inspiration).
GET OUT THERE AND DO THE STUFF!
Third, most of the time, the best ways of doing things are simple and reproducible: the common denominator being the single disciple multiplying into other disciples of Jesus. So, from that perspective: What form helps people connect that also empowers them to, and is simple enough to, carry to other people who also are able to carry that expression forward? Either creative expression or traditions can get too hampered down with intricacies that are not necessary or helpful for the next person or the next field of disciples.
All that being said, we need gospel-centered communities and disciples to flourish and endure through these hard times by the power of the Holy Spirit! Let His Spirit lead you and your communities into all these wonderful, powerful expressions (with the proper guidelines, accountability, and leadership that every community of disciples and every prayer meeting and worship gathering needs).
GET THE GOSPEL!
GET CREATIVE!
GET OUT THERE AND DO THE STUFF!
Grace and peace,
Tim Templeton (follower of Jesus)
P.S. If you need or want help walking through the gospel or following Jesus, I would be glad to help! (timothytempleton1985@gmail.com or use Facebook messenger)