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Day 3 — Mourning as Truth Telling “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 The Second Pylon Builders understand that once excavation for the foundation for a new building begins, whatever lies beneath the surface must be faced honestly. Unstable and weak ground is uncovered. Fault lines are revealed. Nothing hidden can be ignored if a structure is to endure. With the second Beatitude, Jesus presses us deeper into this foundational work. Mourning, as Jesus uses the word, is a truthful response to loss, sin, and brokenness. It is sorrow that arises when we see ourselves clearly before God. This is not sentimental sadness or passing disappointment. It is the grief that emerges when truth is finally allowed to speak. King David offers a vivid example. In a moment of desire, he took another man’s wife, attempted to conceal his sin, and arranged her husband’s death. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David mourned—not only because he had been exposed, but because he had sinned against God and against his own deepest convictions. No one begins life intending to disappoint themselves or God. Yet when that moment arrives, mourning is the appropriate response. David’s grief was honest, complete, and unguarded. And because it was honest, it led to comfort. Mourning arises from many sources: personal failure, painful circumstances, the natural rhythms of loss, and situations beyond our control. Cars break down. Children struggle. Jobs are lost. Illness lingers. Pain becomes chronic. Aging brings limitation. Mourning does not minimize pain or reframe injustice as acceptable. It brings what is broken into the presence of God. Jesus does not dismiss this grief. He dignifies it. Jesus’ promise sounds paradoxical: How can mourners be called blessed? The answer lies not in the mourning itself, but in what mourning makes possible. Only those who mourn are still alive to truth. Only those who grieve have not surrendered to denial or despair. Mourning is a sign that the heart remains responsive. Scripture consistently portrays God as one who draws near to the brokenhearted—who binds wounds, heals the sick, and restores what has been lost. The promised comfort is not the removal of all pain, but the presence of God within it. Comfort is not anesthesia. It is restoration, forgiveness, healing, and hope. The world works hard to avoid mourning; Jesus challenges that illusion. A life that never mourns cannot be deep. A community that refuses lament cannot be just. Where mourning is absent, suffering is ignored and injustice becomes invisible. The Kingdom of God moves in the opposite direction. It begins where truth is allowed to grieve. Architecturally, mourning functions as a load‑bearing foundation. It prevents the structure from being built on denial. It ensures that what rises above ground can withstand pressure. Spiritually, mourning keeps Kingdom life from becoming superficial. It grounds faith in reality. It prepares the heart for meekness, for hunger, for mercy, and for peace. Jesus promises that mourning, though it may last forever, will not be wasted. The second pylon holds. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Want future devotionals delivered directly to your email? Send a message to gary@goodnews4ourtime.com with the subject line "I'm In," and I'll add you to the mailing list. Be a Matthew 25er. Tell the truth. Love your neighbor. Plant hope for the future. To receive these email directly in your inbox, click here . Sermon on the Mount BACK TO TOP Previous Next

< Back The End of the World is Just Beginning History/Current Trends Peter Zeihan Peter Zeihan argues that the modern world of abundant goods, inexpensive shipping, and tightly integrated global supply chains was not a natural development but the result of an unusual geopolitical arrangement created by the United States after World War II. By guaranteeing safe international trade routes, protecting allies, and promoting free trade during the Cold War, the U.S. enabled decades of unprecedented globalization. Zeihan contends that as America's strategic priorities change and its willingness to police the world's oceans declines, this system is beginning to unravel. ([Wikipedia][1]) The heart of Zeihan's argument is that geography and demographics—not ideology or economics alone—will determine which nations prosper in the coming decades. Many countries, especially China, Russia, Japan, and much of Europe, face shrinking and aging populations that will reduce their labor forces, weaken their economies, and strain their governments. As globalization recedes, nations that depend heavily on imported food, energy, or manufactured goods will become increasingly vulnerable. Countries with favorable geography, abundant natural resources, energy independence, and younger populations—especially the United States—are, in his view, better positioned to weather the transition. ([Wikipedia][1]) Despite its alarming title, the book is not about the literal end of civilization but about the end of the global economic order that has defined life since 1945. Zeihan predicts a future of shorter supply chains, regional economies, greater geopolitical competition, higher costs, and more frequent disruptions in manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and finance. While he acknowledges that innovation and adaptation will continue, he believes the coming decades will be marked by significant upheaval as nations adjust to a world that is less interconnected, less predictable, and more dependent on local strengths than on global cooperation. ([supersummary.com][2]) [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_the_World_Is_Just_the_Beginning?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning" [2]: https://www.supersummary.com/the-end-of-the-world-is-just-the-beginning/summary/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary" Next Previous BACK TO TOP

