This Little Church Went To Market

Written by Gary E. Gilley in 2002 - our pastor recommended this book.  I read it once, but decided a re-read might be in order.

It is definitely one I'd recommend, especially to those who think we have to 'bring' folks into church to get them saved.

I'll list chapters and titles and any notes I made along the way - either from the 1st or 2nd reading.

Chapter 1 -  A New Kind of Church - 

Chapter Two - Entertainment - "The elite hated entertainment for the same reasons the working class delighted in it.  The elite loved art, Shakespeare, excellent, thought-provoking literature and classical music while the masses were swooped off their feet be dime novels, earsplitting music, and trash of all kinds."

The really sad part of this paragraph is I'm guilty.  I no longer like earsplitting music or trashy novels, but I don't 'hone' my mind anywhere near what I could or should.  I 'bail' and engage in 'mind candy' - Pride and Prejudice anyone?  Rather than reading the Bible, studying it, or reading quality materials like that written by the Puritans.

"Almost all of the literature in the first 150 years or so focused on what could be called the Character Ethic as the foundation for success--things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule..." - the author is quoting from Steven Covey Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - he doesn't necessarily advocate the teachings.

Think about the list - how much does our society, made up of individuals (including you and me) really show forth those types of behaviors?

From page 38: "Christianity is a demanding and serious religion." In today's 'user friendly' 'churchianity' do people really hear the gospel?  Lay down your life?  If they hated me, they will hate you. Die to self.

Reflecting upon Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: "In the end, he (Aldous Huxley) was trying to tell us that what afflicted the people in Brave New World was not that they were laughing instead of thinking, but that they did not know what they were laughing about and why they had stopped thinking."

The author is dealing primarily with the behavior (or lack thereof) in the assembled body of believers.  How does your 'church' stack up thus far?  Is your assembly, pastor, teacher more concerned with entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep?

Have we checked our brains, not only at the church doors, but in other areas as well?

Chapter 3 - Market Driven Philosophy

Chapter Four - Psychology

"It may be pragmatism (which adds success to the Bible); mysticism (which adds experience); tradition (which adds the past); legalism (which adds man's rules); or philosophy such as psychology (which adds man's wisdom)."

While it's all bad...adding to the Word of God ought to scare us - I've heard more (lately) about mysticism - what do you feel?  We can't base our relationship with God (or others) on our feelings.  We're fickle creatures.  We have to be solidly, steadfast on/in the Word.


Chapter 5 - A Church With the Wrong Foundation

Chapter Six - A Church With the Wrong Message

Chapter 7 - A Church Focused on the Wrong Need

"If I understand the purpose of my attendance is to have a good time, and as long as the entertainment is not out of sync with Christian character and biblical truth nothing is harmed."  How often do we 'fudge' the lines and allow ungodly behavior in what we watch or read - all for the sake of being entertained?

"It is not wrong to be entertained as a Christian; it is wrong to confuse it with or allow it to replace true worship and biblical instruction"  I took some comfort in this, that mental down time or 'mind candy' isn't necessarily bad, but we shouldn't confuse entertainment vs worship.

Worship is holy - going to a Christian concert is not worship.

"Fun (i.e. entertainment) has become the criteria by which a large number of people are choosing the church they will attend."

So how do you choose a church?  What are the criteria or requirements which form the foundation?  The main emphasis should be on teaching the Word without bells and whistles, frills or 'fun'.  Here is one resource.

Chapter Eight - A Church That Misunderstands Worship (How Shall We Then Preach)

"True worship involves the intellect as much as the emotions.  It underscores the truth that worship is to be focused on God not on the worshiper." John MacArthur.

"Our worship should be centered on God as we praise Him through word, song and prayer, and as we edify the saints through the teaching of the Scriptures so that we are enabled to live lives honoring to Him." Gilley page 106.

"...the Colossians left behind their early instruction and were being deluded into adding at least five things to God's Word: secular philosophy, legalism, asceticism, pragmatism and mysticism."

