He’s Bigger Than My Brain

Big, lofty terms and ideas are hard for me to grasp.  If you are familiar with Meyers Briggs personality typing, I am a big “S.”  I need the details. I need something I can grab onto. Step by step instructions, visuals, analogies, the more examples you can give me, the better. Unfortunately, Christianity is filled with all kinds of lofty ideas that are tricky to dumb down or fully explain.

 

As I prepared for Month 4 Debrief, my boss and I were discussing what I should teach to the squad. After I gave a brief synopsis of where I felt the squad was spiritually and emotionally, she said, “Why don’t you teach on what it means to be the Church?” On the outside, my response was something like, “Yeah, that sounds good.”  On the inside, it was more like, “Um, what? How in the world am I supposed to teach about something I don’t know that I’ve ever seen done in full?”

 

I wrestled with it for a week. The ideas of being devoted to fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, the apostles’ teachings, encouragement and exhortation circulated through my brain nonstop. I sought wise counsel, unloaded on close friends, prayed through Scripture about the early Church in Acts and showed up to Debrief with tons of notes and a “buckle up, Robertson. This could get bumpy.” sort of attitude.

 

And then, as Debrief began, the Lord opened my eyes to the Church that was taking place in and around me before I even had to take the “stage.” Suddenly, the words on the New Testament pages were being showcased in front of my eyes. The body was coming together in a way I hadn’t recognized before. The apostles’ casted vision, the prophets gave words of exhortation and encouragement, the teachers’ provided Biblical truths, the pastors stewarded the questions, concerns and struggles of the body and the evangelists shared stories of the lost being found in Guatemala. We shared in everything together- worship, prayer, celebrations of financial provision, meals, individual sufferings, transformation in the body, emotional healing and even a ridiculous squad prom.

Too often I play the skeptic. Too often I allow the “ big picture” to be too daunting of a goal to chase. Too often I think I have to have all the answers- that I have to be everything to everyone. Too often I listen to my own self-centered rant instead of the still small voice that says, “Show up, do your part and watch me move through my children.”

 

This is the church body I have had the privilege of leading this year. In order to continue this ministry and finish out their World Race with them, I need to raise a total of $4,000 by March 1st (with the overall goal being $12,000 by October 31st). I have currently raised $2,185. Would you consider becoming a monthly or one-time donor? If so, please click on the “Donate” link and follow the instructions.