< Back Transforming Worldviews Worldview Paul Heibert In Transforming Worldviews, Paul Hiebert argues that genuine Christian conversion involves more than changing beliefs or outward behavior—it requires a transformation of a person's worldview, the deep, often unconscious assumptions through which people interpret reality. Drawing on anthropology, philosophy, and theology, Hiebert explains that every culture has a worldview that shapes its understanding of truth, morality, relationships, power, and the supernatural. Because worldviews operate beneath the surface, people may profess Christian beliefs while still interpreting life through non-biblical assumptions, resulting in syncretism rather than true biblical faith. ([Trinity International University][1]) Hiebert examines the major worldviews that have shaped human societies, including traditional oral cultures, peasant societies, modernity, postmodernity, and the emerging global ("glocal") culture. He demonstrates that each worldview offers valuable insights while also distorting reality in significant ways. Missionaries, pastors, and Christian leaders must therefore understand both the culture they are serving and the worldview beneath it. Rather than merely changing customs or teaching doctrines, effective ministry addresses the foundational assumptions that give rise to beliefs, values, and behaviors. ([Trinity International University][1]) The book concludes by presenting a biblical worldview centered on God's creation, redemption, and the coming Kingdom of God. Hiebert emphasizes that worldview transformation is both an event and a lifelong process of discipleship in which the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and the Christian community gradually reshape how believers understand God, themselves, others, and the world. He challenges the church to move beyond superficial measures of spiritual growth and to cultivate disciples whose entire way of seeing and living reflects the reign of Christ. ([Trinity International University][1]) [1]: https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/books/transforming-worldviews-an-anthropological-understanding-of-how-people-change/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS)" Next Previous BACK TO TOP

Discover Organizations Doing the Work of Jesus Filter by Ministry Type Select Ministry Type Clothing Hope 4 Women International 5/18/26 Read or Watch H4WI was formed for charitable and educational purposes to empower women in Uganda and other countries who are suffering from poverty, disease, and low self-worth to become self-sufficient with their own businesses. Clothing Dress A Girl Around the World Hope 4 Women Around the World 5/14/26 Read or Watch A grassroots effort to bring dignity to young girls in needy areas of the world. Community Development World Relief World Relief 5/17/26 Read or Watch The great strength of World Relief is that it works with all churches in a defined region. Then, it empowers church volunteers to implement projects, agreed upon by community consensus, that benefit everyone in the area. Feeding A Church that Farms Together CAMA Services 5/10/26 Read or Watch This is the short video of CAMA empowering a local community planning to feed tomorrow. Healing Healthcare in Africa Dr. David Thompson 5/10/26 Read or Watch Learn about the amazing work of Dr. David Thompson and his wife Beckie building and expanding a hospital and health services in Gabon, Africa. Healing Medical Teams International 7/5/26 Read or Watch The mission of Medical Teams International is to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty around the world Our vision is to help build a faith - based global health movement to save lives and transform people through the power of Christ’s love. Housing Habitat for Humanity 7/5/26 Read or Watch Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Its mission is to build and improve homes for families in need, fostering stability, health, education, and economic opportunity through safe, affordable housing Habitat for Humanity+1. Habitat operates on the principle that homeownership can transform lives, providing peace of mind and a foundation for personal and community growth Hunger The Ten Seeds Technique, Learning How the Community Sees Itself ECHO Community 5/18/26 Read or Watch This is a great way to achieve community consensus and a way to measure impact. It could be adapted to mission work too. Justice We Need to Talk about Injustice. Bryan Stevenson 5/3/26 Read or Watch Powerful revelation of injustice in America and what to do about it. Prisoners Prison Fellowship Prison Fellowship 7/6/26 