2010 June

Since we are not gathering as an entire church family this Sunday, (click here to see why we are flexible with our schedule) we wanted to provide a simple and practical way in which you can connect with God — on your own or with a small group of friends. 

Below we have provided an exercise designed to slow your mind and heart before the Lord so you can reflect on his goodness. We encourage you to print this exercise off, and then go to a park, your favorite coffee shop, or any place in which you can just be still in the presence of God. Take as much time as you’d like to simply be with God. If you’d like to make communion for yourself or your group, you can get the recipe for the bread here.

ONE : PRAY

Spend some time just asking God to open up your heart and mind to his word. Ask him to reveal to you exactly what he wants to reveal.

TWO : Read Isaiah 45:5-8

Read Isaiah 45:5-8 aloud. Read it slowly. Imagine God sitting across the table from you, speaking these words directly to you:

(5) I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, (6) so that from the rising of the sun, to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. (7) I form the light and create the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (8) You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it.

THREE : Reflect

a.) What word or phrase jumps out at you?

b.) When you hear God speaking these words to you, what do you imagine?

c.) Read verse 8 again slowly. What do you imagine?

FOUR : Commune

With those that are present, take the bread and the wine. Now allow each person to share with the group how they have seen this passage from Isaiah fulfilled in the life of Jesus. How is Jesus making this text true today?

FIVE : Read Isaiah 45:5-8 again

Read it slowly. Read it once or read it several times.

SIX : Reflect in Silence

Chew on the words of this passage silently. Let them soak in deeply. Let them stir your heart.

SEVEN : Pray

The scriptures tell us that the Word of the Lord never returns void. In other words, when God’s Word goes it, it always accomplishes what he desires. Spend some time praying that God will use His Word from Isaiah 45 to accomplish in you today what he desires.

Here’s how you make the delicious communion bread found at Ethos Church.

4 cups flour

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 and 1/2 sticks butter (melted)

Mix altogether and and flatten on a cookie sheet and bake on 400 degrees for 14 minutes.

As most of you know, the summer months can be a bit hectic around Ethos. Although this is only our second summer as a church, if you have been around for any amount of time then you know that there are multiple times each summer when we have to change our worship times, and even occasionally our worship location to accommodate the schedule at the Cannery and Mercy Lounge. This Sunday, will hopefully be the last time we have to change our worship times during the summer months. Although this is not a huge deal in the grand scheme of life, I know it can be inconvenient and confusing so I want to take a minute to explain why this happens and why we are okay with it.

ONE : It’s Not All About Sundays
Although our Sunday Worship Gatherings play a vital role in the life of our church family, there is much more to being a church than simply gathering on Sundays. We gather each Sunday to celebrate, remember, and refuel for the mission God is calling us to. It is a time of encouragement, a time when we are challenged to live out our relationship with Jesus. It is really important, but it is not everything. In fact we believe what happens Monday thru Saturday is just as important. The early church understood this — we are seeking to understand this as well. So when we have to change our times and locations last minute from time to time we try to keep that in mind.

TWO : Being a Blessing
Sometimes we move our times and locations as a way of simply blessing the guys that own the Cannery and the Mercy Lounge. The truth is, they cut us a great deal to gather there for worship. Occasionally, it would serve them better to use the venue on a Sunday Night for another event. After all, this is the way they make a living. So occasionally, we move our times and locations simply as a way of blessing their lives and their business. I believe that partnering with Jesus followers should be the easiest and most rewarding way to do business. Hopefully the guys at the Cannery feel that way, and hopefully your flexibility plays a vital role in demonstrating that.

THREE : We Adapt for Things We  Care About
Although it is a bit inconvenient to change things up, the truth is we all adapt for the things we care about. If you are a football fan and they change the kickoff time, you adapt. If you go to a movie and the showing you were interested in is sold out, you go to the later show. You get the point. We adapt for the things we care about.

In 2009, we had to move our worship time or location 12 times. In 2010, we have only had to do this 4 times. Thanks for being so flexible when this does happen — especially when it happens 3 times in one month. Thank you for your commitment to Jesus and the church he is building in downtown Nashville. I’m so glad to call you guys my church family.

See you guys Sunday at 10:30 am!