Listen, Think, and Discern
Gathering
Take time to gather informally and preview the service outline. If you'd like to participate in communion, please be prepared to do so.
Service
I. Opening
Welcome and Introduction: Welcome, fellow preppers, to our service for the fourth Sunday in 2024. As we learn to overcome the challenges of preparing for uncertain times, let us also prepare our hearts for the arrival of the greatest gift—Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer: Gracious and Almighty God, as we gather today, we seek Your presence and guidance. Open our hearts to receive the truths of Your Word and inspire us to live out our faith with active hearts and willing hands. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth we pray. Amen.
Scripture: James 2:17-18 (AMP) - So also faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective]. But someone may say, 'You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].
II. Worship and Praise
Normally we have a traditional worship song here that people would typically consider “suitable” for a church service. Today, we have Aretha Franklin's performance of "Think" in The Blues Brothers is nothing short of electrifying and iconic. In particular, we want to use this song to remind us to think.
Video Link: Aretha Franklin - Think (feat. The Blues Brothers) - 1080p Full HD (youtube.com)
Reflection: Here are some points of reflection while you enjoy this performance:
- Contrast: What are your thoughts about including a performance like this in a church service?
- Performance: How does the emotion and energy of the performance enhance the song's message? What does it tell us about the importance of passion and conviction in our faith?
- Think: Do you remember times that you could have thought more clearly and completely before taking an action that you later regretted?
III. Communion
Communion symbolizes Jesus' sacrifice, offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe. It's for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Communion is for those who have made the decision to accept Jesus as the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. There is no pressure from us and the decision is yours alone. If you have not taken this step, we ask that you do not participate in this portion of the service and want you to rest assured that no one will think less of you in any way. You are welcome to observe and be present.
For those that have made that choice, we invite you to take communion as we guide you through preparation, prayer, and reflection.
We will distribute and share the bread and cup at this time (or as is suitable for your gathering).
The account of what we have come to call The Last Supper is told in two places in the Bible:
- Matthew 26:26 (AMP): Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.'
- Mark 14:22 (AMP): While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had blessed it, He broke it and gave it to them, and said, 'Take it. This is My body.'
For those that participate in Communion, please partake of the bread now.
The account of The Last Supper continues in both records:
- Matthew 26:27-28 (AMP): And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins.'
- Mark 14:23-24 (AMP): And when He had taken a cup [of wine] and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, 'This is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many.'
For those that participate in Communion, please partake of the cup now.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the New Covenant, for the Blood of Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and the blessings of The Holy Spirit in our lives.
IV: Message: Listen, Think, and Discern
January 28, 1986 was a cold day. So cold that some NASA engineers were worried about the scheduled launch for the day. They were especially concerned about the O-rings in the solid rocket boosters. The O-rings were extraordinarily important safety components but had not been tested in weather anywhere near as cold as that day. The engineers spoke up, saying, "Listen, think," but launch orders came anyway.
The mission known as STS-51-L launched at 11:39:13 Eastern Standard Time and exploded 73 seconds later. The explosion destroyed the craft and killed the entire crew of seven. For 38 years, the Challenger's scar in the sky reminds us that ignoring important things can lead to big losses.
Listening Matters
The Challenger disaster was not just about the cold. It was about people not listening to warnings. We've all been there, ignoring our feelings to meet deadlines or fit in. But some shortcuts can lead to problems we wish we could undo.
Proverbs 18:15 (AMP) - The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
In our daily lives, wise people are those who warn gently, ask tough questions, and tell us to slow down. Let's be those people. Let's be good listeners – to others, to ourselves, to the quiet wisdom in the noise. Sometimes, courage is not being loud but listening carefully.
Listen, then Think
The Challenger, ready on the launchpad, carried a human tendency we all have: rushing into action without thinking. Engineers saw risks but the pressure to launch won. Sometimes, we need to be patient.
James 1;19 (AMP) - So then, my beloved brothers and sisters, let everyone be quick to listen [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].