Read or Watch We envision a revival of the Church inside and outside prison that brings justice, mercy, and hope to our culture. This vision calls for a renewed spiritual awakening among individuals, families, and churches, both within and beyond prison walls, leading to a culture marked by justice, mercy, and hope. Strangers Listen to 21 verses in the Bible about refugees World Relief 5/10/26 Read or Watch A reading of Bible Verses about refugees. Water Water For Good 7/5/26 Read or Watch Water for Good’s mission is to transform lives through sustainable access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene in the places that need it most Water for Good. As a Christian, faith-based nonprofit, it works in partnership with local churches and leaders to ensure communities have reliable water sources and the knowledge and tools to maintain them, fostering long-term, empowered, and healthy futures BACK TO TOP

The Inspiration for Good News for Our Time In August 2014, ISIS swept across northern Iraq. Entire Yazidi villages were overrun. Thousands of men and older boys were executed. Women and young girls were kidnapped, sold into slavery, and repeatedly abused. Children were torn from their families. Hundreds of thousands fled into the mountains or crowded into refugee camps, carrying little more than the clothes they wore. Years later, we sat with some of those survivors. The men gathered before us were fathers whose wives had been taken, husbands who did not know whether they would ever see their families again, and sons whose fathers and brothers had been murdered. Everything that had once given shape to their lives—their homes, livelihoods, security, families, and community—had been stripped away. One man quietly summarized what had happened. "The ummah is broken." He was not speaking only of buildings or villages. He was grieving the collapse of an entire community. The neighbors they had trusted for generations had betrayed them to ISIS. Relationships that had held villages together had been shattered. Trust had disappeared. Their world no longer made sense. Yet in that place of unimaginable loss, another story was unfolding. An Arab Christian pastor, serving a Kurdish congregation, had opened his church and his life to these Yazidi families. Historical memory would have expected distance. Arabs, Kurds, and Yazidis had long carried the weight of conflict, suspicion, and division. Yet here they were, serving one another because of Christ. The pastor shared one of Jesus' best-known stories—the Parable of the Prodigal Son. He did not begin with politics or revenge. He spoke about the Father who runs toward broken sons and welcomes them home. He spoke about forgiveness, dignity, and the possibility that God could restore what violence had destroyed. At nearly the same time, another Arab pastor—this one in Beirut—was ministering to a very different group of people: the wives and children of suspected ISIS fighters. They too had lost everything. Their husbands were dead, imprisoned, or missing. Their communities rejected them. They carried guilt that was not necessarily their own and bore the consequences of decisions they had never made. On the surface, these two ministries appeared to stand on opposite sides of history. One cared for the victims of ISIS. The other cared for the families left behind by the ISIS perpetrators. Yet both revealed the same Kingdom. The Kingdom of God was quietly crossing boundaries that history, ethnicity, religion, and violence insisted could never be crossed. Grace was creating a community where the world expected only perpetual hostility. Invisible to most observers, the reign of God was already at work. Only later did I realize that these encounters gave language to something I had been observing for decades. The Yazidi families had lost far more than possessions. They had lost the ability to direct their own lives. Violence had stolen their freedom, fractured their relationships, destroyed their community, and stripped away their future. Even the families of ISIS fighters, though in profoundly different ways, had also lost agency, belonging, and hope. The entire region bore the marks of a community that had become deeply broken. I began to see this as the loss of dominion. Not dominion over other people, but the loss of the God-given capacity to live as human beings were created to live—bearing God's image, exercising responsible stewardship, living in trusting relationships, and participating in healthy community. Wherever fear, violence, oppression, disease, injustice, or sin destroys that calling, humanity loses something God intended from the beginning. Years later, as I reflected on these experiences with my friends Jim and David, we found ourselves returning again and again to the Gospels. We noticed that wherever Jesus went, He encountered people who had lost dominion over their lives. The poor, the sick, the excluded, the possessed, the guilty, the fearful, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger—all had been diminished by forces contrary to God's purposes. Everywhere Jesus went, He restored what had been taken. Those conversations eventually became the foundation for a book: How Jesus Changes the World. The more we reflected, the more we realized that this was not a new