God's Big Story And Worship

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement to Village Church Planters.

There is a funny saying we use in English sometimes when we see that someone is confused as they learn about a new situation.  We say “He can’t see the forest for the trees. Maybe you have a saying like this in your language.

What do you think I mean when I say, “He can’t see the forest for the trees?” I mean that another person is so focused on all the details that he can’t see the big picture. He is like a man who walks through a large forest full of tall trees, birds and animals. But he is looking very carefully at individual trees. He examines their roots, their trunk, their bark, and their leaves.  He is so focused on describing each tree that he fails to see the huge expanse we call a forest.  “He can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Sometimes it seems like church leaders can’t see the forest for the trees.  Some pastors and worship leaders focus so much on one part of God’s big story that they forget to tell the rest.  In worship they may focus so much on being empowered by the Holy Spirit that they seem to forget to tell about the creation of man, our fall into sin, and all that Jesus did to save us before the Spirit came at Pentecost.

Other church leaders and pastors focus so much on the stories of the Old Testament that they fail to talk about our current situation as believers who have been born again. They can’t see the forest for the trees. But it doesn’t need to be that way in the churches you lead.  As a pastor and as a trainer of worship leaders, you can make sure that your people see the forest and the trees.  You can make sure that in worship your people understand and remember God’s big story as well as every detail of the Gospel. That kind of Genesis to Revelation understanding of the works of God, the will of God, and the ways of God transforms lives.

You may be thinking, “Dean, I know what you are talking about. I don’t like it when preachers get lost in the details. I like it when they help me understand how Bible details fit in with the big picture told from Genesis to Revelation.  Even so, sometimes I’m afraid my people and I can’t see the forest for the trees. What can we do?”

I’m glad you asked!  Here is a simple guideline that will help you and your people as you worship together.  “In worship, always describe the big picture before going into details.” As you start to preach or teach from any particular story in the Bible, tell the context.  In worship, before you sing about any particular part of the Bible, help people know where that story fits into the big picture. Never spend too much time looking at a tree without lifting your eyes to take in the forest. When you lead worship, when you pray, when you preach and teach, describe the big picture first and then talk about the details.

God created you and me so he could have fellowship with him.  But our forefathers, our parents and we ourselves have rebelled against him. When God sent messengers to correct us, we would not listen. Finally he sent his Son Jesus to show us the way.  Jesus gave his life on the cross so our sins could be forgiven.  He has called you and me to serve him and to proclaim the message of salvation.  He is coming again to rule over heaven and earth. But for now he has called us to serve him by living a holy life and by making disciples of all nations.  Though you and I are limited by space and time, we have a part to play in God’s big story, and so do the members of your churches.  Help them know God’s big story.  Let that big story make its impact on every part of worship when you come together.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#God’s Big Story #EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters  www.vcpencouragement.org