The big message of that verse is this: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
In the words of theologian Aretha Franklin, "You better think." When making choices, take time to think. It might seem like a detour, but sometimes the fastest way is not the safest. A moment of thinking can prevent a lifetime of regret.
Listen, Think, then Discern
In Proverbs 3:5, we read, "Trust in the Lord your God and lean not on your own understanding." This verse teaches us to rely on God completely and not just on our own thoughts. Blindly trusting in ourselves and others can lead to significant problems, just like what happened with the Challenger.
How do we trust in God? We listen to the Holy Spirit—and here’s how that works:
As Christians, the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us. This means that we have within us the ability to discern and make good choices. We can internally spot a fake, and the guidance within from the Holy Spirit also prompts us to be alert. We need to listen, then think, and then discern what is truth and what is not.
Conclusion
The Challenger Disaster stands as a chilling monument, not just to lost lives, but to the dangers of selective listening. Just as engineers voiced their concerns but weren't fully heard, we too face this challenge in our daily lives. We are bombarded with information, opinions, and voices vying for our attention. But amidst the clamor, where do we find truth?
The infinite wisdom of the Father, the love of the Son, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit--the Three in One--offer us the Gift of Discernment. Yet, like the engineers silenced before the launch, we can sometimes choose to ignore its quiet urgings. We prioritize deadlines over doubts, drown out intuition with noise, and mistake opinions for facts.
The Challenger's tragedy reminds us that the consequences of such negligence can be devastating. Just as God reveals truth through His Spirit, He also speaks through others – through the concerns of a friend, the wisdom of a parent, the gentle prompting of a stranger. Let us not fall into the trap of selective listening, dismissing voices simply because they don't resonate with our preconceived notions.
Now I charge you: listen to the whispers within, the voices around us, and the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. Think critically, weigh information with discernment, pray, and seek truth above all else. Then boldly take action as your discernment has guided you.
V: Offering
As we continue in our worship, we have the opportunity to participate in the act of giving. The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV), "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Let's bow our heads in prayer as we prepare our hearts for this act of giving. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us. As we bring our offerings before You today, we do so with hearts full of gratitude. May these gifts be used for the furthering of Your Kingdom and the spreading of Your love. Bless each giver abundantly, and may our cheerful giving be a reflection of Your generosity toward us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As we collect the offering, we do want to remind everyone that this part of the service is an opportunity to give but is in no way considered a requirement. We have the special opportunity here at Prepper Church to give all of the offering to a good cause that we choose.
Thank you for your generous hearts and faithful giving. Your contributions play a vital role in supporting the causes that we support. May God bless you abundantly as you continue to be cheerful givers. Amen.
VI: Closing
Closing Prayer: Gracious God, as we leave this place, we carry with us the lessons of the Challenger disaster. Grant us discernment and wisdom in our choices, and may we be attentive to the consequences they hold. May the memories of those who perished remind us to approach decisions with humility and a commitment to the well-being of others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Closing Remarks: As we close today, let us remember the Challenger crew and the lessons learned from that tragic day. May their sacrifice inspire us to be more intentional in our decisions and to foster a culture where open dialogue and careful consideration lead to better choices. Let us carry the weight of this responsibility with wisdom and humility.
Local Group Discussion and Fellowship
Feel free to continue the celebration in your local groups, discussing the message, sharing your reflections, and enjoying fellowship. Here are some points for discussion for after the service:
- Reflect on a time when a seemingly small decision had significant consequences. How did it impact you and those around you?
- Discuss the importance of open communication in decision-making, using the Challenger disaster as an example.
- Consider how technology and advancements in our time might pose ethical dilemmas. How can we navigate these challenges wisely?
- Share personal stories of when listening, thinking, and careful consideration helped avoid negative outcomes.
- Explore ways we can encourage a culture of thoughtful decision-making in our families, workplaces, and communities.
- Additional resources about the Challenger Disaster:
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