insight. God had been teaching our family this lesson for generations. Long before we met Yazidi families in northern Iraq, Connie's parents, Grady and Evelyn Mangham, had lived through another humanitarian catastrophe. After years of missionary service in Vietnam, they watched the war end with the collapse of South Vietnam and the desperate flight of hundreds of thousands of refugees. Their love for Jesus and people drew them into action. They became part of the early efforts to welcome and resettle Vietnamese refugee families who arrived in North America with little more than the hope of beginning again. Few people experience the loss of dominion more completely than refugees. War strips away home, country, language, possessions, livelihood, identity, and often family itself. Refugees do not simply lose a place to live; they lose the ability to shape the course of their own lives. Yet through the patient work of welcome, friendship, discipleship, and community, God begins restoring what violence has stolen. The same pattern continued throughout our years of missionary service in Indonesia and later through humanitarian work with World Relief. Whether responding to earthquakes, floods, famine, conflict, or forced displacement, the immediate needs were obvious: food, water, shelter, medicine, and safety. But another need was just as urgent. Disaster devastates the human spirit. It leaves fear where there was once confidence, isolation where there was once community, despair where there was once hope. The work of relief is never complete until people recover not only the necessities of life but also the dignity, hope, purpose, relationships, and faith that enable them to live as God's image bearers once again. Over time, we came to recognize that this pattern extends beyond humanitarian crises. Humanity itself lives under the greatest disaster of all. Sin has distorted our hearts, our minds, our relationships, and our stewardship of creation. Death stands before every one of us, making loss seem like the final word. In that sense, the human story is one long narrative of lost dominion. The Gospel announces that death does not have the final word. In Jesus Christ, God entered our broken world, bore its sin, defeated its death, and opened the way to restored life. Those who follow Him to the cross, embrace His Spirit, and walk in His way begin to experience even now the restoration of what was lost. Though the fullness of God's Kingdom still awaits its consummation, its restoring power is already at work—in individuals, families, churches, and communities. Wherever Christ reigns, dominion begins to be restored. Only then did we realize that what we had witnessed in northern Iraq, in Beirut, in refugee resettlement, in Indonesia, and in humanitarian ministry around the world was not a series of disconnected experiences. They were all expressions of the same Kingdom. They were all glimpses of the same redeeming work of God. The theology of Restored Dominion did not begin as an abstract idea. It emerged from listening to people, sharing their struggles, serving alongside churches and communities around the world, and then returning to Scripture with fresh questions. Again and again, the biblical story revealed the same truth: God's redemptive work is always about restoring His people so they may once again reflect His character and participate in His purposes for the world. The pages that follow are an invitation to read Scripture through that lens. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of God is the story of His determination to restore what sin, violence, fear, injustice, and death have taken away. The Kingdom of God is God's great work of restored dominion, and Jesus Christ is its King. That conviction lies behind every page of the books that follow. BACK TO TOP

This site helps people understand and adopt a Christian Worldview and become a Matthew 25er, who, tell the truth, love their neighbor, and plant for a better future. What is a Christian Worldview We all see the world through a lens. Whether we realize it or not, each of us carries assumptions about what is true, what gives life meaning, what is worth sacrificing for, and where history is headed. These assumptions shape how we understand the news, treat our neighbors, spend our money, raise our families, and face the future. Together, they form what is commonly called a worldview. A Christian worldview begins with the conviction that God created the world, Jesus Christ is Lord, and the Bible reveals truth about God, humanity, and our purpose. It is more than a set of beliefs. It is a way of seeing reality and living faithfully within it. While a Christian worldview shapes every area of life, it can be summarized in three essential commitments: truth, love, and hope. Truth Truth matters because reality matters. In a world filled with competing voices, Christians are called to pursue truth—not merely as an argument to win, but as a way of life. A Christian worldview calls us to honesty, integrity, humility, and a willingness to learn. Because God is the author of truth, Christians need not fear facts, questions, discoveries, or difficult realities. Truth begins with God, but it extends into every area of life. It influences how we understand ourselves, our communities, our