When you boil it all down, Church has two basic components, and everything else flows from them.

First, we are a group of people following the person and teaching of Jesus. A Christian Church is built on faith in Him. Not a set of rules, not a tradition, not a building, but a person. Jesus is the foundation, and we anchor our beliefs in what He said, how He lived, what He died for on the cross, and the resurrection that changed everything. Following His teaching means we love our enemies. We pursue humility, forgiveness, and justice. It’s simple to say, hard to live.

Second, we are following Jesus together. A Christian Church is a community of people. It isn’t a solo journey. The New Testament word for Church means “a gathered people.” We are called to carry each other’s burdens, to spur one another on, and to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world as a body, not just as individuals.

Church is about Jesus and people.

Those two things sound simple. But each one carries a lifetime of depth. There’s a whole Bible given to us to help us do them well. They’re simple concepts that are profoundly complex to execute. But no matter where you look in Scripture, no matter which doctrine or practice you examine, it all points back in one of those two directions: know Jesus and love people together.

That’s the Church. That’s always been the Church.

I once heard a man tell a group of graduating high school seniors that life has natural transition points. Graduation is one of them. Marriage, starting a career, having children, and retirement are other examples.

At those moments, we are forced to let go of the life we once knew and move in a different direction.

As we get older, though, transition points often come less naturally. We settle into routines, and life can become repetitive. We get stuck in ruts. Sometimes that is a good thing if the routine is healthy. Other times, it keeps us trapped in destructive patterns.

The good news of Jesus is deeply connected to the word “repent.” At its core, repentance means a change in direction. Through Jesus, we are not stuck. We can turn around at any moment. Your next transition point may only be one decision and one act of faith away.

We often think life only changes through major events and visible moments. But the truth is that a person can quietly decide to change at any time. No fanfare. No dramatic scene. Just faith in Jesus and a willingness to walk in a new direction.

Any day can become a transition point. Even today.

This might ruffle the feathers of some of the people in the Church I lead, but I need to say it.

“I don’t care what kind of worship music you prefer.”

Every time our Church uses a “hymn” during worship, someone has to run up to a member of the worship team to tell them how much they love the old music. It is exhausting. And let me tell you why.

First, I currently pick most of the worship music with my wife’s help. The first question I ask is, “Does this fit the overall theme of the day?” I select music that ties to the sermon for the day. The communion video is generally curated to serve as a bridge between worship and the sermon topic. Everything is built around a central thought. Sometimes the older songs fit the topic; other times the newer ones do. Whenever a person tells me the sermon inspired them, they rarely connect the music to the stage-setting for everything that was said, even though it all works together.

Second, I do not pick music to please any person. My second question is, “Will this glorify God?” As God listens to our worship of him, will he be pleased with what he hears? Occasionally, I have refused to sing certain songs because they give people bad theology or lead us into wrong thinking about God. Some songs also seem very “man-centered,” and while the theology is good, they do not fit for that day’s worship.

Finally, I have to consider who is playing for worship that week. I do not play music, and I deeply appreciate the people who do. My understanding is that some songs are difficult to play, especially for new members of the worship team. On other Sundays, we do not have someone to play the instrument that makes a song really work well. As a result, certain songs will not work. There is also a consideration of who is singing on the team that week and their vocal range. A group of wonderful volunteers leads us, and we are doing the best we can with what God has given us.

Every week, I am thankful for our volunteers who selflessly lead us in worship. Their willingness to stand up in front takes courage and the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of telling us what kind of music you prefer, why don’t you express appreciation to the people who give of themselves for our congregation every week?

At the time I am writing this, I am having an ordinary day. I have no special meetings today. There are no appointments for anything. I have not received any emergency calls or texts. Nothing is going on in my life that is out of the ordinary.

Days like this are rare for me.

Perhaps they are for you, too. Maybe your schedule is overflowing, and every day holds a new challenge.

That is why we need to pause on the ordinary days and thank God for them. Sometimes the ordinary is a gift. Things could have been much worse and more hectic.

There are all kinds of reasons to be grateful. Today, I give thanks for nothing.

“Thanks, God, for a day to work quietly and think deeply because they are a rare gift in my world.”  

One question I frequently ask people is, “Would you share your journey of faith that brings you up to this point?”

Frequently, I am greeted with fond stories of childhood attendance in worship, Sunday school, or Vacation Bible School. Then there was a time when they were not a part of a faith community. This usually spans 10 to 30 years of their life.

As they unroll their life of faith, I will usually hear this one phrase: “I was always a believer.” They will tell me how they have continued to believe in God, Jesus, or even the cross.

We must be clear that there is a difference between saying we believe in something and following someone. Believing is about having an idea that we agree with. We agree with the concept that Jesus might have lived. We might even agree with the notion that he died for our sins, and he is how I can get into heaven.

Following is something completely different. It is about believers doing what they were instructed to do. It is about denying our own wants and desires to keep pace with the one leading. It is about our personal lives, adjusting regularly to stay close to the leader. The bottom line is that following is a lifestyle, not just a concept we hold dear.

While I use words like Christian, disciple, believer, and follower of Jesus interchangeably, they do have different meanings. The call is for us to follow Jesus, not just believe he existed. Even the demons believe that and shudder.