What a wonderful day God gave us yesterday: all nine of us. Yes indeed. I said "nine." In the morning service there were only nine people including the Pastor. Nearly all of our families, including most of mine, were absent due to sickness or life events. Let me tell you, the morning you preach to eight people is a good morning to feel discouraged. However, I was encouraged! You see, when the context is disheartening, our subtext is still true. A subtext is an underlying theme of a play, drama, or performance that may not be explicitly stated but is still true. Our subtext proclaims that victory comes through faith in the unseen. Our subtext directs us to look beyond the visible to the invisible. Our subtext describes our God is Mighty above all else. Our subtext emphasizes His glory above all else. When the context of circumstances looks bleak, our subtext declares victory!
So even with nine people, we set up the church expecting a crowd. Even with nine people, we set up the sound system. Even with nine people we set up the powerpoint projector. Even without a pianist we set up the piano. With only nine people we invited God's presence and He came. We gave Him praise. We prayed and He blessed. You see, it makes you boil it down to what really matters. Do we really sing to give God praise or do we sing for the benefit of others? Do we pray to be heard by God or men? Do we do all we do in church for His glory? Well, I found out that with only nine people HE really becomes your focus, much more than the professional presentation of a scripted service. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate a well choreographed service as much as the next guy. However, this Sunday's experience reminded me we need to focus less on the art form of having church and more on HIS glory. That's what it's supposed to be all about.
I am happy to say in the evening service our attendance doubled! But I am thankful for the "Context of Nine" that reminded me of the "Subtext of His Glory."