world, and our responsibilities within it. Christian faith is not an escape from reality; it is a commitment to engage reality honestly and faithfully. Love Jesus taught that the greatest commandment was to love God and to love our neighbors. For that reason, a Christian worldview is deeply concerned with human flourishing. Every person bears the image of God and therefore possesses inherent dignity and worth. This includes the people who live next door, the people who disagree with us, the poor, the vulnerable, the refugee, the immigrant, and the stranger. Love is not sentimentality. It is a commitment to seek the good of others. During my years working in humanitarian ministry, I learned a lesson that appeared consistently across cultures and continents. One of the most reliable indicators of a community’s well-being was the well-being of mothers. When mothers were healthy, children were more likely to thrive. When mothers struggled, children often struggled as well. That observation led to deeper questions. Was there access to clean water and shelter from the natural elements? Was sanitation adequate? Was food available and affordable? Were families able to earn a living? Was agriculture productive? Were communities stable and safe? Those questions led to the obviously realization that people do not live in isolation. We live in families, neighborhoods, and communities. Individual flourishing is tied to community flourishing. Human thriving is interconnected. This truth became especially clear in places recovering from natural disasters. When an earthquake destroys a community, the roads, schools, water systems, farms, homes, and businesses that sustain life are affected for everyone. Communities either recover together or struggle together. Christians cannot love their neighbors while ignoring the conditions that shape their neighbors’ lives. A Christian worldview is therefore concerned with the flourishing of all people because all people bear the image of God. While Christians are called to proclaim the gospel, they are also called to seek the good of the communities in which they live and serve. Love of neighbor extends beyond words to practical acts of compassion, justice, service, and stewardship. Hope A Christian worldview is also marked by hope. Across much of the world, birthrates are falling. Economists, demographers, and social analysts point to many causes, including urbanization, education, economic pressures, and changing cultural expectations. These factors matter. Yet the trend also raises a deeper question: What happens when people lose confidence in the future? To welcome a child into the world is, in some sense, an act of hope. It is a declaration that the future matters. It is a willingness to invest in a generation we may never fully see. The Christian faith has always been a faith of hope. Not because circumstances are easy, but because God remains faithful. Christians believe that history is moving toward God’s purposes, that Christ is at work in the world, and that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. This hope enables us to plant trees whose shade we may never enjoy, serve people we may never meet, and invest in future generations we may never know. It gives us confidence to face difficult realities without despair and uncertain futures without fear. Building on the Rock This is the vision behind Good News for Our Time. The purpose of this website is not simply to comment on current events, promote books, or share devotional reflections. It is to help Christians understand both God’s Word and God’s world. Here you will find resources for spiritual growth, reflections on contemporary issues, opportunities to serve others, and encouragement to live faithfully in a changing age. The challenges of our time are real. But so is the gospel. Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount with the story of two builders. One built upon rock and the other upon sand. Both experienced storms. Only one foundation endured. The question facing every generation is the same: Upon what foundation will we build our lives and communities. The world offers many answers. Christ offers the Rock. Let us build upon Him. This is why Christians can tell the truth without fear, love their neighbors without hesitation, serve the vulnerable without despair, and invest in the future with confidence. Jesus Christ is still changing the world. Christian World View Part 2 Back Back to Top

The teaching topics relate to and directly support he overall vision of the website. The topics teach from a Biblical perspective what a Christian worldview is and how Christians have lived out that life in times of Empires, past and present. Teaching/Invitation Teaching Series We offer teaching for churches, retreats, men’s groups, and weekend gatherings. These sessions are designed not only to inform, but to guide participants to think deeply about a Christian Worldview. * John-The Greeks and Me * The Gospel Before the Cross * Being Christian *Believers in the Age of Empire Invitation/Contact We partner with churches and organizations to provide thoughtful, biblically grounded teaching that speaks to the realities of life today. Whether for a single event or a multi-session retreat, each engagement is shaped to serve your community. I Am Looking Forward to Connecting with You. Ways to Engage 01 Chose to support one of the organizations in Good Work 02 Purchase one the books in Great Books to expand your worldview. 03 Subscribe to my Blog to follow my bi-weekly devotional. 04 Contact me. Let's discuss if I can help you refine a Christian Worldview in your church / small group. 05 Use to form below to become a Matthew 25er. Contact us First name* Last name Email* Write a message I’m in. Check to join Matthew 25ers and receive devotionals directly Submit