Chapter 9 - A Church That Misunderstands Worship (How Shall We Then Sing)

Chapter Ten - A Church at the Crossroad

My heart is saddened by how much 'church' is being distorted, people deceived (willingly?) into thinking they can worship God however they please, mimic the world to 'draw' people in...but are they speaking the truth?  Loving people NOT be telling them Jesus loves them, but rather, turn, repent, lest the wrath of God fall upon you.  What are you telling people about the Jesus you say you love and serve, with your words?  Your actions?

Mark 1-3

Mar 3:16  And Simon he surnamed Peter; 

Mar 3:17  And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

Surnamed?  How many times have I read that word, not really comprehending what it means?

The word surnamed is used 8 times in 8 verses, the first incidence:

Isa 45:4  For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

The rest of the time in the NT - in the verses above it is from Greek 2007 and 3686.

The other times G1941 - so from Mark:

G2007 - From G1909 and G5087; to impose (in a friendly or hostile sense).

• G1909 - A primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], that is, over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
• G5087 - A prolonged form of a primary word θέω theō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from G2476, which properly denotes an upright and active position, while G2749 is properly reflexive and utterly prostrate).

G36866 - From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a “name” (literally or figuratively), (authority, character).

• G1097 - A prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed).

Other verses which use G1941 - Luke 22:3; Acts 1:23, 4:36, 10:18 and 15:22.

G1941 - Middle voice from G1909 and G2564; to entitle; by implication to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.).

• G1909 - see above.
• G2564 - Akin to the base of G2753; to “call” (properly aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise.

Simon - G4613 - Of Hebrew origin [H8095]; Simon (that is, Shimon), the name of nine Israelites.

• H8095 - From H8085; hearing; Shimon, one of Jacob’s sons, also the tribe descendant from him,
• H8085 - A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.).

Peter - G4074 - Apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than G3037); as a name, Petrus, an apostle.

James - G2385 - The same as G2384 Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

• G2384 - Of Hebrew origin [H3290]; Jacob (that is, Ja'akob), the pogenitor of the Israelites; also an Israelite.
• G3289 - From H6117; heel catcher (that is, supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.
• H6117 - From H6117; heel catcher (that is, supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.

John - G2491 - Of Hebrew origin [H3110]; Joannes (that is, Jochanan), the name of four Israelites.

• H3110 - A form of H3076; Jochanan, the name of nine Israelites.
• H3076 - From H3068 and H2603; Jehovah-favored; Jehochanan, the name of eight Israelites.
• H3068 - From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.
• H1961 - A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
• H2603 - A primitive root (compare H2583); properly to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (that is, move to favor by petition).

Boanerges - G993 - Of Chald origin ([H1123] and [H7266]); sons of commotion; Boanerges, an epithet of two of the Apostles.

• H1123 - (Chaldee); corresponding to H1121.
• H1121 - From H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc.
• H1129 - A primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively).
• H7266 - (Chaldee); from H7265; violent anger.
• H7265 - (Chaldee); corresponding to H7264.
• H7264 - A primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear).

My.  Have you ever wondered what your name means?  If you have a 'Biblical' name, have you researched it?  Done a word study?

Pro_22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Ecc_7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 

My name means bee...buzz, buzz!

If you'd like to know the meaning of a name, there are various sites to assist:

Behind the Name

Meaning of Names

English Baby Names

Is it I?

Mat 26:22  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 

Mar_14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

How oft do we, when there is a question of responsibility, especially if negative, say is it I?  Or rather do we spend time trying to find out who else might be responsible or to blame?

When something isn't done, or properly, how often do we 'step up' to the plate and accept we may have failed, fallen short, or sinned?

Jesus had just told them:

Mat 26:21  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Betray - G3860 - From G3844 and G1325; to surrender, that is, yield up, intrust, transmit.

• G3844 - A primary preposition; properly near, that is, (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local [especially beyond or opposed to] or causal [on account of]). In compounds it retains the same variety of application.
• G1325 - A prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternate in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).

Mat 26:25  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

If we would ask, "Is it I?", either to Jesus or others, how would we handle an affirmative answer?

Judas went onto betray Jesus, then 'repent' which wasn't godly repentance, committed suicide.  If it 'is I' that is part of the problem, or causing an issue, how willing are we to repent and seek forgiveness/reconciliation?