During this weeks Desiring God Conference Mark Dever mentioned that one of the things he does in his church is congregation silence in which they take a time of silence to think about the sermon etc.
I remember after the 1st 247 weekend a brother mentioned to me that he really felt that there should have been a place for silence, hence the following year there was a 'Selah' room set apart where people could go for silence, a place for prayer, meditation, reading etc... It was used effectively by many on that weekend.
All too often I find myself rising to sing the closing hymn when the response that is burning in my heart is not the singing, but silent thought & prayer before God. But by the time you get home. start into dinner etc the moment is gone & unrecoverable.
There have been times when in a service there is a time given for prayer or silent meditation, this is great, but so often i've felt that even these didn't last long enough for me to really go with it.
In hearing Dever mention this I thought I would ask you what your experience or thoughts of 'silence' is within the context of the local church. As for me, I think we want silence but also fear it in many ways & so we don't give it a major place.
I'd love to see your thoughts on this.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
About Boaly
Gary has been involved in printing the Scriptures for 20 years, enjoys photography and rambling online
4 comments:
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We don't have a closing hymn for this very reason, there's a time and place for everything and in my opinion after the sermon is not the time for singing usually.
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7:35 am
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I'm tracking with you.
I do think though that we should go where the appropriate, spirit led response would take us over the truths revealed in the sermon. For some truths that may mean singing our hearts out, for others that may mean silent response. -
8:35 am
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G Boal, agree 100% as you know!
Thinking specifically of the first few worship 24/7 weekends, some of the sermons were so hitting that I don't think people knew what to do! And while I'm a great fan of silence I think that the singing on these occassions were some of the most heart felt (and heart broken!) worship times that I've ever offered to God - a true response to the word of God that we had all just heard.
Two of the most memorable nights of my life, and I'm sure you'll agree. -
8:51 am
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Totally agree brother, we should really do it again! Push it hard this time among the people of NI
Amazing times before the LORD, I will definately remember those times all my life & I thirst for more when they come to memory.
You fancy getting together with Simon & talking it through? -
9:07 am
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