What “Doing Church” Means

In the months prior to our series, “Fortified”, on the book of Nehemiah, I wondered how chapter 9 would play out…

In preparing a series, I often envision certain themes playing out in our church and hope for the Lord’s blessing on areas of growth encouraged by the Scriptures.

I felt the rebuilding theme would be helpful and Nehemiah’s humble and courageous leadership a practical example for us to learn from.

I love how the book reveals such teamwork as a community and their response to submitting to the Lord.

The sermon for Chapter 9 was entitled “doing church”. I remember wondering about the service…

• Would HSCC engage with the Lord as the people did in Nehemiah’s day?
  
  

• How would we “do church” on Aug 1st?

What I wondered in preparation, I experienced in person last Sunday:

We “did church”.

We are the church.

The service began with Todd Trowbridge leading us...really pastoring us into the experience.

We heard that confessing what is true is important…what is true about God, how He’s worked with us and how we have made mistakes. Shari Mills then led us in true declarations about the Trinity, sung through hymns.

Next I shared stories how the Lord has blessed our church through the decades, and you all shared them around the tables.

Dave Lippman led us in a few songs, gripping us with “the blessing” an essential anthem in this pandemic.

We then spent time confessing our sin to the Lord, writing them down and placing them on the cross.

It is good to acknowledge our sins, and even better to trust the Lord to wash them away.

Drew Loring then sang strongly in a way that helps us stand in confidence on the work of the Lord, not our own strength.

The benediction encouraging us to go forward in celebration, based on the Lord, not our own work.

"Doing church" means making a big deal out of God.

Making known His work in our lives through His unmerited grace and abundant mercy.

I’m grateful to the Lord for last Sunday.

Thank you for being the Church.