Worldview PowerPoint Worldview and Good News for Our Time A Christian Worldview Makes Three Commitments Tell the Truth Sees what is true and refuses deception . Love Your Neighbor Treat others with dignity, compassion, and justice. Plant for Tomorrow Work today for a better future for others. A tree illustrates well what a worldview is. The roots are what we believe and hold to be true. Roots are underground and unseen, but are the source and reason from everything that grows above the ground. Roots represent what is true. The tree trunk speaks for what is best, valued, or good. What people and cultures value and call good is determined by the roots from which they came. The trunk is what is valued. The branches represent behaviors— how people act. And behavior springs from what is valued. Leaves represent what is seen, or fruit. Careers, inventions, discoveries, well-being, and community health are some of things that are seen. The whole tree models human flourishing. One method of producing "fruit" in a community or in an individual is to introduce incentives intended to change behaviors that will lead to the desired outcomes (fruit). Often, that method falls short because as soon as the incentives are withdrawn or exhausted, behaviors revert to old patterns and the previous conditions return, and because underlying spiritual issues were not addressed. The other method is to concentrate on root beliefs (what is true) and values. Christian agencies and churches do this very well. However, behaviors and the desired outcomes often do not occur over the long period because of a reluctance to engage in "works." At this point, it needs to be pointed out that the tree analogy is just an analogy. Worldviews are complex, the process of community change is many faceted, and admittedly, this illustration is simplistic. However, it does make clear that a worldview is holistic by definition. The Christian faith must address what is true, what is valued, what is done, and what is seen. If worldviews shape what people believe, value, do, and ultimately become, then understanding worldview is essential for faithful Christian living. The questions facing Christ followers today are not merely personal or spiritual. They are cultural, historical, economic, and global. Christians need wisdom to understand the world around them and to engage it faithfully. Worldview Challenge Today GoodNews4OurTime was created with a simple conviction: the good news of Christ speaks not only to the soul, but to the world we actually live in. Today, events from across the globe reach us instantly. Our smartphones and TVs expose us to diverse cultures, histories, and people. It is a remarkable time to be alive. Never before has it been so easy—or so affordable—to learn about the world. This site's purpose is to help understand those events within a Christian worldview that fosters cross-cultural understanding that transcends language, historical, and political boundaries. We hope this can be a resource for lay believers, students, pastors, and teachers to support their walk and work with Christ. Here you can find devotionals, stimulating articles, moving sermons, and links to inspiring work that God's people are doing around the world through a variety of Christian organizations. You will also find a curated collection of books that engage questions such as: What resources support spiritual formation? What events in the past have shaped our present moment? Why is human development uneven across the world? What opportunities and challenges are influencing the modern church? In addition, I have written several books exploring how the message of Jesus speaks to the world today, including: How Jesus Changes the World, Restored Dominion, The Kingdom of God, Good News for Our Time, and Believers in the Age of Empire: Christian Faithfulness in the Age of Power . We hope you will find this site helpful, and I would be grateful if you would Like and Share it with others. It is a work in progress and new resources will be added each month. I have tried to capture a Christian Worldview with this tagline: Tell the truth, Love your Neighbor, Plant for Tomorrow. Truth, Love, and Hope. I think the world needs and wants encouragement to do those things. If you would like to join in the movement, email me at the address below and in the subject line write "I'm in." I’m Gary Fairchild, and this site grows out of cross-cultural ministry and a desire to continue to share the Gospel of Jesus as widely as possible. To borrow from the Apostle John, "These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name." John 20:31. BACK TO TOP All recommended titles are available through Amazon.As an affiliate, I receive a small commission from purchases made through this site.

