Preaching, suffering & comfort

I've been thinking about my church and how I am so glad God led Dan and I there. Although not the perfect church (where is?!) I know I am meant to be there. I just feel like I'm part of a huge family.

The preaching is so inspired. It is not academic or technical, but on the other hand it is so deep. It really satisfies. It teaches deep theology, but speaks right into your heart. I've never gone through a period in my life where week after week I feel like the preaching is speaking right to me and gets my heart racing because it applies to the reality of my life and what I am experiencing now. It makes me smile, makes me feel shame, makes me feel like I want to burst with joy, brings the tears to my eyes, makes me excited as the Bible is unpacked....it is so REAL! I love other styles of preaching too, but this is perfect for me for now (so thanks to God for so gifting my pastor!).

I think that has to be what real preaching is all about...a message that is so inspired by God that it cuts straight to the hearts of the listeners, and then really binds them together. That's what I feel is happening at my church. People are real with each other and I see love displayed everywhere. A couple of weeks ago we went away on a church weekend for fun and relaxation, but also teaching and worship. It was wonderful - I nearly cried when we had to leave! I think this openness and love that is deeply displayed is largely a result of two things - God speaking through the Word as described above, and through suffering among members of the church. And the two are affected and shaped by the each other - that is, the suffering in the church informs the preaching need, and the preaching speaks into the darkness of the suffering.

I have noticed more and more over the year and a bit that we have been there, is that it is a church full of sorrows. We have possibly 40 - 50 people come and I can't think of many who are not carrying great burdens, or who have not gone through hard times recently. There is so much to share in prayer times, and many tears are shed. I may have found the death of Dad hard, but listening to the problems of others I wonder how they cope.

So it's made me think. Paul wrote so much about suffering, especially his own. He admitted he was downcast and needed comforting. And he spoke about the ministry of comfort, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God...."(2 Cor 1:3f). I am becoming convinced that the depth of suffering in my church is what has drawn everyone so close together. I am just being challenged around how people often really grow through suffering, and it is also a great opportunity for people to comfort and draw near to one another. I believe that Christians should be open and ready to share with one another, willing to receive the comfort and the prayers that others can offer. I definately welcomed the comfort that people offered to me when Dad died. I get so excited at church to hear preaching which is usually very applicable for those who are suffering, and then to see it worked out among everyone.

I have a lot more thoughts on this, and would also like to write about a sermon series that was preached before my Dad died, but that is all for another time.