MInTheGap

Where the Puck is Going

In yesterday’s sermon, the guest speaker used an illustration from
Wayne Gretsky.  Now, I’m not even sure I know all the rules to Hockey. 
About the closest I’ve been to a hockey game is watching the Mighty Ducks
from Disney.  I could appreciate the quote that said that Gretsky
believed he was a good hockey player because he could be where the puck
was going.

Has it come to the point in your life or your
church where you feel that you may be “happy” with the status quo?  Now
before you answer the obvious “Why no, of course not” take a moment to
analyze not just your own feelings, but where you church could be if
the body were totally yielded to the Spirit.

I cannot say
about most people’s churches, and I’m not talking about liberal or
apostate versions.  I do know that people and churches (since they are
made up of people) have a tendancy to try to keep certain “highs” or
“experiences” by doing the same things over and over again– perhaps a
simple illustration.

I’m sure that there are many things that
were mightly used of God in past generations that are simply not
working that way now.  I’m not saying the Spirit cannot use it, I’m
saying that it probably was used to more effect when first started. 
Two of these areas that seem obvious to me are to do with Children’s
Ministries.

The Vacation Bible School program and the Sunday
School program, I believe, were probably used to much more effect when
they first came out, and are now relegated to the “we always do them”
status.  Do not get me wrong:  I learned a lot about God through Sunday
School.  However, I probably learned more through Christian education
at a Christian School and college than I did every Sunday, but I credit
some of my Bible training to the godly teachers I had.

Vacation Bible School is another matter.  I believe that that ministry
has become so much of a entertainment trap– not much unlike a venus
fly trap– that some prayer and thought should be put into how we can
get it out.  We spend more time trying to figure out a theme, people to
play parts, memorizing parts for the skit, planning who’s getting the
money raised… and then we give the lesson as much as 1/3 of the time.

Back to my point– I think we as Christians need to rethink our
programs, evaluate them in God’s eyes and see where he’s going.  Would
it be more fruitful to start Good News and 5 day clubs than VBS’– I
don’t know, but are we cheating ourselves out of bigger blessings
because we’re afraid to leave the status quo?

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