This site helps people understand and adopt a Christian Worldview and become a Matthew 25er, who, tell the truth, love their neighbor, and plant for a better future. Contact Contact Us We would be honored to minister to you as the Lord would direct. I look forward to speaking with you. Contact us First name* Last name Email* Write a message I’m in. Check to join Matthew 25ers and receive devotionals directly Submit Contact

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Worship as Spiritual Formation A friend who lives near Oxford, England, once showed me a small parish church where he had served as sexton. Built around 1160, the building itself teaches theology before a single word is spoken. The entrance is recessed into walls nearly three feet thick. The arched portal is framed by carved stone reliefs: near the outer edge, small grotesque figures; nearer the doorway, carved waves suggesting water. My host explained that worshippers symbolically passed from chaos and darkness, through the waters, and into the life of God. Immediately inside stands the baptismal font—a reminder that entry into the church is entry through water. The nave is long and narrow. Light filters through high windows. The floor rises gradually toward the altar and communion table, where a large Bible rests. As worshippers move forward, they move toward light, toward Word, toward the Table. The building asks a question before the service even begins: What is worship doing to us? Architecture Preaches For centuries, churches used architecture, liturgy, music, Scripture, and symbol to form Christian imagination. Worship was not merely heard; it was inhabited. Many cathedrals are constructed in the shape of a cross. The altar stands where nave and transept meet—symbolically at the heart of Christ. Some traditions place the pulpit to the side so that proclamation serves the Table rather than replaces it. The architecture quietly insists that worship is not centered on the preacher, the musicians, or even the congregation. It is centered on Christ. Years ago, I visited a church in Yonkers, New York, where high above the communion table were the words: HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD Stained-glass windows depicting resurrection and ascension flanked the platform. Everything directed attention away from the individual and toward the Holy. I have also stood inside the soaring chapel of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Its scale alone evokes awe. On one visit, I watched a friend carrying deep grief sit quietly near the altar and weep. The space itself seemed to hold him. Architecture can become pastoral. From Participation to Performance In some churches, the Gospel is read from the center aisle, and the congregation physically turns toward it. That simple gesture embodies repentance—a reorientation toward Christ. Yet in many contemporary settings, worship spaces resemble concert venues more than sanctuaries. The visual center shifts from altar and table to stage and screen. Symbols thin out. Liturgy shortens. The congregation becomes quieter while amplification grows louder. This is not a criticism of contemporary music or traditional forms. I have experienced the same dynamic in both. In one large church, the modern service featured a skilled worship band. The music was excellent, but so amplified that the congregation could barely hear itself sing. The following week we attended the traditional service. The pipe organ was magnificent—and again, the congregation could not hear itself. In both cases, musical excellence unintentionally overshadowed congregational participation. When worship becomes something we observe rather than something we enact, formation shifts. The people of God risk becoming an audience. Why Participation Matters Congregational singing, shared prayers, and recited creeds are among the few moments when believers audibly recognize themselves as part of a body. When we hear one another confess, pray, and sing, we remember that faith is communal. Worship trains us not only to look upward but also to listen to those around us. The church will endure long after any pastor, musician, or style fades. What remains is a worshipping people. What Is Worship? The question is not hymns versus choruses, organs versus guitars, cathedral versus storefront. The question is this: Is worship forming participants or spectators? Is it centered on God's holiness or human expression? Is it shaping humility, reverence, joy, repentance, and love? The Psalms present a balanced vision. Worship is joyful and embodied. It is reverent and humble. It is musical and communal. It is sincere and repentant. Jesus taught that true worshippers, worship in spirit and truth. Worship is not ultimately defined by style or location, but by orientation. Worship and Allegiance Every culture has its liturgies. Stadiums, political rallies, concerts, advertising, and digital media all rehearse stories about power, identity, and belonging. They train us in what to admire and whom to follow. Christian worship must form a different allegiance. When we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done,” we confess that no earthly power possesses ultimate authority. When we recite the Creed, we identify ourselves with a faith older than any nation. When we come to the Lord’s Table, we proclaim that self-giving love, not domination is our commitment. Worship is not an escape from the world. It is training for faithful presence within it. Worship Forms Disciples At its deepest level, worship is God's way of shaping a people into the likeness of Christ. Week after week, through Scripture, prayer, confession, praise, communion, and service, believers learn humility rather than self-promotion, gratitude rather than entitlement, faithfulness rather than fear, and hope rather than despair. Worship is discipleship enacted before it is discipleship explained. Every gathering leaves its mark upon us. The question is never whether we are being formed, but by whom and into what. A Call to God-Centered Worship These reflections are not arguments for one style of worship over another. They are an appeal to intentionality. Whether contemporary or traditional, large or small, worship must resist becoming performance. It must resist centering upon personalities and make room for the congregation to pray, sing, confess, and belong. When worship forms humility, participation, and love, it leaves behind more than a well-produced service. It leaves behind people who are becoming like Christ. And in an age filled with competing allegiances, that may be one of the church's most important tasks. This article is adapted from my book, Believers in the Age of Empire: Christian Faithfulness and Worship in an Empire. The book explores how Christian worship, discipleship, and faithfulness are shaped in a culture filled with competing allegiances. If you would like to learn more, you can find the book here: [Believers in the Age of Empire ].